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The van lay upside down, completely burned out but no longer on fire. Two uniformed firefighters with radios over one shoulder hung back, observing. Chatting with each other and drinking from hot cups.
Clare spotted a woman she knew—the medical examiner, Sarah Carlton. Though she was married now, Sarah had kept her name in a professional capacity. Her husband was a quiet person Clare had met once and quickly afterward signed a nondisclosure agreement with some mutual friends.
Sarah stood out of her crouch by the window. She took a heavy breath, her face pale. “Ohhh.” She strode to the tree line and put one gloved hand against a trunk. She leaned forward and made some moaning noises.
Clare strode over. “Hey, you okay?”
Sarah pursed her lips and blew out a breath. Gage showed up beside Clare and held out a water bottle. “Here.”
She drank some slow sips. “Most of the time I’m fine. Then it hits me. Butdo nottell Joseph. If he asks, I was completely fine.”
Clare frowned and glanced at Gage, unsure how much he knew about Sarah and her husband and his history. His life had been lived at terminal velocity for so many years there had been a path of destruction. Now they finally had the chance to be happy and live their lives in peace. “Don’t you think he’d want to know if you’re unwell?”
“Only if I actually throw up.” Sarah took another sip of water. “And who has time for that? I’ve got a body to get back to the morgue.”
“I’m going to go take a look.” Gage wandered to the van.
“Okay,whatis going on between you?” Sarah stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Because I’m getting vibes.”
Clare wasn’t going there. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Sarah glanced at the firefighters, Gage, and a local sheriff’s deputy who’d shown up. Then she leaned in. “It’s morning sickness.”
“Oh. Wow. That’s awesome.”
“Noteworthy for us, and healing for Joseph. Though, I’m not sure he’ll ever get past the fear. It’s just part of being a parent. But losing his wife and baby the way he did? Until he holds his children in his arms, something will be on edge.”
“Children?”
Sarah grinned. “It’s twins.”
Something in Clare relaxed. “Twins. That’s amazing.” She gave her friend a hug because it was wonderful. Knowing it was different from what Clare experienced honestly made it easier. As though she could move the knowledge to a different category. One not so emotionally charged.
Sarah eyed her. “Now spill. You, and Lieutenant Deluca?”
“We’re working together on this case. Anything else is ancient history.”
“Mmm.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Clare set her hands on her hips.
“Nothing. I should get back to work as well.” Sarah took a step back. “My door’s always open if you want to chat. Ember and I are talking about starting a book club. You’re welcome to join.”
“Oh, well.” Clare sighed. “I might like to join that.” She loved to read and needed to make more time to do it. With the business she’d slacked off the last few years. Convinced herself she was too busy for frivolous things.
“Come on. I’ll walk you through what I found so far.” Sarah’s color had returned. Instead of her skin and lips being the same color, she had pink in her again.
“I remember those days.”
“Huh?” Sarah stopped.
“Being nauseous, and nothing got rid of it. But we take the bad with the good.” She had been waiting for some good a long time. When Ember came back to town it seemed things were looking up. Now the bad had resurfaced and she had to face the worst of her past with Gage. He needed to know, so she had no choice and wasn’t going to complain. The truth needed to be spoken.
But it couldn’t be denied the moment she had something good, it was taken away. Or overwhelmed with bad.
Almost like God denied her happiness. Maybe He really did hate her no matter how hard she tried, or the work she did to make amends. She wanted to do the right thing. Why didn’t it work?
Sarah touched her shoulder. “You’re talking about being pregnant?”
