Chapter Sixteen

On the way back to the ambulance building, Joanna glanced over. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m a suspect.” Shay’s voice shook. “Michael asked me if I shot Nick.”

“What?” Joanna’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “How did they get that idea?”

“He spent the night at my house.”

“What!” Shocked, her mouth hung open while she glanced back and forth from Shay to the road.

“No. Not like that. We talked all night. Worked things out, and he left before dawn. I think…I think we’re friends now.”

After her revelation, they rode in silence until Joanna backed the ambulance into the bay. “Where does Brenda fit into all this? Shouldn’t she be a suspect?”

“I don’t know. Nick moved out on her about a month ago. The attack was right in front of his new apartment.”

Joanna shut the engine down, and it ticked as it cooled. She pulled the keys out and turned to Shay. “I’m sorry. This is so hard to wrap my head around. I don’t know how you’re managing to deal with it all.”

Cold from the glass window felt good where she leaned her aching head. “I think he wanted to try and get back with me again, but realized it would never happen. We were on good terms when he left.”

“That’s good. Right?”

Her friend’s eyes were shiny with tears.

Sitting in the cocoon of the familiar space of the ambulance cab was comforting and made it easier to talk. “Nick said he hasn’t seen Brenda since he moved out. According to him, she made a bad scene.”

“It always is with her.” Joanna’s voice seethed with contempt. “So, with everything the police know about her and Nick’s relationship, why does Michael think you’re a suspect?”

“He said the last person to be with the victim is always a suspect. They’ll question Brenda too. Michael says he doesn’t think I did it.”

“So, you’re not a real suspect, only one by their protocol.” Joanna nodded. “Good. It does make sense if you see it their way. I’m taking you to the hospital. Don’t argue. You’re beat.”

“I’m exhausted.” After the emotional turmoil of the previous day and night, coupled with no sleep, she shouldn’t be driving. With traffic, the Trauma Center was forty-five minutes away at this time of day. But it would leave either her or Joanna stranded without a car.

Then, as if reading her mind, Joanna said, “We’ll take your car, and Kyle can pick me up.”

“Thanks, you’re the best.” Shay tried to take her mind off the previous events by thinking of all the good things in her life. Her house was a refuge. She loved the birds that visited her yard. Frowning, she couldn’t help momentary worry about them if a stray cat roamed the neighborhood. A great job at Rock House. Aden… No, she couldn’t think about him.

****

Aden sat in the kitchen staring over his coffee cup at David. “Isn’t this unethical or something?”

“No, not unless I dated you.” David stared right back from his seat across the table.

When they got home the night before, Aden had gone right to bed. David must have come over later. “How long has this been going on?”

“We’ve been seeing each other for a couple of weeks.” David’s tone remained as rock steady as his gaze. “I won’t apologize. I care about Olivia very much.”

“She didn’t tell me.” Didn’t she trust him with the information? They used to talk about everything.

“You’ve been going through a lot. She wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”

David broke eye contact to glance at the doorway.

From the expression on his face, Aden knew why. He recognized the look. He’d seen it reflected in the mirror when he thought about Shay.

Olivia, in a white robe, walked into the kitchen and straight to the coffee pot.

David rose from the table and went to her. He put his arms around her waist, and when she turned in the embrace, kissed her forehead. “Good morning.”

Olivia raised her hands to David’s cheeks and kissed him back.

After a long minute, Aden cleared his throat.

When his sister peeked over David’s shoulder at him, she blushed a pink rose.

She’d never looked so beautiful. “Good morning, Livvie.”

“Good morning”—she held his gaze—“Addie.”

David rested his head on top of hers.

The two fit together well.

Then David sighed. “I’ve got to get to the hospital. I wanted to say goodbye before I left.”

“Let me walk you to the door.” Olivia eased out of his embrace and took him by the hand. “I’ll be right back.”

Aden could go either way with this. Play the jerky, overprotective big brother, or acknowledge and accept they were great together. He smiled. “See you later, David. I’ll be there for therapy in a bit.”

“Later, then.” David gave him a nod.

The two disappeared down the hallway. First, they whispered by the front door. Silence followed. More whispering, and then the door shut.

Olivia returned, cinching the white terrycloth robe tighter like she was girding for battle. She didn’t look at him until she’d fixed her coffee and sat down across the table from him. “Aden…”

“He makes you happy. I can see it.”

“He does.” A smile ghosted across her face. “I didn’t think I would find anyone after Manny. But David makes me feel alive inside. Like a woman.”

“Olivia House, look at me.”

It took a few seconds, but when she did, her expression pleaded with him for acceptance.

He reached over and covered her hands. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

“You deserve happiness. If David gives you that, I’m on board.” He let go of her hands and emptied his cup, avoiding looking at the tears welling in her eyes. “I’m going to get dressed. How long before you’ll be ready to drive me to rehab?”

“Give me a half hour.” She jumped up and ruffled his hair while kissing the tip of his nose. Then her light steps faded down the hallway.

He rolled to his bedroom. Could he ever get Shay to look at him the way his sister did David?

Aden’s phone vibrated, and Eli’s name popped up on the screen. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Have you heard from Shay? She was supposed to meet us and go to the market. We can’t wait any longer.” Eli grumbled. “I tried calling her, but it goes straight to voicemail.”

“Go, get done what you have to. I’ll try getting hold of her.” This wasn’t her way of ditching him, was it? No, not her style. He touched her contact image.

Hi, you’ve reached Shay. Leave a message.

“Shay, it’s Aden.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Eli’s worried. You were supposed to meet them this morning. I hope everything is all right. Call me back. Please.”