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“There was an incident four years ago. The townspeople had organized a Halloween party for the kids here. There was a fire and…”
I could tell how difficult it was for him to talk about it.
“Eight kids were lost. That was right before I was elected mayor. I couldn’t possibly imagine what the parents of those kids went through. The cops never found out what had started the fire and the people just moved on after a while. It was a difficult time here in Delaware.”
Not even Ryan for all his free mouthedness had once told her about it. Then I realized something else. His wife that passed away.
“What was her name?” I say it so softly that I barely heard myself but I knew he heard me.
“Angela.” Angela was a beautiful name. It was the name of the kind of person you could imagine he would end up with. At my first day at work Ryan told me about Lucas’s inability to grieve properly and I see it now. I take a bold step towards him. We stood face to face although he towers over me a little. I watched him struggle to contain those raw emotions. And then I hugged him. At first he was tense and then gradually he relaxed, lacing his arms around my waist.
“Evelyn.” He says. His voice was a deep growl. It caused things to change in me, that voice. I held him tighter then he buried my face in his neck. We were so close. I could feel his breath against my skin, our mouths inching closer and closer till I heard my name.
“Evelyn?” I knew that voice. It was Holden.
ChapterNineteen
Iran as fast as I could but Holden was faster and just as I caught up to where his car was parked he zoomed off. I took out my phone from my and tried dialing his number. Nothing. He must’ve blocked me. Luca emerges from the dark. I would’ve gone home by myself but I neededa ride. All the other volunteers had already left. All through the ride he was silent until he spoke.
“I can no longer plan this fundraiser with you.” He says out of his brooding silence.
“That’s fine, I’ve gotten enough pictures to use for your socials.”
“You don’t get it.”
I understood but I wanted him to say it.
“Is it because you’re my boss?”
“It’s because he’s my brother.” His tone was so sharp it could cut steel. He parked the car and I realized we had already reached my house.
“Our relationship is a professional one. Neither of us should try to overstep or change that ever again.”
I felt like I was being shut out. He hardly looked at me as he spoke and I could almost imagine that’s he was struggling against the urge like I was struggling against the urge to cry and demand he tell me why.
“Goodnight Miss …”
I slam the door cutting him off. His car drove away immediately and it stung. Was I really expecting him to come back and apologize? That was Holden and not him and I’d just broken Holden’s heart. I picked up my phone again and tried to call. No answer.
I went in and immediately prepared myself a bath. As the warm water flowed into the tub I thought about Holden and Luca and the mess that we were in. I was suddenly dispirited and I went straight to bed hoping that the next day would bring clarity to my mind.
* * *
At 9:00amI received a call.
“Good morning, am I on to Evelyn Grey?” A female voice asks over the line.
“Yes. How can I help you?”
“You’ve tried countless times to reach Holden Grant in the past 12 hours. Do you know any family member of his?”
“Can you just tell me what’s going on?” Fear pricked at my insides.
“Mr Grant was involved in an accident last night and is now recovering, we need to know if he has any family in town for support.”
An accident last night. My heart starts to race.
“What happened? What hospital is he?”
