Page 142 of His Wounded Heart

I sit down on the crappy brown couch that came with the place and see that my hand is actually trembling as I look at the letter. It’s a legal-sized envelope, and when I open it, I see a letter addressed to me, written on one sheet of yellow paper.

Dear Commander Clark, I’m going to call you Simon because Liz did,

My name is Dora and I was the only friend that your sister had here in Minneapolis. I did her nails at Finest Nails on Fifth Street. She came once every three weeks, because she had to look good for her husband.

I started noticing things weren’t good right off. My ex used to beat me too. I know Liz wore all the fancy stuff, but even if you got money, doesn’t mean you can’t get beat. You know? It started to get real bad, but the worse it got the more she thought it was her fault. I tried to tell her it wasn’t.

I even had the police come one time, and she denied everything. It was so sad, they couldn’t do nothing. She didn’t come to me for three months, but then she came back, because she said I was her only friend.

About six months before she died she started talking about you. I got excited because I thought that meant she would ask you for help. She just talked about how great it was having you as a big brother when she was little. I asked her why she wouldn’t go to you for help if you were such a big guy and all. She said she never wanted you to see her like this. It was just like with the police, she had pride and she had shame.

But the reason I’m writing you this letter is to tell you that in the end she was getting out of there. She was saving money, and I had a friend in El Paso she could stay with for a while. She just kept wanting to save a little bit more.

So I want you to know in the end she died brave.

Dora Mathews

I sit there until it’s dark. My phone rings a few times, but I ignore it. I need to process. I finally get up and walk over to the mantel and pick up the picture of Mom and Lizzie. What beautiful smiles they had. I wipe away the two tears that mar the glass.

“Rest in peace, Lizzie. Mom, take care of our girl. I love you, Lizard.”

I look at my watch. I’ve missed dinner time, but Trenda will understand.

I pick up the letter, my keys, and my phone, then head out.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Nic and Cami kiss, and everybody claps. Actually there’s a lot of stomping as well as many of the Night Storm team hollering ‘Hooyah.’ I look down and Bella is squeezing the life out of both mine and Trenda’s hands.

“Are they married?” she asks in a very soft whisper. Trenda has taught her well.

Trenda nods.

“Now what?”

Nic and Cami walk down the aisle, grinning wide as can be.

“Now we’re going to eat and have cake and dance,” I tell her.

“I know how to dance,” she tells me proudly.

“Then let’s go.”

We take a cab from the church back to the hotel, Trenda looking gorgeous in her lavender dress, and Bella wearing a green and lavender dress. They both have lavender shoes. Trenda’s have been driving me insane all night.

When we get to the hotel, I ask them if they want to go straight to the reception hall or go up to their room for anything.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Then let’s go up to our rooms,” I suggest.

As soon as we get into Bella and Trenda’s room and Bella is in the bathroom, I pounce.

“You have been driving me crazy, woman.”

“Back at you, in that uniform.” She pulls my head down for a ravenous kiss.

I pull her closer. The silk of her dress feels good, but not as good as naked skin would.