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“Chloe would be all over that,” Damian says with a grin.
“If I know Bri, she’ll also be all in,” Alex adds.
Zeke’s already thinking ahead. “We can do something too. Like get a couple of patrol cars, take kids on rides. We can ask for donations, and the money can go to Gwen’s cause.”
“We can get the local fire department to help out. We can make it a friendly competition. In the end, it’s all in good fun, and the money goes to a great cause,” Alex says.
“That sounds great,” I tell them, but they can see I’m not all fired up.
“So what’s really eating you?” Alex asks.
“She’s so young to have gone through so much. She was a mother to her kid sister from the time she was born, only to lose her three years later.” I stand and pace the room. “She seems fine, but how can she be with everything’s that happened? Add the fact that she was taken hostage and then Karen on top of it all, and that’s enough to make anyone crack.”
“That’s just it, man.” Alex says. “I get where she’s coming from.” He would. He lost his parents when he was a teenager. His whole family was taken from him because of an accident that should never have happened. “When you lose your family, you have two choices. You can get bitter and do the whole ‘why me?’ thing, or you can focus on being the person your parents would be proud of. Looks to me like Gwen made her decision a long time ago. The day she gave up college to help her father and Zaira, she became a survivor.”
The words hit home. A survivor. My gentle Gwen has swallowed the bitter taste of loss, and yet she keeps giving her best. “I hate that she went through that.” I meet Alex’s gaze. “I hate that you went through that.”
Alex nods, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Thanks, man. Thing is, I had it easier than Gwen. I had the support of you guys and your families. Gwen, I’m not so sure. She obviously left to start over. Lucky for you, she landed here.” He smiles.
“So what do I do?” I look around the room, searching their faces.
“You stand by her. Offer to help, but let her set the pace.” Damian offers his piece of advice.
“If Gwen wants help with the fundraiser, we’ll all step up. Eventually, she’ll see that she’s not alone anymore,” Zeke adds.
“It doesn’t seem like much,” I respond.
“To you, because you’ve had all the love and support you needed and sometimes didn’t want. To Gwen, it’s huge,” Alex says.
It’s close to six before I leave the station and get to the grocery store to pick up what I need, namely fresh steaks that’ll hopefully make it onto a plate this time. I pull up to the library as it’s closing. Gwen’s standing by the window waiting for me. She gives me a shy wave before locking up as I meet her at the top of the steps.
I kiss her, and she caresses my cheek. “Did you have a good day?” she asks.
I walk her to the car and wait for her to get in. “It’s been eventful.”
She waits for me to come around and get in before asking, “Good or bad?”
On the drive home, I tell her all about Tamira and the other girls. She’s stunned by the ugliness of the sixteen-year-old punk doing that to little girls.
“He can’t hurt them anymore, right?”
“Nope. I also had the task of talking to Ron about Karen and pressing charges against her. I’m not sure if the breaking and entering will stick because I left the door unlocked, but I’m going after it anyway. It’s a good thing we found Tamira before I had to do all that. I wouldn’t have liked leaving the guys out there.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. Tamira needed you. Kids come first. They should always come first. Until they find their voices, we need to protect them.” Gwen covers my hand with hers on the gear shift.
It’s then that I know she’s my one. She’s beautiful inside and out.
TEN
Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches
CALEB
When we returned to the house, Gwen wanted to go to her place to change. It’s almost an hour later before she comes back, looking adorable in a pair of worn jeans and a T-shirt. She sets the tin she’s carrying onto the counter.
“Can I put these in your freezer? I promise it’s not body parts,” she teases. Her smile makes the whole room glow.
“Funny girl, huh? What’s in there?”
