Page 114 of Dream a Little Dream

“She’d be proud of you.”

Kenny’s throat tightened, and he blinked back the sudden sting of tears, catching his breath as Jack leaned forward, brushing a quick kiss to his cheek. It was instinctive. An unconscious act based on their history. Kenny couldn’t blame him for that. But Jack took a step back, clearing his throat as he nodded toward the cubicle beyond, where Alice lay in the gentle arms of her family.

Jessica’s killer had denied her that comfort.

“By the way,” Jack said with a small, almost wistful smile, “I like her. She’s exactly what you need.”

Kenny peered around Jack in time to catch Heather emerging, face softening with exhaustion. There was a weary grace about her, pulled thin but still holding. A mother being strong for her child.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Jack cast a quick smile Heather’s way. “We’ll be in touch, Ms Edwards.”

Heather nodded, gaze fractured. Jack gave Kenny a subtle wink as he left, blending into the bustle of uniforms and hospital staff filling the hallway.

Kenny jutted his chin towards the room. “How’s she doing?”

Heather’s eyes glimmered with a hint of relief before she glanced back over her shoulder at her daughter. “Physically?She’s okay. Mentally?” She looked at Kenny, vulnerability breaking through her usual resolve. “You’re the expert. You tell me.Willshe get over this?”

He glanced through the open curtain, where Dave sat on the edge of Alice’s bed, holding her close, whispering soft reassurances as she huddled against him. Her haunted eyes darted over to the door, catching on Heather before shifting away, lost in some dark, unreachable space.

“With your help, she will,” Kenny said. “It’s going to be a long road, but she’s got you. And Dave. You’ll get her through it. Both of you.”

Heather pressed her lips together as she gathered herself. “Yeah.” She took a deep breath, glancing down the hallway to where Jack was talking to an officer stationed outside another hospital cubicle.Aaron’scubicle.

“Do you…know him?” She nodded toward Jack.

Kenny cleared his throat, taking the moment to process her question. “Who?” he asked, though he knew exactly who she meant, needing a moment to gather his response.

“The detective?”

“Jack? Yeah.” Kenny allowed himself a brief nod, a slight smile. “We met when I was consulting on cases through my PhD work in Ryston.”

She accepted that, but she sensed more lay beneath the surface. She didn’t need to be a detective like Jack or a psychologist like him. A mother and teacher also honed the skills of knowing when someone wasn’t being entirely truthful.

“You seem close,” she said, watching Jack’s conversation from afar.

Kenny took a steadying breath. “You asked me before…about my longest relationship?”

Heather furrowed her brow. “Yeah.”

“It was with him.” The words were surprisingly easy once they were out.

Heather blinked, face tightening as she took it in. “You’re… gay?”

“Bi.” He stood tall, unabashed. As he should have weeks ago. “I’ve had relationships with both men and women. Jack was my longest.”

Heather glanced away for a moment, and he saw her take in the unexpected information, expression shifting. “You said they weren’t around anymore?”

“He wasn’t. Jack left for Glasgow eight years ago. We weren’t in contact during that time. But he came back recently. He’s engaged. Happy.”

“I see.” Heather’s shoulders relaxed, though she still seemed to process it, brow faintly creased. “Have you had long-term relationships with women?”

He sensed the root of her question: she didn’t want to feel like an experiment, another test in his search for balance, for the elusive certainty that never came easily. And as much as he sometimes questioned his own preferences, he knew his answer.

“Yes. Several before Jack. Vanessa was my longest, straight after him. Two and a half years. But in the interests of being transparent, she was…a rebound. So don’t ask her how it went. She has a tainted view of me.”

To be honest, so did Jack. But he doubted Heather would worry about that.

Heather tilted her neck. “And what am I?”

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