The relief she’d felt at seeing Edward at her door flooded her twofold. “You always take such good care of me.” She glanced around the room. She’d made quite the mess. “Sorry for the disorder.”
“You’re looking for another camera or VCR?”
She’d told him already about Cost’s interrogation. “It’s probably a waste of time, but I had to try.”
“Of course you did.” He set the bag on the coffee table, and this time he did the ushering. “Eat. The summer salad is your favorite.” He smiled as he settled next to her. “Strawberries and pecans included.”
“You’d make the perfect husband,” she teased. “Thoughtful.” He blushed. “Always ready to defend my honor. And even though you didn’t prepare this yourself”—she dug into the bag—“you’re an amazing cook.”
“Chef,” he reminded.
“Sorry.” She sent him a sidelong glance. “Chef.”
The dressing was light yet creamy. Had her taste buds exploding. “Hmmm.”
“Indeed,” he agreed.
“Edward.” She turned to him. “Do you remember the first day we met?”
He thought about it a moment, then smiled. “I do. You were trying to drag Shelley into the children’s section of the library. She clearly was not pleased.”
Fragments of the memory whispered through CJ’s mind and she smiled. “She wanted to ...” She shook her head. “She wanted to be someplace else.”
“The park.”
“That’s it.” She shook her head. “You remember! She pitched such a fit. Everyone in the library was staring.”
“When I promised to buy the two of you ice cream, Shelley had a change of heart.”
Now she remembered. “You walked with us to the ice cream shop where the Medical Plaza is now.”
“I did. You interrogated me the entire distance.”
Another smile tugged at her lips. “You were a stranger. A girl couldn’t be too careful.”
“Yes, we discussed that issue over scoops of triple chocolate chip.”
“Whenever we needed anything, you were there.” CJ let the flood of memories she’d been holding back wash over her. “Every August before school started, packages of clothes would be delivered to our door. You always swore you weren’t the one who sent them, but I knew better.”
“Then you grew up and I had to resort to gift cards.”
There was a question she’d thought of asking him many times, but she’d never worked up the nerve, or maybe the time had never been right.
“Edward, are Shelley and I the reason you never married? I’d hate to think we prevented you from having a full life of your own.” God knows they’d kept him busy fixing their problems.
He set his own salad bowl and fork aside. “CJ.” He touched her cheek so very gently. She leaned into the touch. “You and Shelley were and still are my family. You, in particular, have made my life abundantly full. Don’t ever think for a moment that you and your sister have been anything but a treasured part of my existence.”
CJ reached over, hugged him. She didn’t care that her salad bowl tilted precariously in her lap.
They finished their dinner in silence. The blissful feeling faded and her thoughts returned to the investigation. She needed to find any other tapes that might be here. If Nash disappeared or destroyed the tape he had in his possession, they might never know the truth. But then, maybe the tape showed nothing relevant except the confrontation with Cost.
Edward set his bowl aside once more; this time it was empty. She placed hers beside his. She’d devoured every crisp, tart bite.
“I have no plans this evening,” he announced as he stood. “I’d like very much to help you search.”
She started to say no, but a fresh set of eyes could prove useful. “That would be great.” She hesitated. “If you’re sure.” She pushed her weary body off the sofa.
“I’m absolutely positive.”
