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“Katelyn,” her mother used a warning tone.
Oh, am I in trouble?
Katie smiled as she spoke in the most pleasant voice she could muster. “With all due respect, Auntie, gossiping about me with Kelly or Kara or my mom just isn’t right, and whatever my options may or may not be, are none of your concern.”
Her aunt’s mouth hung open. “Are you going to let her talk that way to me, Kristie?”
“I am.” Her father stood up from his seat at the table, dropping his napkin. “Katie doesn’t have to marry anyone. You’re thirty-seven, Kim. Might want to start thinking about options of your own.”
Thank you, Daddy.
Kim was out of line, but she did have a point. There weren’t any options for her, or little bean, out here in Nowheresville. Isn’t that why she left in the first place? Maybe she should have stayed in the city with Kelly, but that really wasn’t an option either. She was just going to have to suck it up until she came up with a viable plan for the future.
A future on her own.
With a baby.
And without Brendan.
Dillon led Murphy and Phil into the living room. Brendan couldn’t read their faces as they nodded at everyone and took a seat.
“Well?”
“They closed the case, Bren.” Murphy finally cracked a smile. “It’s over.”
Clasping his hands behind his neck, Brendan let out his breath in a loud rush and lowered his head to his knees. The enormity of the weight that had been lifted left him lightheaded. Hands rubbed his back and squeezed his shoulder. He couldn’t tell you who they belonged to.
After a few deep breaths he lifted his head. “You’re sure.”
“Yeah.” Murphy patted his shoulder. “There’s no actual physical evidence against you, Eric, or anyone, but in light of what we do know…and Eric’s, uh, suicide, the investigators and the prosecutor agreed to close the case.”
He looked to Phil, who nodded and patted his briefcase. “I have it right here.”
They stood then. “Well, we don’t want to keep you.” Phil winked. “You have a life to get back to.”
He had to get back to Katelyn. She was his life.
Brendan reached for the leather on his wrist. He needed to go see her right this minute. Hold her. Celebrate.
“I have to go,” he announced and went to get his coat.
Dillon held a bottle of champagne in his hand. “Bren, where the fuck you going?”
“To get a cup of foamy coffee with a heart on it.” He winked.
“Um, Bren.” Chloe slowly walked toward him, chewing on her lip. She placed her hand on his forearm. “She’s not there.”
“What do you mean she’s not there?” Chloe knocked the air right out of his lungs when he’d only just gotten it back.
She looked to Jesse and back at him, wringing her hands. “Um, she left.”
That didn’t tell him shit. He didn’t have an ounce of patience left. Not after almost a month of this hell. Brendan needed his sweet girl and he needed her right the fuck now.
“Where. Is. She?” Each word spoken was louder than the one before it.
Chloe stared down at her shoes. “She went home, I think.”
“You think? Have you talked to her?”
