Page 19 of In Her Shadow

“It’s...different,” he admitted, a wry smile tugging at his lips.“The pace, the people—it’s a change of scenery I didn’t know I needed.”There was truth in his words; Trentville, with its quirks, had grown on him in unexpected ways.

“Life here has a rhythm of its own,” he continued.“I’ve found there’s a lot to admire about this town.And the work we do—it matters.”

Jenna’s expression softened at his words, and something unspoken passed between them—a mutual acknowledgment of their journey thus far.Frank grunted his approval, satisfaction in his gaze.

“You know,” Jenna said, “Jake’s become indispensable.“I don’t know how I managed before he came along.”

“Ah, well,” Jake replied, trying to sound modest, but he couldn’t help the flush of pride warming his cheeks.“I just do what I can.”

“More than that,” Jenna insisted.

The conversation shifted again, as Jenna spoke of her sandpiper dream.“There’s a connection there, I’m sure of it,” she confided.“With a catch in her voice, she added, “Sometimes, I feel like I’m so close, like I could reach out and...”her voice faded.

Jake wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but he hesitated.His role was to support her, to be her deputy, yet here he was, wrestling with a sense of intimacy that went beyond their badges and titles.

“I think I’ll walk home from here,” Jake suddenly announced, pushing himself off the couch.

Jenna’s eyes lifted from her recollections, meeting his.“Are you sure?I can give you a ride,” she offered.

Jake forced a smile as he replied, “I’m sure.It’s not far, and I could use the time to clear my head.”He turned towards the retired sheriff, who had risen from his armchair.“Thanks for the tea, Frank.”

A few moments later, the door clicked shut behind Jake, sealing off the warm glow of Frank’s living room.Alone in the cool night air, he took a deep breath.Above him, the stars were scattered across the sky like shards of glass, cold and distant.

As he started down the path, his mind raced, thoughts colliding and combining into an overwhelming babble.The case, the brand mark on Clyde Simmons’s chest, the town’s reaction to their perceived incompetence—all these professional considerations swirled around the personal tempest that Jenna represented.

With each step, he tried to separate his emotions, to compartmentalize his growing feelings from his duty to the investigation.But it was no use; every thought of the case brought him back to Jenna—her determination, her vulnerability, her presence beside him on that couch.

Shaking his head as if to dispel the confusion, Jake focused on the tangible—the rhythmic sound of his footsteps, the whisper of the night breeze through the trees.He needed the clarity that only solitude could bring, for tonight he felt the weight of Trentville on his shoulders—and the haunting possibility of something more personal yet just beyond his grasp.

***

Jenna watched the door latch into place with a click, the sound echoing slightly in the stillness of Frank’s living room.

“I wonder what’s on his mind,” she mused aloud, her voice barely above a whisper.Her weariness seemed to deepen the shadows beneath her green eyes, eyes that had seen too much, yet had missed perhaps the most obvious.

Seated in his well-worn armchair, Frank allowed himself a soft chuckle.“If you’d been paying attention, you wouldn’t have to wonder,” he said cryptically, giving her a knowing look.

Jenna turned slowly, her gaze fixed on Frank, as a frown creased her forehead.“What do you mean?”she asked with a bit of apprehension.

“Come on, Jenna,” Frank began gently.“It’s obvious Jake has feelings for you.And if I’m not mistaken, you feel the same way about him.”

Jenna’s reaction was immediate; her eyes widened.She looked away abruptly, turning her head to conceal the truth that bloomed across her cheeks in a rush of color.The acknowledgment of such feelings was a vulnerability she rarely afforded herself, let alone acknowledged in the presence of another.

“Is it that obvious?”

Frank nodded.“To everyone but you two, apparently.”

“Even if that’s true, what am I supposed to do about it?We work together, Frank.It would complicate everything,”

“There’s no doubt about that,” Frank conceded, his voice carrying the wisdom of years spent balancing the scales between personal and professional duty.“I wish I could tell you what to do.Maybe it is best for both of you to keep this to yourselves.”

The room felt smaller to Jenna, the walls inching closer as she considered the possibility of hidden feelings in the man who worked cases beside her.

“But there’s one thing life has taught me.It’s that being a sheriff doesn’t mean you have to be alone,” Frank added after a pause, standing up to stretch his legs, his joints protesting with faint pops.His voice softened, imbued with a deep sincerity that reached beyond their mentor-mentee bond.“It’s possible to have both a career and a fulfilling personal life.I’ve had both.It’s been a good life.I’d hate for you to miss out on all that.”

Jenna processed his words, the concept of a personal life outside her relentless pursuit feeling foreign, almost indulgent.She stood, smoothing out the creases in her uniform, the fabric whispering against her skin like a reminder of the barriers she had built around herself.

“I should get going, too,” she said.“Thanks for everything, Frank.”

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