Page 92 of Protect My Heart

She reached and stroked his befuddled face. “Yes. We’re becoming friends.”

“You.” He snagged her hand and gave her finger a nip. “I think we could arrange that.”

“Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long to wrap this up. I’d still like to find my father’s journal.”

“Assuming it ever existed. He could’ve been lying to the warden.” CJ added.

“I don’t think so.” Liz nestled back into Jim’s side as she talked. “I think the key Jim and I found in the knife will lead us to the warden’s knife. I don’t think Papi would’ve used a knife he took for evidence.”

“Well, we’ll be home in an hour. I’d bet Aunt Rosa has been worrying her rosary.”

Liz had phoned her mother from the station up north, but knowing her mother, she wouldn’t relax until she could smother Liz in one of her bear hugs.

Jim jostled Doc awake. He hated to do it but there was no way she would sleep through the squeals from the welcoming committee on the front porch. They could wake the dead. Rosa, Joy, and Lorna all descended the stairs as CJ pulled into the drive. While Mark, Walt, and the rest of the Whittiers hovered behind the front window.

“My baby,” Rosa squeezed Doc so tight, Jim could see her struggling to breathe.

“I’m alright, Mami.” Doc held tight to her mother for another moment. When she pulled away, Joy swooped in.

“You had us so worried. I ruined a two-day old manicure.” Joy waved her pink-tipped fingers in front of Doc before grabbing her up in a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“Me, too.” Lorna gave her a quick hug then slipped her arm around CJ.

Jim scanned the neighborhood as he herded the crowd inside.

Liz was passed from one relative to the next. He wouldn’t have figured the Whittier clan for huggers. Even Marion, the family’s employee and friend, enveloped Liz in a motherly embrace.

“Lizzie, look at you.” Joy Whittier tsked and held her niece at arm’s length. “You take a nice long soak, and then pop an Ambien and sleep for a full day. I’ll make us spa appointments for Monday.”

“I’m looking that bad, huh?” Liz smirked.

The shroud of stress lifted, and she smiled.

“We should leave and let Lizzie relax.” CJ slipped a kiss to the top of Lorna’s head. She nodded and they made their exit.

Each member of the family soon followed, until the only people left in the living room were Rosa, Walt, Jim, and Liz.

“Marion made some calming tea. I can get it for you.” Rosa rose from the couch.

“Mami.” Liz reached a hand out to stay her mother. “Did Papi have a journal?”

Rosa blew out a breath, her eyes took on a dreamy cast. “Patty used to write stories and poems.” Sadness swept across her face before she continued. “I never saw him write a word after he returned from overseas.”

Hope fluttered in Jim’s gut. “So, he could have journaled while in the military.”

“Could be, but I’m not sure where they would be. Assuming I still have them.” She rubbed a manicured hand over her jaw. “They weren’t in the boxes in the basement?”

“Not that we found,” Jim said. Reaching in his pocket he retrieved his wallet. With two fingers, he dug behind his Saint Michael medal to pull out the key.

Doc’s delicate fingers took it. “I wish I knew what this was to.”

“CJ and I thought it might be for a locker at the old gym O’Roarke used to box at.”

“Butch’s gym?” asked Rosa.

Three sets of eyes turned to Rosa. “Have you been there, Mami?”

“Not in years. Butch Hanlin was an old army buddy of your father’s.”