The sound of a cell phone shrilling echoes in the silence that had encroached Isaac’s office. I shove my hand into my pocket when its vibrating tone jingles through my thigh. I’m surprised when I notice it is my mom calling. I only left her ten minutes ago. Hitting the connect button, I press the phone to my ear.
“He is getting away with killing my baby,” she yells down the line before I get the chance to issue a greeting. “The DA just called. He was released this morning. All charges have been dropped.”
“What?” I reply, my mind spiraling. The man driving the car that struck Jorgie was three times over the limit. He was arrested at the scene and charged with vehicular manslaughter. How could he get away with this? It doesn’t make any sense.
“There must be a mistake. It can’t be true. He was arrested at the scene.”
“The only mistake is that the bastard who killed my baby now gets to walk free,” my mom sobs.
I clutch the phone so tightly, my knuckles go white when my mom’s howling sobs sound down the line.
“I’ll fix this. I’ll make it right,” I promise before disconnecting the call.
My brisk strides out of Isaac’s office slow when he calls my name. Cranking my neck, I stare into his stern eyes.
“Haste decisions will cause unforgiving mistakes,” he warns.
“And sitting around doing nothing will make me a coward,” I reply, my jaw ticking as the wave of emotions hits me at once.
“I may have failed to protect Jorgie, but I’m not going to let her murderer walk free.”
Thirty-One
Ava
Two weeks later…
“Good boy, Jarrod, just one last swish of water and you’re good to go.”
Jarrod’s excited eyes dart to his mom sitting in the corner of the room, silently seeking praise for the bravery he showed while having his first filling done. I slide my swivel chair over to my desk to collect a roll of stickers I keep in the bottom drawer. A smile tugs on the corners of my mouth when I notice the first sticker is a gold sheriff’s badge with “Sheriff Brave” printed on it. Jarrod squeals excitably when I hand him the sticker and assist him down from the dental chair.
“Now remember, no more yogurt before bed. I know yogurt has calcium in it, but it also has a lot of nasty sugars your teeth don’t want to sleep in,” I say, rising from my chair.
Jarrod eagerly nods his head before joining his mother. The fake smile on my face slips the instant they exit my office. I slump into my chair and swivel around to peer out the small office window. The room is completely silent. I’ve never felt more alone. I not only lost my best friend when Jorgie passed away, I also lost part of my soul. The devastation of her loss has been even more shattering with losing Hugo as well.
Suffering the loss of two very important people in my life within days of each other was nearly more than I could bear. I barely functioned the days following Jorgie’s death. If it wasn’t for Patty bringing me food and forcing me to eat, I would have perished on my bed I refused to leave. I only returned to the land of the living when the two weeks’ bereavement leave Mrs. Gardner kindly granted expired.
For the past four weeks, I’ve thrown myself into my job. Arriving before the sun rises and leaving once the sky is pitch black. Occupying my mind has been the only godsend in this horrible situation. Work is truly the only thing keeping my head above water.
Running the back of my hand over my cheeks, I remove a few stray tears that fell from my eyes before gathering my belongings from my desk, preparing to go to lunch. My stomach is swirling with how hungry I am. I inhale a quick, sharp breath when my cell phone displays I have one new voicemail. My shock isn’t because no one has called my phone in weeks, it is because the voicemail is from Hugo.
I’ve missed Hugo more than any words can express. But I’m also angry at him…and myself. I'd give anything to see Jorgie again, but Hugo lives in my apartment building, and I still haven’t worked up the courage to see him. Jorgie’s death should have brought us closer. It should have made us realize that life is too short and we should cherish every moment. But instead of doing that, I’m letting stupid jealousy rule my heart.
My heart hammers against my ribs when I dial my voicemail and press my phone to my ear. Seconds feel like hours as I wait for the call to connect.
“Hey, Ava. It’s Hugo,” he greets me.
Tears prick in my eyes from the dejected tone in his voice.
They roll down my face when he says, “I’ve missed you so much, babe, more than you will ever realize.”
I push the phone in close to my ear, ensuring I can hear his message over the furious pounding of my heart.
He releases a deep breath of air, before saying, “I didn’t kiss Victoria at Jorgie’s wake… I know what it looked like, but I swear on Jorgie’s grave, it wasn’t as it seemed. I'd never betray you like that, Ava. I could never… I love you. I have for years. Ever since you dove over the couch and tackled me to the ground.”
A loud sob tears from my parted lips.
“I hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me for what I’ve done.”
