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“I’m sorry about Lizzie,” Shade commiserated.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without her… I should have been the one who died.” Grief-stricken, Andy looked wildly around, as if searching for something to end his torment.
“Deacon.” Shade’s sharp tone had Andy focusing back on him. “I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. We’re going to call Lucky and get him here. Then you’re going to make any arrangements you want to make for Lizzie. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll—”
The club door opened, spilling fresh sunlight and air into the room. Everyone blinked to adjust their eyes. Refocusing, they saw it was Tink.
Seeing everyone standing so close to the door, she abruptly stopped. “Excuse me. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Seeing where Andy was sitting, Tink walked hesitantly forward. “I just wanted to drop this off for Andy.”
Burn and Wizard moved to the side to give her more space to talk to Andy.
“I know I’m the last person you want to see, but I hope you will accept this for Lizzie.” Tink’s face was etched with pain, as if it took everything within her willpower not to cry. “Lizzie loved pink.” Tink carefully laid the garment bag on the table next to Andy. “I bought a dress and undergarments for Lizzie. There’s also a matching sweater; I didn’t want her to be cold.” Her lips trembled as she handed an envelope out for Andy to take. “There’s a cashier’s check inside for fifteen thousand for Lizzie’s burial expenses. If you need any more, I can borrow it from Mama.”
“I can’t accept—”
Tink’s hand dropped to her side. “I understand you hate me, but please…” Her lip trembling increased. Doom expected her to break down into tears at any second.
“You think I blame you? Lizzie and I considered you the daughter we were never able to have. I could never hate you. The only one to blame is me. I wasn’t able to protect her.”
Tink reached down to hug Andy, giving him the feminine touch he needed to release the grief he had been holding back.
“Then, as your daughter, I want you to take this money and give Lizzie the memorial service she deserves. Afterward, Mama wants you to invite anyone you want to the restaurant for a funeral reception. In the envelope is also a card for a flower shop. My mother wants you to pick out any arrangement and flowers you think Lizzie would like and said she would consider it an honor if you would allow her to take care of the cost.”
Doom felt a lump in his throat when Tink wiped the tears away so they wouldn’t land on Andy’s hair.
“My father wanted to take you out to get a suit, but because of his ill health, Dad asked if his best friend could take you and help you make arrangements for Lizzie’s funeral. He should be here in about thirty minutes.”
Straightening away from Andy, she moved his hands away from his face to give him a stern look. “Have you eaten?”
“I’m not hungry—”
“I’ll text him that you haven’t eaten. You have to eat, Andy, for Lizzie. You know she wouldn’t want you to be hungry. Okay?”
“Okay,” Andy replied meekly.
Giving him a hug, Tink stepped away. “I have to get back to work. My lunchbreak is nearly over. Oh… I almost forgot.” Tink reached into her pocket to take out a cell phone. “I got you this so I can check in with you. I keyed in my number, and your phone number is in the envelope. Can I get you anything before I leave?”
Andy’s lips moved, but it took a couple of seconds before he could get any words out. “No… Thank you.”
“You don’t owe me one thanks… I loved her too.” Tink’s stern façade broke into the mirror image of the same grief which was on Andy’s. “Lizzie would be sitting by her door or inside by her window to make sure I got upstairs safely before she went to bed. I couldn’t bring myself to go to my apartment last night because I knew she wouldn’t be there. When I said Lizzie was my second mother, I truly meant it. I loved her, and I love you too. I used to joke with her you were my papa bear.”
Andy’s mouth cracked into an affectionate smile. “An old, broken-down one.”
“No way. Doom was scared of you.”
Disbelieving, Andy looked to where Doom was standing. “No, he wasn’t.”
“He was,” Tink affirmed. “Doom thought you were going to try a home invasion with him in my apartment. So, you might feel old and broken down, but Doom recognized a grizzly when he saw one.”
She gave Andy another hug when he broke into laughter. “Now I’m going to be really late. I’ll call later to find out what arrangements you’ve made.”
