Frigid Affair(47)

Christopher fell asleep halfway there. His head bobbed up and down with each bump I went over. I’d cried while I drove, the whole time trying to figure out a way to prove his innocence. In less than a month I’d started building a real future with Jensen. I couldn’t let some mistake tear us apart when we were so close to having a real chance.

Dragging a sleeping kid out in the cold wasn’t my idea of a fun time. I knew he’d be grumpy all day, and since he wasn’t used to being around people, it was going to get ugly if we had to sit and wait anywhere.

I lugged everything inside the station, coming first to the front desk. I stated my name and was told to wait and someone would be with me shortly.

An hour went by and not a single person said a word to me. Christopher was getting antsy. I’d gotten him snacks, and even bought a bottle of water he ended up dumping all over himself. He didn’t want to play, and he certainly didn’t want to talk to strange people who tried to get him to smile.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I went to the front desk and demanded someone come and speak with me. Since I knew Jensen wasn’t guilty I kept going on about the innocent man they were holding in custody.

Finally an older police officer came out and called my name. I shot up out of my seat and hurried over, hoping I’d be escorted back to talk to Jensen.

“Ma’am, Mr. Weatherly is in the middle of an interrogation. It’s going to be a while before they’re done, and I’m afraid he won’t be allowed visitors, at least until they are finished with questioning him.”

“What? I need to see him.”



“Rules are rules. I’m sure you’ll hear from him when he is done.”

“He doesn’t know I’m here. We live an hour away.”

“Is there a place you could stay for the night?” I understood he was trying to offer me advice, though I hated considering taking it.

“Yeah. I’m friends with June at Anchorage Hill.”

“Leave me a number you can be reached at and I’ll make sure the investigators pass your whereabouts along.”

I wrote down my cell phone number on the back of a business card he provided me with. “Please make sure he gets this. He needs to know I’m here.”

“I’ll do my best, Ma’am.”

I didn’t leave right away. I swore as soon as I did they’d let him go and he wouldn’t have a way to get back to us. As the minutes turned into another half hour I knew I had to get my child out of there.

The drive to June’s hotel was excruciating. My head was pounding from listening to Christopher screaming and my uncontrollable crying. I was scared everything we thought we could have was being taken from us. It was also a reminder of what I knew I already felt for Jensen. My love for him wouldn’t allow me to give up. I couldn’t. We were too close to let something like this keep us from being a family.

Since June hadn’t seen Christopher in a while, she insisted on taking him to her place and giving me some time to rest. She said I looked terrible, and that if I wanted to be strong I had to get sleep. She put us in the cabin I’d stayed in before, located nearest to her personal property, and told me she’d bring him to me when it was bedtime. Thankful we had a place while we waited, I hurried inside and pulled out a phone book. There had to be something I could do. Someone had to believe his innocence.

A knock at my door a little later told me I’d spent the entire time trying to track a lawyer down that could drop what they were doing to take on a new case. Unfortunately I’d come up with nothing.

My stomach was in knots, and I’d still not had a single person call my cell phone.

June had bathed Christopher and changed him into something she found for him to sleep in. She’d had her husband go to the store and pick up a pack of diapers to make it easier on me. She’d even gotten a few snacks together and left them in case he was hungry in the middle of the night.

It didn’t take him long to fall asleep. I cuddled up next to him, much like I’d done in the past. He played with my hair and stared into my eyes, like his father always did. It broke my heart. We’d both gotten to see a glimpse of what life could be like with Jensen in it, only to have it taken away.

That night I prayed like never before. I begged God to forgive me for doubting his power. I asked him to help us. I called out to my parents and asked them too. I may have even said a prayer to Alice. I needed divine intervention, because it seemed like nothing was on our side.





Chapter 21


It was early morning when I heard a light knock on the door. I got up quickly so Christopher wouldn’t wake up, assuming it was just June coming to offer us breakfast.

Standing on the other side of the door was a very rundown version of Jensen. I could tell he hadn’t slept at all. His facial hair was coming in thick, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. Behind him, a police SUV pulled out of the parking lot. “You’re here,” I exclaimed.

“I got your message. You didn’t have to come. I would have found a way home.”

“How? Did you post bail?”

“Can I come in? It’s cold out here without my coat.”

“Oh, god. Yes. Please.”

As soon as he stepped inside I closed the door and felt his arms around me. I reciprocated, holding him as tight as possible. “I thought they were going to lock you up and throw away the key. How did you get out?”