Sam hovered, but she couldn’t even get mad at him because she’d do the same in his position. Chris, however, stalked like an animal about to pounce. While Molly tried to get comfortable on the couch, the two argued under their breath and she only caught bits of what they were saying.
“If you don’t go easy on her, I will kick you out,” Sam muttered, closing the fridge.
“I’m not a monster. I’m just going to talk to her.” Chris grabbed the juice Sam had poured and brought it over to Molly.
Sam met her gaze, his hands fumbling with the painkillers the doctor had prescribed. “Let me know if you want me to toss him, okay?”
Molly smiled. Laughing would hurt. Chris passed her the juice. “You said at the hospital that Tiffany told you something bad would happen. You don’t think you could have mentioned that to me when we spoke?”
Accepting the juice, she took a sip, the orange citrus coating her incredibly dry mouth.
“Chris,” Sam snapped.
“I’m asking,” Chris said.
“I would have if you hadn’t hung up on me. I was coming home to tell Sam everything and then I figured you’d be the next call.”
Sam brought her two pills but she only took one. He scowled, so she conceded and took both.
“Next time, how about I’m your first call,” Chris said, sitting on the coffee table.
“I don’t think so,” Sam said, pulling the armchair closer to the couch and sitting in it.
“I’m the cop, Sam. She doesn’t need you charging to the rescue.”
“She wouldn’t have needed rescuing if you hadn’t asked her to do your job,” Sam said, taking the juice so Molly didn’t have to stretch.
Chris’s face paled.
“Sam,” Molly whispered. “It’s not his fault.”
“You know I would never want her to get hurt. You know that,” Chris said. He sounded distraught at the idea that they might not.
“We know that. It’s no one’s fault. Well, other than whoever did this.”
“We don’t have a warrant yet but we should by the end of business hours tomorrow. The judge in the next county was backed up so we’re pushing as quick as we can,” Chris said. “You can’t remember anything?”
Molly closed her eyes a minute and tried to remember the seconds before. They were blurry. When she opened her eyes, both Sam and Chris were staring at her intently. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I heard a sound but I didn’t see anything or anyone.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay. Minus some bruised ribs, some scrapes and a black eye.” Sam took her hand and squeezed it.
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
“You’re lucky you don’t have a concussion. I’m not going to question Tiffany until I have the warrant. I don’t want to spook her and have her run off,” Chris said.
“You know she’s behind this,” Sam said, standing up. He walked over to the fireplace and flicked the switch. Summer might have been on the way but Molly felt chilled all the way through her skin.
“I do. She’s definitely involved.”
“She’s scared, Chris. I don’t know who she’s scared of, but something bigger is going on here. She tried to warn me.”
Chris sighed. “You think it’s Jeffrey?”
Molly shook her head and then regretted it. “I don’t. I don’t know who it is. I’m positive that there’s something between Vivien and Tiffany but I don’t know what. But when she told me I’d regret it, she said he’d hurt me.”
“We’re going to figure it out, Molly. I promise. And by we, I mean me and my department. All you need to do is rest,” Chris said, his tone bordering on lecturing.
“Maybe I should call her, tell her to talk to you. If you could make her feel safe, like whoever she’s working with can’t hurt her, maybe she’ll open up.”
Sam groaned. “You can’t contact her, Molly. You just got out of the hospital. Can you let this go and let Chris do his job?”
Molly nodded, fatigue making it hard to argue any of their points. Their voices drifted further away as Molly’s body slipped down on the couch. Her head felt blissful against the cushions. She’d return to the conversation soon. She just needed a few minutes to rest and get her thoughts together. Then she’d tell Chris again that instead of just investigating Tiffany, she had a feeling he needed to protect her as well.
* * * *
Molly spent the entire next day under Sam’s watchful eye. She loved that he cared so much for her, but she was going stir-crazy by mid-afternoon. Though her ribs ached, her head felt better.
“At least we know I can’t pull off a black eye,” she said, coming out of the bathroom where she’d just finished showering. It hurt too much to have her hair up in a wrap, so she just wrung it out and put a towel over her shoulders.
“Not funny,” Sam said, putting his arm around her.
“Did you wait outside the bathroom? Are you trying to replace Tigger?” Sam had asked his mom to come down and get their pup while Molly had been at the hospital. She’d insisted on keeping him for a few days so he didn’t accidentally jump up and startle Molly.
They walked toward the couch. “I wanted to be there in case you felt dizzy.”
“I’m okay, Sam.” Patting his hand, she brought it to her mouth and kissed it. “Promise.”
“I need to go into the shop tomorrow morning but I’ll take the afternoon off,” Sam said, helping her ease into a sitting position on their couch without jolting her ribs.
“That’s silly. I’m going to work tomorrow.”
Sam scowled as he settled beside her, picking up the remote. “Damn it, Molly. You have bruised ribs and a black eye. How about you stay home for two days? Alan said to take a week.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m fine to sit at my desk. Or at least pick my stuff up so I can work from home.”
“Jill can bring you your stuff,” Sam countered, settling on a home renovation show. He tossed the remote beside him.
“And I can go get it just as easily without interrupting anyone else’s life.”
Sam’s head turned in her direction. “Is that what you think? That you being hurt is an interruption?”
Molly was surprised by the sharpness of his tone. “No. But, I don’t need people waiting on me. I feel bad enough you have to.”
Shifting on the cushion, he angled his body toward her and took her hand. “Do you understand how relationships work? I don’t just mean ours. We’re in love and committed and our promise to each other is to be there for each other no matter what. At least, that’s how I feel.”
Reaching out, she cupped his stubbled jaw. “I feel that way, too, Sam. You know I do. I just hate when you worry.”
His hand covered hers on his cheek and he leaned into it. “It’s not just me, though, Molly. My mom, Brandon, Chris, Sarah, Jill, Alan, everyone you know is worried about you. They love you. Just like you’d worry for them or maybe cater to them a bit, they want to help, they want to have your back. If you care about people, you have to let them all the way in, Molly. You’re not alone. You have me. My family. Our friends. Pretending that you don’t need them is an insult to them.”
Tears stung her eyes and he sighed, leaning forward to kiss her softly. “I’m not trying to upset you. You always think you have to be this strong, I-can-do-it-myself woman. But sometimes you can show the greatest strength by asking for help.”
She nodded, tugging on his hand lightly to pull him close again. After several short, sweet kisses, she smiled at him. “You can ask Jill to bring me my stuff. But stay at work until lunchtime tomorrow.”
“Molly.”
“That way you can bring me something from Calli’s on your way.”
Sam grinned. “You got it.”