Page 38 of Serial Love

Jack’s eyes darted to Blaise’s quickly, his eyebrow raised in question.

“You made the decision for her that your life won’t be good enough. You made the decision for her that she can do better. You never gave her the chance to decide for herself if what you have to offer is enough.”

Before the others chimed in, Jack growled, “Appreciate what you’re trying to do, but my personal life is off topic.”

The others quieted, but it was obvious to Jack they were not happy. Sighing heavily, he rubbed his hand over his face, the weight of the unsolved case and his fucked-up, non-relationship with Bethany bearing down on him.

Shaking his head, he said, “Sorry guys. We’re in this together and I’ve never pulled high-handed shit on you before. Not going to start now.” He looked around at the faces that were becoming as familiar to him as hisbrothers-in-arms while in the Special Forces. Ones that for the last two years had been joining with him, having his back as he had theirs.

“My love life…or lack of it…is not up for debate, but I will say I appreciate your concern.”

The others stayed respectfully quiet, allowing him to gather his thoughts, each of them realizing that none of them were in a committed relationship. More than a few wondered if they, too, were giving up the chance of love by being in this profession.

“Right now,” Jack continued, looking at them, “I have to give one hundred percent to this case. When it’s over? Who knows, but for now I’m doing what I think is best.”

The men nodded as they prepared to leave, each with their assignments. With head jerks as goodbyes, they headed out of the door.

Jack poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Luke before getting a second one for himself. “All right, let’s do some identification magic,” he said, as the two of them walked back downstairs.

14

Bethany sat on the front porch of the lodge in the pre-dawn morning, tears sliding down her face once more.How much have I cried in the past week?Her heart squeezed with pain as she took a deep breath. Her mind wandered back over the previous days, now all swimming together.

The morning after her parents arrived, she knew that this lodge and this life, was what she wanted. Convincing her parents had not been too difficult once they could see how much she loved the country over the city, using her degree for her own business rather than for someone else’s.

But life at Mountville without Gram?How will I bear it?

Once the decision was made, her father called Golden Arbor and accepted the place for Gram. Thankfully, Gram’s descent into Alzheimer’s meant she was not upset with the transition. In fact, other than someinitial concern, she adapted immediately to the nursing staff and other residents. Roscoe pitched in with the use of his truck and they moved her bedroom furniture to her new room. Bethany and Sally fixed it up to look almost like the room she had occupied at Mountville for over fifty years.

Visiting every day allowed them to see her settled comfortably. She now referred to Bethany as Helen each time and once looked at Ed and called him by his father’s name, Martin. Her mind was firmly in the past, but it appeared to give her peace.

Ed and Susan left two days later to fly back to Arizona after heartfelt hugs and promises for Bethany to take care of herself. She held her emotions together, throwing herself into hard work until yesterday. Having gone to check on Gram, she found her smiling in the common room. They chatted for a few minutes, and Gram continuing to think she was her sister Helen.

Suddenly Gram looked over and asked, “Helen, what happened to Charlie? I liked him.”

Assuming that Gram was talking about the original man from fifty years ago who had been interested in Helen, she just replied, “I don’t know.”

Gram gazed at her for a long time, then said, “You know, he cared for my granddaughter.”

Bethany’s eyes grew wide, uncertain where her grandmother’s mind was at the moment.

“He came around courtin’ my granddaughter. Good lookin’ man. Nice too. I was hopin’ he’d stay with her.”

Bethany’s chin quivered as she blinked to hold thetears at bay once more. Leaning over, she patted her grandmother’s hand and then watched as Gram closed her eyes to take a nap. Slipping out a few minutes later, she drove home, climbed the stairs, and finally allowed the emotions to pour out of her.

Now, days later, she was perched on the porch watching the sunrise over the trees to the east. The sky was cast in pale tints of blue as the night was slowly receding. Roscoe walked by, surprised to see her up so early.

“Ms. Bridwell,” he greeted. “You doing all right?”

Shaking her head slowly, she replied, “Nah, but I will be.”

He wandered over to the bottom of the porch and admired the young woman in front of him. “Got a lotta respect for you. You’re a good girl.”

She just smiled her response, then asked, “What are you doing up so early?”

“Sometimes I go to the dock and do a little sunrise fishing before the guests get up. Never know what I’ll catch. Sometimes nothin’. Sometimes enough for my dinner. If you’re ever interested, let me know and I’ll catch some fish for you.”

“I haven’t had fresh fish since Gramps fixed them,” she said. “But you’d have to prepare them for me. I’ve got no idea how to cut them up.”

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