Page 138 of His Wounded Heart

“Can you remember anything about him?”

I shook my head. “No, nothing.”

“Give it some time my dear. Maybe you will.”

I will.

“I must congratulate you, Trenda. I have always felt that you and all of the Avery children have a very strong moral compass and I see I’m not wrong. By trying to remember all of this, you could very well be walking away from millions.”

“Yes, but I read just how badly the children have been affected by the methane gas. Some of them will never recover. This just isn’t right.”

“I agree with you.”

“Can I have the box back? Maybe something in it will have the guy’s name on it, and I’ll remember.”

“Of course, it’s your box.”

“Please send me a bill for your time this afternoon.” I say.

“This was just time spent between old friends, my dear. There will certainly not be a bill.” The old gentleman smiles.

“Thank you, Sir.”

After all of that, I need something happy to do. I leave the box in the back of my SUV and head over to the Mid Lake Retirement Community.

“Ooops.”

I turn right at the next stop sign. Need to go by Roger’s. Can’t visit someone without a gift.

When I get there, Roger is up near the cash registers.

“Trenda, how are you?” he gushes as he practically runs to me.

“I’m fine,” I smile. This is the kind of reception I’ve been getting in a lot of places in town. It’s pretty big gossip when you have a hitman out after you, and the deputies aren’t known for their discretion.

“We here at Roger’s were worried about you. That had to be a traumatic experience.”

“I feel terrible about Bella’s teacher, but it could have been worse. She’s recovering nicely. I dropped off some of my homemade lasagna when I went to see her.”

“And your situation could have been worse as well.”

“Luckily, I had some very experienced help. Simon Clark has been trained like my brother, so he was able to protect Bella and me.”

“He’s a SEAL?”

I thought Roger’s eyes would pop out of his head.

“I said he had the same training, Roger.”

“Oh, okay.” He was real disappointed, which is what I wanted.

“The important thing is that you and Bella are safe. I don’t know what we would’ve all done if something had happened to you two. Our town would have been devastated.”

What do I say to that?

“Hmmm. Roger, I’m looking for some really good baked goods that I can bring to Violet and Luther Randolph. I’m going to go visit them. Oh, and a flower arrangement, already in a vase, in case Violet doesn’t have one.”

“That is exceptionally nice of you, Trenda. See what I mean? That’s why the town loves you. You pay for the food, the flowers will be on me.”