Page 25 of Hard Focus
Chapter Six
“Cornelia Rowe, what are you doing here?” Connie stepped forwards and wrapped both arms around her little sister, tugging her close. “Oh my goodness, Nelly, it’s good to see you.”
She’d been half-dressed for a planned lazy day at home when the doorbell had rung, and thinking it was Taylor come back to check on her, she’d thrown on a robe. He’d only left about an hour before. They’d talked through the night, and then made pancakes for breakfast, which turned into brunch when Alden had joined them midway through the morning.
“Mom and Dad called, said they were delayed with dad’s work by at least a couple of weeks.” Nelly’s arms closed carefully around Connie’s ribs. “I told them I’d come and work mymojoon you, get you to come home instead.” Her arms tightened until Connie made a pained noise, her ribs and shoulder still complaining about the pounding she’d taken in the wreck. “Girl, you look like death on toast.”
“Gee, thanks.” Connie laughed and closed her eyes, holding her little sister close.
They’d grown up in a tiny house, shared an upstairs bedroom for years, and fought over closet space, bathroom time, and whose turn it was to pick out the movie of the week, but the two girls had been really close. If you hurt one, you needed to watch out for the other, because they always had each other’s backs. It was only when Connie had followed her dreams of college away from their hometown that they’d been separated for the first time, and it had taken Nelly years to get over her snit about it. From the stories their parents told, Nelly had missed having an anchor, drifting through school with the most generic of degrees, and hadn’t found her place in the world yet. Maybe sending her out here had a two-fold purpose.
Connie gave her a final squeeze and then pulled back. “You look gorgeous as always. Come in, I’ve got the spare bedroom made up in case Mom and Dad wanted to stay here instead of a hotel. It’s ready for you, I guess.”
“You aren’t mad it’s me and not them, are you?” Nelly looped her arm around Connie’s waist and walked beside her into the apartment.
“Of course not, silly. I’m overjoyed to see you. It’s been far too long.” Connie steered them into the kitchen. “Where’s your luggage?”
“In the hallway.” Nelly thumbed over her shoulder. “I figured in a place locked up like Fort Knox, it would be safe there for like five minutes.”
“Probably.” Connie opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. “How long can you stay?” She grabbed Nelly’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “I still can’t believe you’re really here. I’m so happy.”
“Uh, did you not hear the mo-jo part where I’m supposed to bring you back home?” Nelly opened the bottle and saluted Connie with it before taking a long swallow. “That’s the plan, Stan. Not me staying here. You’ll see when we grab thebag,because I only packed for two days.”
“I can’t. I go back to work on Monday.” Shaking her head, Connie leaned back against the island. “They’ve been very gracious and gave me a week off with pay, but I can’t ask for more. Work’s piling up, and the legal system doesn’t care if I had a little accident.”
“Little accident?” Nelly bugged her eyes at Connie. “That was a full-on wreck, sister mine. Have you seen the videos?”
“Mom and Dad haven’t, have they?” Connie was suddenly terrified, but then her better sense got back into control. “No, ofcoursethey haven’t, or they would be here now.”
“That was some scary stuff, the way your car just lifted up like that? Why were you trapped in the car? I didn’t expect you to have to be rescued, but if you did, you at least had the good sense to have the rescue be by a handsome hunk of a guy.” Flashes of the night Cole came to her apartment poured through Connie’s mind, and for a moment she was swept up in the emotion of finding out about Jonas’ actions again.He raped Audrey. She closed her mouth tightly to still the quivering of her lips and pulled in a shaky breath. Not understanding, Nelly reached out and covered Connie’s hand, firming her grip. “Hey, hey, hey. Honey, we don’t have to talk about it.”
“No, it’s okay.” Connie pulled her hand back and tucked it under her elbow to hide the quaking that wouldn’t stop. “I’ve seen all the footage, I think.” She shook her head. “Theseat beltjammed. The fireman who saved me, Cole Stewart, he signed something with the insurance company about it. Called it a flaw of some kind. He used some kind of tool to cut it free. Cut me free.” Recounting the accident tripped a different switch inside her, building on the emotions swirling through her until she felt like she were drowning in the river’s water again. The trembling spread, climbing through her chest to her throat. In her mind, she saw the empty car floating in place against the south bridge’s column, then upending and going under, and not coming back up. That was the image that haunted her dreams. Connie bit her lips to try and still the motion and knew she was unsuccessful when Nelly closed in on her, arms out. “It was so scary, Nelly. I didn’t think…well, I’m just glad he was there.”
“Me, too. God, I can’t imagine not having this conversation. Laughing about what happened.” She forced out a tiny laugh. “And day drinking until it’s really funny.”
“Day drinking sounds perfect to me.” Connie returned to the refrigerator and brought out a bottle of wine. “I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping, and then let’s waste no time getting set up in the living room.”
“Deal. But I vote we start the drinkingfirst,if my vote counts for anything.” Nelly walked to the cabinet closest to the stove and opened it, taking out two wine glasses. She paused and laughed. “Oh my God. That’s hilarious. I knew where the glasses were because you set up your kitchen just like home.”
“Guilty.” Connie shrugged as she set a tray of snacks on the island, one of several Samantha Matthews had sent over. “Mom has a good system. I see no reason to let all her hard work and research go to waste.”
“God, you’re a freak.” Nelly grinned at her, and Connie returned the expression.
“Bigger freak.” She pointed to the door, lifting the wine andtrayto follow Nelly into the living room.
“Did youevengrow up? You don’t act like you grew up at all. I’d expect someone who graduated from college and has a real job to act more like agrown-up.” Nelly snorted with laughter as she shook her head, throwing herself onto the couch. “Sorely disappointed in you.”
They’d started on a second bottle when there was a knock at the door. Topics covered had ranged from their cousin three times removed coaching the local high school into what Nelly called the “football season debacle,” to an award their mother had received from the city council for work raising money to fund a foundation dedicated to helping survivors of first responders lost on the job. They’d covered Nelly’s college years, and what Connie had done since graduating, her job, and Nelly’s lack of one, which was driving their father crazy. The sisters had shared an eye roll at that, knowing how Big Tony felt about being productive.
“You want to get that?” Nelly flicked a brightly painted nail at the door. “I’m not sure I can get up.”
“It is my place. I should get the door.” Connie leaned forwards and set her glass on the coffee table, giggling when it took her a moment to settle it firmly on the surface. “Seems only right.”
“Well then, only right, go answer and tell them you don’t want any.” She cocked her head to the side. “How would someone get up here anyway? Don’t they have to be given the code for the elevator?” That question set up an uneasy buzz in Connie’s gut, but she ignored it in favor of gaining her feet.
“Yeah, but it’s probably Tay or Alden.”
“Your gay neighbors.”
