Page 254 of Unexpected Heroine

He drags his hand across his forehead in a rubbing motion.

“Anyhow, your wife told me in the restroom what happened last night and why you guys are all on high alert. I never would have come today if I’d known. No need to shame me for it, though. My mind will replay it every night at bedtime for the next twenty or thirty years.”

“She’s not my wife.”

“Oh?” My head quirks. “The way she spoke of you made it seem...”

“That’s nice to hear, but it’s complicated.” He rubs his forehead even harder. “We are together, but it was a secret until last night. Sort of. Her son is my best employee. Maddie didn’t want anyone to think he’d get preferential treatment, which is crazy. But yeah... whatever.”

“The big dude? Leo, right?”

He narrows his eyes at me suspiciously, obviously wondering how I knew who he was talking about. Suddenly, he snaps and points at nothing. “Oh yeah. He came to Tomer’s place with me the day after the uh—” A grimace overtakes his expression, and he bites off the rest of his sentence. “Shit. Sorry for bringing that up. I’m sure it’s the last thing you’d want to talk about.”

“It’s okay,” I reassure him.

My hands itch to touch him, to offer a soothing pat or squeeze on his arm. But I force them to stay in my lap to avoid making this more awkward than it already is.

“No, it’s not. I don’t even know what to say to you about that. How are you managing? You’re getting the help you need, right?”

Sweet of him to care.

“I’m staying at the women’s shelter y’all recommended. It’s like a spa but with intensive trauma recovery services. I have good days and bad, but I’ll be okay. Those monsters won’t break me.”

“Tomer said you were strong.” The words come out in a hush, as if he was only talking to himself.

Relatable. Talking to myself is the best. I give fantastic advice.

The silence surrounds us again. Maybe he has a degree from Foot in Mouth University too.

Practically out of nowhere, he announces, “I didn’t know you existed. If I had known, I wouldn’t have left you... I’d have come for you.”

The shell holding in all the doubts I have about him cracks.

“Do you remember my mama?”

He quirks his thumb toward the door. “Yeah. Tomer told me her name a few minutes ago. I called her Abby.” Sadness tugs his eyes and mouth toward the floor. “Sorry to hear about her passing.”

“I didn’t know her, let alone know she existed until I was twenty-four.”

“But still.”

“Did you tell her you were dead?” I palm my forehead. “Dang it. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep sayin’ it like that. How can you tell someone you’re dead?”

“It’s okay. Do you mean, did I let her believe I was killed?”

“Yes.” I nod enthusiastically, grateful for his understanding. “That’s exactly what I meant.”

“I didn’t. I have no idea why she would have thought that or why your grandparents told you that.”

“Did you love her?”

No clue why that matters, but my mind has been replaced with a sponge, existing to soak in everything I can.

He puffs up his cheeks with air. I make a fist, barely resisting the urge to squeeze the air out.

Not really the impression I want to make.

“I didn’t. I’m sorry.”

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