Читать книгу The Sheriff's Secret - Julie Lindsey Anne - Страница 13

Chapter Five

Tina turned onto the main road with a sigh of relief, thankful to put a little distance between herself and the man causing her already shocked and broken heart so much unnecessary confusion. She dialed Mary and set the phone to speaker.

Thankfully, the call connected on the first ring. “Hi, Tina,” Mary answered. “How are you? Is everything okay?”

Tina checked her mirrors and adjusted her defrost vents. “I’ve been better. How are you and Lily?”

“Lily’s sound asleep, and a strapping young deputy is patrolling my neighborhood, so I’m not doing too bad, either.”

“Great.” A smile edged over Tina’s lips. Mary was Tina’s first friend after moving back to town. She wasn’t much older than Tina’s mom, and she missed caring for children, so the arrangement with Lily was perfect all around. “Well, I’m finally on my way. Can I bring you anything?”

“You don’t need to do that. You’ve had an awful day. Besides, Lily and I ate lunch before she went to sleep.” Mary gave a sad laugh. “Considering what you’ve been through, I should probably be making you lunch.” She paused. “Do you want me to make you lunch? Maybe pour you a glass of wine? I’m a great listener if you need someone to talk to.”

“No.” Tina almost laughed. She didn’t drink, and it was barely past noon, but after the morning she’d had a glass of wine didn’t sound half bad. “How about I buy you a fancy coffee instead? Cup of Life is on the way to your place from here.”

“Fine,” Mary agreed. “I will accept your coffee, but only if you agree to stay a few minutes before you take off again. I worry about you. Sometimes I think you get so busy taking care of everyone else that you forget to take care of yourself.”

Tina didn’t have the energy to argue or confess all that had happened today. Like the possibility she may have been the reason for Steven’s death. Or that, even if she wasn’t, someone had still been in her home. Touched her things. Pretended to make her dinner.

An involuntary shiver coursed down her back. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon.”

Tina disconnected, then loosened her grip on the wheel, bending and stretching her fingers in a futile attempt to relax. She needed a better headspace before holding her baby again. Lily was sure to pick up on the anxiety pouring off her mother in buckets.

Tina closed her eyes at the red light, and West’s deceptively gruff image appeared. She popped her lids open and cursed herself internally. Given all that had transpired today, it was ludicrous she couldn’t concentrate on anything but memories of his determined face.

She eased her foot off the brake as the light turned green.

She’d been back in town for nearly two years, and had managed to date, get married and have a baby, all without running into a single Garrett. Now, after just a few hours at his side, she was seventeen all over again, wondering when she would see him next, and if his heart still beat as fast as hers when they touched. More important, could he forgive her for the way she’d left things between them all those years ago?

West’s opinion of her had always mattered. As much today as it had when they were young and wildly in love. She groaned inwardly at the thought. It had been unfair for her to let him love her then. Back when she had been a lie. She’d put up a nice show. Smoke and mirrors to distract from what she really was. He gave her his all, but she’d never really let him in. She’d kept the real things to herself.

She’d known what people said about her, of course. She fed on the gossip, imagining her life was something other than it was, letting people believe anything, so long as it wasn’t the truth. She’d pretended to be rail thin by choice, instead of half starved, pretended to wear too-short shorts for attention, when the truth was that she kept getting taller, and clothes were expensive.

No more.

Now, she had a stack of jeans in her closet, all the right size, and Lily had more clothes than one child could ever want, whatever the season. Tina would never be that helpless child again, and her daughter would never know the humiliation of a life without a mother’s love.

Possibly the only thing she loved more than knowing how much she had changed was knowing that West hadn’t changed at all. He was still strong and certain, reliable and steadfast. All the things she’d fallen in love with long ago. Even being with him again for a short time had made her miss the family she never had and long for a husband to cradle their daughter. She wanted someone she could find strength in when hers was gone.