Page 52 of Coveted Justice

Tanner and Madison were driving back home after the debacle of a lunch. She’d said some things to her father that she couldn’t take back. The truth was, she didn’t want to take them back. They’d been festering inside of her since she’d found out about his extramarital affair.

Her personal issues, however, weren’t the most important issue in their lives. Tanner’s campaign and Marty’s murder were far higher on the priority list. She’d have to deal with her problems on her own and at a later date. She was tired of thinking about it, to be honest. She desperately needed a distraction and a murder investigation was as good as any other.

“The usual. Her attorney advised her to do it so she could get her story out there, put a human face on the investigation. Go out there and be a bereaved widow for the cameras.”

“She is a bereaved widow.”

Abby had cried almost all the way through the interview, sobbing that she missed her husband and that she wanted his killer brought to justice.

“I know. I’m just frustrated.”

“Because she’s dragged you into this mess.”

“She’s dragged a bunch of people into this, including you. I should be supporting you through your emotional landmines, not telling my ex-wife to stay the hell off of the evening news.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “I kind of feel a bit better. I said what I wanted to say. He didn’t like it much, but that was my truth. Holding it in was eating away at me.”

“I just don’t want to see you and your dad ruin your relationship. You’ve always been so close.”

She didn’t want that either. But this situation wasn’t something that she could simply ignore and move on. Maybe others could, but she couldn’t.

“I want us to still be close,” she replied. “But right now, he’s not the man that I thought he was. He doesn’t seem to be taking responsibility for his mistake. Or maybe he is, but I just don’t like the way that he’s acting. It’s frustrating.”

“He wants you to act like it’s no big deal, and then you can all be one happy family. Then he doesn’t have to deal with his guilt.”

Placing her hand on Tanner’s thigh, she gave it a squeeze.

“You’re so smart. I should marry you.”

“You did marry me, and I hope you never regret it.”

“Not for a moment. You’re the only man for me, Tanner Marks. We’re stuck together for life.”

“I certainly hope so. That’s been my evil plan practically from the day I met you.”

She adored her husband but sometimes he did a little revisionist history on the past.

“You did not,” she laughed. “You didn’t think of me as romantic material until we’d met several times.”

“Only because I was older than you. And divorced. And a former drunk. Let’s face it, my life wasn’t exactly a romantic comedy when you came back to Springwood.”

“Are you sure? Because the whole town plotted to push us together. Remember that day in the coffee shop when all the tables were full for some reason and we had to sit together? And then suddenly it was empty. Sherry was behind it all. She’s admitted it, too.”

“Remind me to buy Sherry an expensive Christmas gift this year. I’m grateful. I never would have pursued you without some encouragement. You were so far out of my league it wasn’t funny.”

“This from the man that might be our next governor of this great state? I always thought you were out of my league. I didn’t know shit about men, and you were so handsome and kind. I thought I was too awkward to capture your attention.”

He glanced at her, his eyes warm with appreciation.

“You were wrong. You knocked me over you were so goddamn gorgeous. Every day you get more and more beautiful. I don’t know how you do it, but you do.”

“I think it might be because you’re in love with me. If you keep talking to me like this, you just might get lucky tonight.”

She didn’t need a bunch of fancy, sweet words from this man, though. He only had to be himself.

“That sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening. With you.”

“Then it’s a date.”

No matter how crazy her life might be, she had Tanner in her corner.

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