He was out. Done. No more.
But with every step, one truth gnawed deeper—Diego wasn’t done with him.
Not even close.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tess wedged her sandwich wrapper into the trash bin behind the medical examiner’s office, wiped her hands on a napkin, and sat back down at a table in the shade to relax for a little while longer. Lunch breaks were never glamorous there—twenty minutes if she was lucky, thirty if the universe was generous.
Today, the universe seemed to be in a decent mood.
One of the two autopsies Dr. Hansen had handled that morning ran longer than expected—the cause of death for a forty-four-year-old man had baffled him, and they were both hoping the toxicology screens would shed some light. By the time they finished and Tess finally stepped onto the small patio with her lunch, everyone else had already drifted back inside. Her e-reader became her only company, which was fine with her.
Out there, the world sounded completely different. No phones, no gurneys, no clipped footsteps on linoleum—just the steady drone of the building’s rooftop AC unit, a few gulls arguing overhead, and the hum of traffic drifting from the main road.
It was just her and a stretch of rare, quiet midday air.
She checked the time. Enough left to call Bonnie. Ever since Tess had stopped at the woman’s boutique, they’d talked on the phone every few days.
She dialed and pressed the phone to her ear.
Bonnie answered on the second ring. “You caught me at a good time. Are you on a late break, or did you ditch the office and run?”
She laughed. “Late break. However, the second option doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
“Go for it! Chaos keeps life interesting.”
“Trust me, I get plenty of chaos.” It felt like she’d been living in a whirlwind for years, and starting medical school would only crank the speed higher. She wondered how Brian would handle seeing her even less—if he’d still want this, want her, when things got harder.
“Busy morning?”
“Yeah. But I’m good. Just... catching my breath and some fresh air.”
Bonnie’s tone shifted slightly—warm, familiar, and motherly, the kind of tone that settled Tess rather than stirred anything painful. “And how are you and Andy holding up? How’s the house coming along?”
“Better every day. The repairs are moving along, and the living room doesn’t resemble a disaster zone anymore. The contractor said we’ll be able to move back in another two weeks or so. As for Andy, he’s... okay. Teenager-okay.”
Bonnie laughed knowingly. “Ah, yes, angst—the international emotional standard of sixteen-year-old boys.”
She smiled, relaxing a little. “He’s been busy with work at the hardware store and hanging out with friends. He’s even got a girlfriend, although he won’t admit that. Anyway, it all keeps him out of trouble.”
“Well, mostly, I’m sure,” Bonnie teased. “But I’m glad things are settling.”
“Trying to, at least.”
“Good.” Bonnie’s voice brightened. “Now, I’m actually glad I got you on the phone because I was going to call you later.”
Tess arched a brow even though Bonnie couldn’t see it. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to invite you and Andy to come with Brian to Saturday dinner at my house at five.” Bonnie didn’t even try to hide the excitement. “Sean and Grace will be there too. We’re grilling—well, Dan is grilling. Which actually means his nephews will be grilling with him supervising and telling them they’re doing it all wrong.”
She laughed. “I can easily picture that.”
“Anyway, please join us,” the older woman finished. “No arguments. Consider this a summons.”
Warmth unfurled low in Tess’s chest. Leave it to Bonnie to make an invitation sound less like a formality and more like they already belonged.
“That sounds perfect,” she said. Then she winced at a sudden thought. “Brian does know you invited us... right? I don’t want him to feel like I’m overstepping.” Things between them were still new and delicate, like a thread not fully knotted yet, and she didn’t want to be the one to pull it loose.
