Page 90 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

Remy reeled.

“And judging by the expression on your face, you seem to know what he’s referring to.”

“Did he…?” She cleared her throat. “Did he say anything?”

Olivia’s smile was measured. “No, he didn’t say anything. He wouldn’t.” Her words held a note of confidence. “He’s too respectful for that.”

What’d he been thinking? No, she knew what he’d been thinking.Interfering man.Except she couldn’t go there for a second time today. Too painful to contemplate. “I can’t, Olivia. I just can’t.”

The younger woman’s expression was sympathetic and understanding. “And I wouldn’t expect you to. I will say three things. Bringing a secret to light diminishes its power over you, a good counselor helps, and you can always talk to me.” With that, she stood and moved to the kitchen where she started putting the leftovers in containers.

Had Remy missed an important opportunity? Rusty, Zach, Olivia…all willing to share her burden.

Food stowed, Olivia turned to her. “Let’s go see if my dog has tired out the girls.”

“Don’t you mean them tiring out the dog?”

A genuine belly laugh. “You don’t know my dog. She has boundless energy.”

Remy replied with a smile. “At times the girls are the same. I can barely keep up.”

“My understanding is all kids are that way.”

“Do you have kids?” She’d assumed not, but Olivia’s demeanor left her questioning.

“No.” The younger woman’s answer was soft, her expression equally so. “I’m too young, and not in the right place in my life. I’m still in counseling and will be for some time in the future.”

A wistful expression crossed her face.

“I hope to, one day, be blessed with a child. Or two, or even three. I was an only child, and I think my life would’ve been different with siblings.”

“I grew up as an only child. I was twenty-four when Calleigh was born.”

Olivia grinned . “You could be her mother.”

“Let’s go check on Rusty and the girls.”

If Olivia noticed the abrupt change in topic, she said nothing.

You could be her mother.

How often did people say that? People who didn’t know her family automatically assumed Calleigh was her child, and it unsettled her. She was Calleigh’s sister. Nothing more, nothing less.

Chapter thirty-eight

“WehaveanearlyChristmas present for you, counselor.”

Responding to that deep voice, Remy glanced up from the papers on her desk to find Corporals Dorrie Duhamel and Colton Pritchard standing in her doorway.

Colton had a file in his hand and a grin on his face. The RCMP officer topped out at over six feet tall and was as dark as his petite partner was light.

Dorrie’s blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and her blue eyes shone.

Rising, Remy waved the pair into her office. “Come in.” She took the file from Colton as the two police officers sat. She wanted to open the file, but fear held that impulse in check.

Dorrie pointed to the file. “Georgia Dennison. Age nineteen. Victim of Graham Henrikson.”

“Will she testify?” Her breath caught in her throat. Could it be this easy?

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