Page 48 of Heart of a Hero

“I’ll walk you out,” Brad offered, though his halfhearted smile barely touched his face.

Karen didn’t even hesitate. “I’d prefer if Detective Perez walked me out. If that’s allowed.”

A flash of regret filled his eyes as her request seemed to catch Brad off guard. Elizabeth quickly stepped in. “Of course,” she said, and with that, the two women walked in silence down the hallway.

As they approached the door leading into the parking lot, Elizabeth stopped and turned to Karen. “Ms. Drummond?”

Karen looked at the pretty detective. Her age was indeterminate, but Karen would guess she was in her early thirties. For a moment, Karen thought about what it must be like for a young, attractive female to work in law enforcement, a male-dominated field. As much as she hated being blindsided by the entire interview, she was glad that Elizabeth had been in the room with her. She strangely hoped that Elizabeth was happy with her career choice because, for the few minutes that Karen had been with her, she could see the women’s professionalism as well as empathy. “Yes, Detective Perez?”

“For what it’s worth, Detective Robbins?—”

Karen’s hand jerked up quickly. “No. Please, just… no. He has a job to do, and so do I. And right now, those two are at odds with each other.”

“I know that he feels?—”

“I’m not sure what he feels, and frankly, I don’t want to hear it right now. Not from you, not from anyone. I’m not in the right frame of mind to discuss Mark, especially with someone else.” Karen’s voice shook slightly as she spoke, but she quickly swallowed back the tears threatening to rise. Elizabeth’s face tightened, clearly reading the turmoil behind Karen’s words, and for a moment, Karen thought the detective might say something more. But instead, she just nodded.

“I understand,” Elizabeth said quietly.

Karen inhaled deeply, steeling herself. “Thank you for your kindness, but I’m leaving now.”

As she turned, her gaze shot down the hall and landed on Mark. He was standing with Brad, his normally calm demeanor frayed at the edges as he waved his arms, his expression stern and unreadable. His jaw was clenched, and his face… God, his face looked pained.

For a moment, their eyes met, and the intensity of his gaze hit her square in the chest. She could see the plea in his expression, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap between them. He was investigating a crime, and somehow, she was entangled in it. Whether she was a suspect, a person of interest, or something in between, it didn’t matter—what mattered was that he hadn’t told her. He hadn’t given her the courtesy of a warning.

Without so much as a wave or a smile, Karen broke eye contact and turned on her heel. She walked out the door with her head held high, leaving Mark behind.

22

“Mom! Nikki’s mom is almost here!” Laura’s voice rang out from the living room, jolting Karen out of her brooding thoughts. She blinked, her mind still heavy with memories, but forced herself to focus on the present.

The girls had a sleepover night. She snorted—the sleepover night that was supposed to be another night for Mark and me.“Do you have everything?” she called out as she walked toward the front of the house.

Both girls stood in the living room with small overnight bags at their feet. It was unusual for them both to have a sleepover at the same place. Tonight, both girls were headed to Nikki and Hannah’s, two sisters their age with whom they had developed a bond.

The four girls had a unique friendship despite having their own social circles and interests. It warmed Karen’s heart to see the sisters connecting and maintaining their bond, even as they grew older and drifted toward different activities.

As Nikki and Hannah’s mom pulled into the driveway, Laura and Olivia bolted out the door, followed by Karen. The moms talked for a few minutes, then with a flurry of hugs, kisses, and the typical reminders of good behavior given, she wavedas they pulled out of the driveway. Since all four girls were runners, Karen was grateful that the girls would be dropped off for practice the following morning. All Karen had to do was pick Laura and Olivia up when it was over.And I should be able to avoid Mark that time if I stay in the vehicle and let the girls come to me.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she turned and locked the door behind her. The house, once filled with the vibrant energy of two lively daughters, now felt overwhelmingly empty.

For a moment, she considered the possibility of going out. She was not someone who minded eating in a restaurant by herself. Yet the idea of getting dressed up and going out when her evening plans had been so different held no appeal. She weighed the option of ordering takeout but dismissed it quickly. The idea of picking up food only to come home to an empty house with nothing but a glass of wine for company made her feel lonelier than she already did.

She wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge as if it might hold the solution to her restlessness. Of course, it didn’t. All it offered were some leftovers from last night.

With little choice, she heated the leftovers and poured a glass of wine, even if it exemplified her evening’s loneliness. She set the table as if it were a special occasion, but as she sat down and began eating, the weight of her solitude pressed down harder. Even the slice of pie she allowed herself couldn’t lift her spirits.

“Ugh,” she groaned, dropping her fork with a clatter. She didn’t mind that her life was about Laura, Olivia, and work. Loneliness had been a constant companion since becoming a widow, but there were nights, like tonight, when it felt almost suffocating.

A knock on her front door caused her to jolt, and for a few seconds, the idea that Mark had come by on a night they were supposed to have a date. She glanced down and grimaced. Shehad changed out of her nursing scrubs, but with no plans for the evening, she’d simply put on a pair of leggings and a slouchy Army sweatshirt.

She hurried to the door, uncertain if she wanted it to be Mark or not. Peeking through the security hole, she was surprised to see Belle Simmons. Belle was also a nurse and worked in a nursing home. The two women met during professional development right after Karen moved to the county. Considering that some of the services the ESHH provided were for clients at Careway Nursing Home, the two women became friends.

However, Karen’s busy schedule and her girls being so much older than Belle’s children meant they spent little time together.

She threw open the door and greeted, “Belle! What brings you here? Come on in.”

Always so pretty, Belle was a dark-haired, soft-spoken, sweetheart of a woman with a caring nature.

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