Page 36 of Night Watch
“I could stay with her.”
“She’s calling her sister to come over, and they’ll need time alone.”
“You never mentioned why the two of you broke up.” His mom called the words over her shoulder as she went to the kitchen island to retrieve a large bowl.
“Not something I can talk about.” He tipped the pitcher over the nearest glass and listened to the ice tinkling as it spilled out. Made him think of how his life had tumbled into uncertainty since he’d connected with Kennedy again.
He lifted Kennedy up in prayer. To ask God to remind her of His faithfulness and enduring love. To remember His promises and the way He’d been there for her in the past.
That would help to get her through this. Sure, his family could help, but when the big twists and turns of life assaulted a person, only God could provide the support needed to make it through to the other side. Hopefully, she would rely on Him and not try to walk this road alone. She didn’t need to have all of it figured out. God did. Every little detail. She just had to trust Him.
His mother set the bowl on the table. “You can tell me anything, son.”
“Not this,” he stated directly and maybe with too much force.
She held up her hands. “Okay, but if that changes, just know I’m here for you and praying for you both.”
“Thank you.” He gave her an earnest smile.
She kissed his cheek and returned to the kitchen.
Erik saw the sympathetic look on his father’s face. Each of the guys in the family had a special relationship with their dad, and they often confided things in him that they might not say to their mom. Their dad didn’t pry. Their mother hadn’t gotten that message yet.
Erik finished pouring the water, and Kennedy returned to the room, shoving her new phone into her jeans pocket. The jeans fit her like a glove, and he had no idea how she even got the phone into the pocket.
“Finley will come over after work tonight. I told her we could order pizza and talk. Is that okay?”
“Sure. I’ll bring her up and then head to Drake’s condo.”
“Thank you.” She squeezed his arm, firing off nerve endings.
He had to swallow to hide his growing interest in her. Not only from Kennedy, but from his mom. If she caught sight of how he was feeling, he might never get her to leave the condo.
“Uh-huh.” His mother looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes. “Just as I thought.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing.” She grinned, a Cheshire cat grin. “Lunch is ready. Let’s all sit down and get reacquainted.”
That look. The one that came from Matchmakers R Us, a term they jokingly applied to their mom and claimed she was a card-carrying member, flashed in her eyes. Erik swallowed a groan and sat next to Kennedy.
He offered a quick prayer for his mom to behave. There was no point in talking about something that would never happen. It would just add anxiety to Kennedy’s already stressful life. Even if she had hurt him, he had no wish for her to suffer any more pain.
9
Kennedy sat on Erik’s sofa and listened to him say goodbye to his parents at the door, tears burning in her eyes. She swiped at them and took a few cleansing breaths. Pong was eyeing her from the end of the couch as if she might need his help. She’d take it. She was feeling very lonely right then.
Seeing Peggy’s love for her family was so uplifting, and Kennedy missed her mom even more. The ache cut so deep that she could hardly get through the hours when she wasn’t busy working. Not only did she want to finish her mother’s project, but Kennedy needed to fill her time. With the anthrax scare, she couldn’t go back to the lab until the scene was decontaminated and released. What was she going to do with her days until then?
Not sit here and brood, that was for sure. She wasn’t a brooder. She was a doer. She would ask to be involved in the investigation. No, demand it. She had to. For her own sanity. And to finish her quest to find her mother’s killer.
Erik strode into the room, a pensive expression on his face. He’d had the same look off and on since he’d come back from her mom’s place. Was it what he’d found or because of his mom? Peggy had always been pretty aggressive, but not in a bad way. She just loved her children so much and wanted them to be happy. She’d hinted several times during lunch about Erik and Kennedy getting back together.
“I’m so glad you survived the meal.” He rolled his eyes and sat between her and Pong, who immediately shifted to rest his head on Erik’s thigh. “My mom can be a handful.”
“I’ve always liked her, but I can see where it might be tough for a guy to handle.”
His expression sobered, and he sunk his fingers into Pong’s coat. “I shouldn’t complain about her. Right now, I’m sure you’d be glad to have any kind of mom, and I don’t want you to think I don’t know that.”
