Page 22 of His Wounded Heart

“Evie, you don’t even live here anymore. Almost all of your time is spent in Southern California.”

“Yeah, but Aiden and I have talked. This is where we eventually want to raise our kids. Aiden already has fifteen years in, so he’s talking about retiring. People are already trying to recruit him.”

My heart clenches. “For real? You’d raise your kids here?”

“I’m not getting any younger. I’m twenty-seven, I need to get a move on. I already told the Senior Chief that I was getting a head start on the program. I’ve got too many of the other Midnight Delta wives leaving me in the dust.”

I don’t know what to say, and Evie catches on. “Trenda? What’s really going on with you? A year ago you would have been ecstatic.”

“I wish I knew.”

Evie gives me a deep look, trying to delve deep into my psyche, but she just finds confusion.

“Let’s have coffee cake,” I suggest.

“Do you have chocolate sauce?”

“Am I your big sister?”

Evie grins and sits down while I get out everything we need and put it all on the table.

“So, fill me in on the gossip,” Evie commands after she takes a mammoth bite of chocolate-covered coffee cake. “How are Chloe and Zarek?”

“You really go in for the kill, don’t you?”

I take a small bite of the cake, but chew slowly so I can think about my answer. “They’re still as in love as the day they got married.”

“But…?” Evie prompts.

“I’m worried about Chloe. The miscarriage hit her hard. Zarek has been a rock and he’s tried to get her into counselling, but she insists she doesn’t need it. With her history she knows better than that. The hell of it is, I think Zarek needs some help too. Not just because of them losing their baby, but Chloe’s depression is bringing back old memories for him on top of what’s going on today. But he’s too busy trying to be strong for Chloe and he’s not seeing the forest for the trees. Damned firefighters.”

“Just as bad as special forces operators,” Evie nods. “Would it help if I drop by and try to talk to Chloe?”

“Couldn’t hurt.”

“How about Zoe? I’m surprised she hasn’t plowed in on her twin’s business.”

“She’s killing it at school. She’s already been accepted into a doctorate program. She has her eye on a victim’s advocacy job working for the state.”

Evie winces, just like I did when Zoe first told me.

“That’s a tough row to hoe.”

“She’s committed. You know Drake finally got his degree in psychology.” I couldn’t help the grin on my face. I am so damn proud of him. He’s worked so damned hard for this. Taking online and night courses and accomplishing this even with his erratic schedule.

“He took the ten-year plan,” Evie giggles.

“Who cares, he did it.”

“Yeah, he did. Aiden finished his degree the third year he was in. I’ve asked him if it bothered him that he came in as a noncom, and his answer has always been, ‘no’. I think he liked being down in the dirt and mud, learning from the ground up. Plus, his family down in Mexico was still kind of…”

“Yeah.” I don’t say anything more and neither does Evie. Aiden’s family down in Mexico had been involved in some nefarious stuff fifteen years ago, but his uncle has worked hard to turn the family business legitimate over the years.

“So why do you want to leave? Do you want to go back to Nashville?”

“God no!”

“You never have talked about what happened…”