Page 50 of Heart of a Hero

Belle cocked her head to the side. “Do you really think that?”

Karen’s cheeks puffed out as she breathed heavily, the weight of the question sinking in. Then she shook her head slowly. “No. I know Mark is an honorable man. I don’t think our relationship was false or that he was using me. At least, not intentionally.” She lifted her glass and drained the last of her wine before holding Belle’s gaze again. “I’m sure he’s unhappy about the investigation now encroaching on his personal life.”

Belle set her now-empty wineglass down on the coffee table. “I guess the question is, what are you going to do about it?”

“What can I do?” Karen shot back, then winced at the shrill tone. “Sorry, but there isn’t anything I can do. I froze Mark out this week because I was angry and frustrated. But now, how can we continue anything until the case is over? And by that time, dealing with the aftermath of the criminal situation, there might not be much left to build on.”

The two women rose from their seats and walked together into the kitchen, where Karen rinsed the glasses and placed them in the dishwasher. She leaned her hip against the counter near the sink, and Belle mirrored her posture, leaning against the kitchen island.

“I wish I had the magic formula to tell you how to navigate the situation,” Belle said, her voice wistful. “I’d thought that sharing my story might give you hope or at least help in some way.”

“Oh, you have, Belle,” Karen rushed to assure her friend. “I know Mark wasn’t using me. I know he was filled with questions about my job because he was interested in me. And my anger has burned out, leaving just a feeling of loneliness. Once more.” Shesighed. “Because I don’t see how to navigate anything until it’s all over.”

Belle stepped closer, her arms outstretched, and Karen gratefully leaned into the embrace, finding comfort in the simple warmth of human connection. For a moment, they stood there, holding each other in quiet solidarity, the weight of their shared burdens momentarily lifted.

After escorting Belle to the front door and saying their goodbyes, Karen closed and locked her door. She glanced at the clock. Deciding the appeal of self-care was calling, she took a long hot bath filled with scented bath oil. Then she climbed out and got ready for bed. Once under the covers, she read for a few minutes, but her phone continually distracted her. It was as though the small device was just in her peripheral vision enough to have her constantly look over. Hoping for a call? Or a text?He’s done that all week, and I’ve ghosted him.

Sighing, she placed her e-reader on the nightstand and picked up her phone. She read Mark’s messages from the past few days.

I’m so sorry for what happened. Please call me and I’ll answer any questions you might have.

You’re not answering when I call. I know you’re upset. Please talk to me.

I can’t know what you think if you won’t talk to me. Please, Karen… let me explain.

I want to see you. We still have Friday night. Please call or text me so I know what you think.

Karen, please know how sorry I am about this whole fucked-up situation. I need to know you’re all right. I want us to be all right. Please talk to me.

She sighed, torn between wanting to talk to him and wondering what they would say.“Hey, sorry I was investigating you while rocking your world.”

“Okay, the sex wasn’t exactly rocking my world,” she grumbled. She leaned back in frustration, banging her head against the pillows piled up behind her. “Ugh… who am I kidding? It was really great.”

She tossed her phone to the nightstand, watching as it skittered over the surface before falling to the floor.I don’t care?—

It vibrated with an incoming call, and she threw the covers back and scrambled to the floor, grabbing the device in case it was the girls. Seeing Mark’s name on the caller ID, she hesitated briefly before declining. She shifted so that her butt was on the floor and her back rested against the side of the bed… and sighed heavily.Torn between bitchy and needy.

Suddenly, she had no idea what she was supposed to do. She hated that at the beginning of something amazing, she felt like it had been ripped away. And grief again washed over her.

23

Mark stretched with the kids that had already been dropped off near the park for the running practice, but his mind was elsewhere, his eyes constantly scanning the parking lot. Every car that pulled in made his chest tighten with anticipation, his stomach fluttered with unease. He had no idea if Karen’s daughters would be coming today. Originally, they had another sleepover planned for the previous night, possibly keeping them from feeling like running if they got little sleep.Or Karen decided she didn’t want to see me, so she kept them at home.

The thought gnawed at him, though deep down, he knew Karen would never let her personal feelings interfere with her daughters' activities. She wasn’t that kind of mother. Still, the possibility lingered, stoking the fire of doubt in his chest.

Suddenly, he spied Laura and Olivia alighting from a minivan with two other girls. For a second, he wondered if Karen had avoided him by getting someone else to drop the girls off. The girls spied him and grinned widely.

“Hey, Mr. Robbins,” Olivia called out, waving her hands wildly as she bounded over with infectious energy.

“Hi,” Laura softly said, coming up behind her sister. Much like Karen’s, her smile struck him with a force that made hisbreath hitch. It was like looking at Karen herself, a painful reminder of the woman who’d been avoiding him for days.

“Hey, girls.” He greeted with a smile. The other two girls that came with them started stretching nearby. “Did you come with friends today?”

“We had a slumber party last night,” Olivia said.

Uncertain of what Karen may have said to them, he pushed forward. “Glad you made it and weren’t too tired.”

Laura nodded, but Olivia continued to add, “Oh, we’re tired. We were up till midnight!”

---