Page 181 of Trust No One

Judson shook his head. “It wouldn’t have been easy, but we’d have made it.”

The last seventeen years played out in rapid flashes. College. Law school. His injury that sidelined his career in football. Police academy. My job as a public defender. Ken. The attack by my client. “We’ll never know.”

He drew in a slow breath. “Do you believe in second chances?”

“I’ve made my career chasing them for my clients.” Maybe that’s why I’d done it. My life hadn’t been on track, but that didn’t mean others’ couldn’t be righted. “Keep in mind, I have Molly now.”

“I’m good with that.” His deep voice was soft, soothing, full of resolve.

“Okay.”

He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. Excitement rose in me just as it had in the barn the first time we’d made love. I leaned into him, savoring it all.

Feet hit the ground upstairs and Molly shouted, “Raine!”

I stepped back, but his hand rested on my forearm. I didn’t want Molly to catch us like this. I had too much going on now.

“Go,” Judson said softly.

I lingered a beat. “Okay.”

“I want to see the closet.”

“Sure. Last room at the end of the hallway.”

He followed me up the stairs and waited for me to duck into Molly’s room before he strode toward Mom’s room.

It took me twenty minutes to get her up and dressed. She wasn’t in much of a talkative mood, and I was grateful.

Outside, the rumble of trucks reverberated down the driveway. The gravediggers were early.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Trucks.”

“Oh.” She showed no interest.

“Judson is here,” I said. “He just arrived for coffee.”

“Oh. Does he drive a truck?”

“He does, but the big ones aren’t his.”

“I’m hungry.”

“Let’s get something to eat.”

I toasted one of Ken’s bagels, smeared butter on it, and put it in front of Molly with a glass of juice.

We ate in silence for twenty minutes before Judson returned, studying his phone. A frown furrowed his brow. When he saw us, he slipped his phone into his pocket.

“Good morning, Molly,” Judson said.

She nodded.

“What do you say, Molly?”

“Good morning.”