Page 29 of Betrayed
“Thanks, Logan.”
“Of course. Any idea why they would set your trash can on fire?”
She shook her head. “I’m really not sure. I don’t think I’ve seen either of them before.”
“Weird.”
“But you’ve seen him?”
“Some kid about the same height and build was poking around my house the other day. Didn’t seem to have taken or messed with anything, but maybe I got home in time.”
“Hmm … worth noting, especially if something else happens.”
“Let me know if you need more from me.”
“Will do. Stay safe, Logan.”
He went back to his patrols. At least that had distracted him for a moment, but as he drove, his mind wandered back to AJ and wondering how she felt today. He did hope she was fine, but he couldn’t afford to let his heart worry about her. She’d made her choices.
AJ took her dinner dishes to the sink and rinsed them. She reached for Granny’s plate.
“Are you sure you’re up to dishes?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s the least I can do. One day, and I’m already stir-crazy.” AJ took the plate from her grandmother.
“Seems like the perfect opportunity to pray.”
“I’m not to tax myself, but I have prayed every moment my head will let me.”
“Good thing the good Lord knows our hearts.”
AJ scrubbed the frying pan while Granny wiped the counters.
“Granny, how do I do it? How do I love a man who won’t even talk to me? How do I build that bridge? I’m the one who took an ax to it in the first place.”
Granny stopped her cleaning and stood quietly for a moment. “Your grandfather and I didn’t always have the happiest of marriages. But by God’s grace, we made it the sixty-five years we did. Most people don’t know this, but when we’d been married about twenty years, he had an affair.”
“Oh, Granny.”
She turned to AJ and leaned back against the counter. “It was a very brief thing. But I struggled to forgive him for a long time. The one thing he did that helped win me back was he stayed around. He didn’t say anything, but even though we weren’t sleeping in the same room any more, he’d be sure to eat meals near me or sit in the same room while I read or sewed. He wouldn’t talk, wouldn’t push, but eventually, I started talking to him again.”
“How can I be around him? We don’t even live in the same house. He avoids me at all costs.”
“Have you tried the quiet part while around him?”
AJ turned off the water and slumped against the sink. “No.”
“Your friends are dating. Get them on board.”
AJ nodded. “I have the sneaky suspicion they expect us to be in their wedding party, so I bet they want us to at least be amicable.”
Granny smiled.
They finished cleaning up the kitchen, and AJ went and rested on the couch. She sent Zara a text letting her in on the plan. She’d conspire with Will; AJ could count on it.
Her phone binged. But it wasn’t Zara.
You are so beautiful. Like the flowers in the field. Text me back. Let’s chat.
