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“That was a wild one.” The Chandor detective who watched with Tripp and me makes the statement, shakes his head, and walks out the door.
Tripp puts his hands to his waist. “He’s got that right. Man.”
Hollie. I need to find—
The door opens and she stops partway in, her eyes enormous. Tripp excuses himself, stepping around her on his exit.
She falls into my open arms. Her hands slide up my chest and her cheek drops against it. Wrapping her up like the precious treasure she is, I stroke her soft hair.
She speaks into my tie. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. But I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. Jacob is exonerated, but…”
“The baby?”
“And his broken heart.” Her sigh is trembly. “I don’t want to feel sorry for her.”
But she does and she will. Hollie must have caught the same implication I did—and her heart is tender. Her worst enemy couldn’t be vile enough to deserve that kind of violation and pain.
“Thank you, John.”
I circle my hand over the soft sweater on her back. Everything about Hollie is soft, molding into me and filling the voids life has scooped out. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You’re here.” She smiles up, sliding her finger along my cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I want you, too, Hollie. In every way. Always.
But if anyone is capable of fumbling a precious gift, she’s looking at him. New strength is budding in Hollie. I’ve glimpsed it these last few days, but…what if I break her?
How can I risk it, right as she’s getting her life back? I close my eyes.Father, could You make me the man she needs?
Tripp pokes his head in the door. “Sorry to interrupt. Left my phone.” He nods toward the table as he walks in.
Hollie smooths out a wrinkle in her blouse where it peeks from her sweater. She smiles at Tripp. “It’s alright. I need to ask Detective Little something before we go.”
Once she’s gone, Walker eyes me like a suspect he’s just hauled in. “Why do I get the feeling I need to ask what your intentions are, Chavez.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“With Hollie. Things are looking serious.”
A snort flies out. “You’re the one who encouraged it.”
“Did I?”
I think he did. Or was that me reading in what I already wanted?
His foot taps once. “How serious is this thing with you two?”
“None of your business, Walker.”
Still eyeballing me, he picks his phone off the table. “True enough.” He slides it into his pocket. “Alright then. See you back at the office.”
“I’m taking the rest of the day off.” Decision made. I’ve been out of the office more in the last couple weeks than in the last couple years combined. Turns out there’s a world outside those four walls.
As Tripp moves toward the open door, cold dread washes over me. I grip the nearest chair. “I’m going to screw this up.”
