Rachel Lawrence saw Jack’s eyes shift past her shoulder and turned to see who or what he was looking at.
“Have a seat,” she told Beth. “We’re celebrating my escape.”
“Your escape?”
“Don’t be angry with Detective Pappas. He brought me to your headquarters. I snuck out after he was gone.”
Beth turned to Jack, who started to rise and didn’t quite make it. He sat back down heavily, reached forward, and pushed a chair out for her.
“What a nice surprise,” Jack said. “Elizabeth Sturgis . . . Doctor Rachel Lawrence. Doctor Lawrence . . . the lovely Elizabeth Sturgis.”
Beth shook her head and sat down. Jack’s eyes were bloodshot and his face flushed.
“It’s nice of you to join us,” Jack said. The “nice” came out as “nicesh.”
Rachel and Beth exchanged glances.
Beth asked, “Does headquarters know you escaped?”
“Jack called them.”
“What are your plans?”
“Before or after I bury my husband? The funeral’s on Monday. You’re invited. My sister’s been taking care of the details.”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
Jack searched for the waitress, spotted her, and held up three fingers signaling for another round. Beth reached behind his back and waved her off. If Jack noticed, he didn’t say anything.
“Life goes on. That’s what Jack was telling me,” Rachel said.
“Fine,” Beth said. “Life goes on. But yours won’t if you’re running around out here. Have I mentioned there’s a killer stalking you?”
“That won’t be a problem,” Rachel said. “I have to go out of town tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“For an operation.”
“Where?”
“NYU’s Medical Center.”
“The one in Manhattan?”
“You know it?”
“I lived there for a couple of years.”
“Don’t get all bent out of shape,” Rachel said. “It’s a short procedure. Tricky, but short. I should be back tomorrow night.”
“Isn’t there anyone else who can handle it?”
“Several people, actually. But the parents have been with me since we started. They asked me to do it. I agreed.”
“And it’s a one day trip?”
“If there are no complications. I don’t anticipate any, but you never know. It’s possible I might have to stay an extra day. Certainly not more. I have to get back for George’s—”
“Right,” Beth said. “Is there any way the operation can be put off?”
“That wouldn’t be fair to the child.”
Beth looked at Jack who had his eyes closed and appeared to have fallen asleep sitting up. His chin was resting in his hand.
Several seconds passed before Rachel said, “I apologized for hitting him and told him it wasn’t his fault. I’m not sure he heard me.”
“It might not make a difference if he did,” Beth said. “He takes everything so personally. I’m sorry about Dr. Landry.”
Rachel broke eye contact and looked out the window at the restaurant’s patio. Candles fluttered in round glass holders on the tables. Between them were odd-looking portable outdoor heaters that resembled mini lampposts. Except for one couple who seemed immune to the temperature, the patio was empty. When the weather was warm, you couldn’t move out there.
“I was wrong to have slapped him,” Rachel said. “He’s a good man. Tell him I’m sorry.”
“Tell him yourself,” Beth said. “You’re the one who hit him.”
“I was upset.”
“You had every right to be,” Beth said. “He nearly killed himself trying to get to you. Nobody could have stopped what happened.”
“I get that . . . now,” Rachel said. “Will was trying to defend me . . .”
“I know.” She’d seen his body and the lamp he was holding when he rushed the killer. It was the desperate and courageous act of a brave man. The image just broke her heart. She looked at Jack and brushed the hair off his forehead.
“I’ll tell him when I see him again,” Rachel said.
“Any way I can talk you out of this trip?”
Rachel took a second to align her paper napkin with edge of the table. Dissatisfied, she made a few minute adjustments. Beth waited.
“In the last forty-eight hours, I’ve lost a husband, a friend, and learned there’s a man out there who wants to kill me because I saw something in a parking garage. Now my medical practice is in danger of collapse. Stu’s fighting to hold things together. Maybe he will. I don’t know. What I do know is I can’t give up anything else, like my self-respect, which I’d be doing if I ran off and hid someplace. Does that make any sense?”
“It does,” Beth said. “How ’bout if we make a deal? Stay at our house tonight.”
“Our?”
“Jack and I live together.”
The surprise registered in Rachel’s face.
Beth continued, “Along with the biggest German shepherd you’ve ever seen. She’s awesome and totally protective. If you’re not safe there, you won’t be anywhere.”
Rachel smiled and stared at her hands for a moment. “So you’re the love of his life. I thought he was just being poetic.” Glancing quickly to see if he was still asleep, she leaned closer and lowered her voice. Beth leaned in as well. “He wants to marry you.”
A smile spread across Beth’s face. She hunched her shoulders, and whispered back, “I know.”