He rang the doorbell and a heavyset woman greeted them.
“Hello, Julia.”
“Maverick, thank you for coming.” She stepped aside and they entered the home.
“This is Carly,” Ashton said. “Carly, this is Enrique’s sister, Julia.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Carly said.
“Thank you.” She slid her teary gaze to Ashton. “We’re really struggling with this.”
When he hugged her, Julia sagged in his arms. “Our lives won’t be the same without him.”
“I know.”
“Enrique never let on that he was suffering, not even to Elena. I know she’ll be grateful you’re here. Let me take you to her.”
As they moved through the home, Julia introduced them to a few family members and close friends. Ashton offered a hug or shared an uplifting story about Enrique. Tears pricked his eyes when he spoke with Enrique’s mom and dad, but he didn’t break.
Julia led them into the kitchen and over to Elena. “Maverick, thank you for coming.”
“Elena, I’m so sorry,” he said and hugged her.
Looking much older than her forty-something years, Enrique’s widow fought to keep it together, but her hand shook as she soaked up her tears with a tissue.
“You must be Carly,” Elena said. “We’ve never met, but I feel like I know you. Maverick talks about you all the time.”
He mentioned me to his friends? “I am Carly. I’m so sorry for your loss, Elena.”
“Would you like something to eat?” Elena asked. “Everyone brought so much food.”
“Have you eaten?” Carly picked up a plate. “Can I get you something?”
Elena’s rueful smile tore at her. “Thank you, but no. I can’t eat, can’t sleep. Somehow, I have to be strong for my children.” Her eyes filled with tears.
Carly set the plate down and stroked Elena’s back. Losing someone like this was gut wrenching.
“I talked to him when I was in the hospital.” Ashton slid his hand into his pocket. “He said his new job was working out and that you and the kids were doing great. He mentioned some challenges, but only in passing. I wish—”
“I completely forgot about your injuries,” Elena said. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. I have a lot of unanswered questions about Enrique.”
“So do I.”
“Did he talk to you about what he was going through?”
“He was struggling, but he got help. He said he was feeling better and I had no reason to doubt him.”
“I wish he would have told me.”
“None of this seems real.” Pausing, Elena shook her head. “I want to go to Enrique, then, I realize, he’s not here, and the emptiness and panic and grief starts up all over again.”
Tears filled Ashton’s eyes and he wrapped a comforting arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “If I could take your pain or fix this, I would.”
Elena sniffled. “Enrique and I were very close. We were friends before we fell in love.” She glanced from Ashton to Carly. “Like you two.”
Ashton peered into Carly’s eyes. His undeniable grief sliced through her like a thousand knives.
