Page 59 of The Hero
“We know. We’re not going to let your wife out of our sights,” Cal told him firmly. “She’ll either be with you, or with one of us while visiting our women, or she can hang out at the office with April. No one’s touching one hair on her head. No way.”
Bob relaxed a bit at hearing his friend’s declaration. Cal, more than anyone, knew how it felt to have someone he loved almost taken from right under his nose.
“She needs to know what’s going on, though,” JJ warned. “To make sure she’s aware of her surroundings at all times.”
Uneasiness swept through Bob. Not because he wanted to keep anything from Marlowe, but because he wasn’t sure how she’d react. He had a feeling she wouldn’t be cowed by her former coworker. She’d want to stop him. Make sure he didn’t profit from the theft of the priceless artifacts she’d caught him stealing. “I’ll talk to her when we get home,” Bob told his friends.
“She’s gonna need stuff. Does she live near her brother? Will he bring any of her things up?” JJ asked.
Bob shrugged. “I don’t know. She was gone so often on digs, going from one country to the next, she doesn’t currently have an apartment stateside, just a storage locker with most of her things.”
“I’ll look into that,” JJ said. “In the meantime, April will help her out.”
“June too,” Cal immediately agreed. “And you know Carlise will want to be in the thick of things.”
“Expect to have visitors soon, brother,” JJ said with a small grin. “April and the others weren’t happy to be left back in Newton. They wanted to come with us to Bangor. But we thought it might be good not to overwhelm you and Marlowe from the get-go.”
“Thanks,” Bob said. But deep down, he wouldn’t have minded if the women had come. He wanted Marlowe fully merged into his life, and with his friends, as soon as possible. He wanted her to get to know Carlise and June and April. Because he had no doubt they’d all hit it off without any issues.
Then he thought of something else. “I need a favor.”
“Anything.”
“Name it.”
And that was why he loved these guys so much. “Marlowe can’t cook. I’m not disparaging her, it’s just a fact. She’ll tell you that herself. And I’m not sure how much I’m going to want to be on my feet the next few days. Can you guys arrange to have some meals delivered? Don’t go overboard,” he warned. “But Marlowe needs to gain back the weight she lost while in prison, and I’m not sure ramen, SpaghettiOs, and chicken nuggets will be the best thing for her right off the bat.”
His friends laughed.
“Consider it done. We’ll make sure you guys have some healthy meals until you’re back on your feet,” JJ said.
“Appreciate it. One more thing,” Bob said. “For the record ... those pills weren’t hers. Ian set her up.”
Cal looked pissed, and JJ’s lips pressed into a tight line.
“I can’t believe you even felt the need to say that,” Cal said with a shake of his head. “We know you wouldn’t have taken the job at all if you thought she was guilty of the charges. We know you, Bob. You might have been a wanker and gone behind our backs, lied to us about a sick aunt, and pretended to be happy when you weren’t, but you aren’t the kind of person who sticks his neck out for a liar and a drug dealer.”
Even though his words were harsh, Bob sighed in relief. “Thanks, Cal.”
“Whatever. Stop thanking me,” he said, turning for the door. “I’m gonna go call June so she stops worrying.”
When he was gone, Bob turned to JJ. Cal seemed certain Marlowe wasn’t selling drugs ... but JJ hadn’t said a word. “So? Doyoubelieve that she wasn’t involved?”
“Of course. All I had to do was take one look at the way she clung to you on that stretcher to know she’s innocent.”
Bob tilted his head as he stared at his friend. “Yeah?” he probed lightly.
“Yeah,” JJ confirmed. “Like Cal said, weknowyou, Bob. You wouldn’t have married her, wouldn’t have risked your friendship with us, risked your damn life, if you weren’t completely sure she hadn’t done what she was accused of. And the way you held on tohertold me everything else I needed to know. You love her, and that says it all for me.”
Bob’s throat got tight. He didn’t deserve such loyal friends. “I didn’t understand Chappy and Cal. Didn’t get how they could’ve fallen so hard for their wives in such a short time. But from the moment I laid eyes on Marlowe, she was under my skin. The longer I was around her, the harder I fell. When that Thai woman said we had to be married before she’d allow us to stay in her home? I was secretly glad.Excited. She means the world to me, JJ. And I hate that the man who put her in prison is still out there. Living free with no consequences.”
“He’ll pay for what he did,” JJ said firmly. “We’ll make sure of it.”
Bob inhaled sharply and bit back a groan when the doctor probed one of his wounds deeply.
“Sorry,” Dr. Galloway said. “The Liechtenstein doctor did a good job of cleaning these wounds, but I just want to make sure all the infection is scraped out before I close this last gnarly slice.”
“I’m gonna go check on Marlowe and Chappy. And let April know what’s up. You need anything?” JJ asked.
