Where Shadows Meet(22)

“Spill what?” She rubbed Ajax’s ears. He wore a blissful expression.

“The long face. You haven’t said a word about Blake. Where is he tonight?”

“I have no idea.” Her lips quivered, and she didn’t look at him.

Matt flopped into the recliner. “Did you try calling him? He’s probably working late.”

“What time did you leave him?”

“About two hours before I came home. I was going over the murder.” He glanced at his watch. Over three hours ago.

Her lips quivered. “I—I think he’s having an affair, Matt.”

Matt balled up his fists. “I don’t believe it. Blake loves you.” He got up and went to the sofa. He started to put his arm around her, then dropped it back into place. They didn’t have a huggy-kissy sort of relationship. But she turned into his embrace and wailed against his chest. He patted her back, but he was bad at this kind of thing.

“Trust him a little, Gina. He’ll be home soon.”

She lifted a tear-stained face. “Well, he can come around and find an empty house. I’m leaving him. Can I stay with you for a while, Matt?”

He dropped his arm. “You know you can, but it would be better for you to go home and work out your problems. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“He’s having an affair! I found a hotel bill. And a receipt for a five-thousand-dollar ring. He didn’t give me any ring.”

“Where’d he get that kind of money?”

“I have no idea. But you’re missing the point! It wasn’t for me. He has to have a girlfriend.” She swiped the tears from her face with an angry hand.

Until now, Matt had thought his sister was overreacting. He didn’t want to think about where Blake had gotten that kind of money. A rash of burglaries had occurred over the past two months. But no, this was Blake. His partner and friend. He’d never do anything like that. “Maybe it’s a surprise and he borrowed the money.”

“I don’t care about the money! Would you quit worrying about that? We’re okay financially. Blake never lets a bill go. The receipt was for two months ago. If the ring were a surprise for me, he would have given it to me already.”

“Want me to talk to him?” What could Matt say? This mess wasn’t his business. But he couldn’t believe Blake would cheat on Gina—he loved her. “Divorce isn’t the answer. Especially leaving him without giving him a chance to explain.”

“The Bible says it’s okay when it’s infidelity, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Just because it’s okay doesn’t mean you should do it. Analise and I had some rough times too, but we weathered them. I just keep thinking about what would have happened if I’d given up. We would have missed out on some important times together. We wouldn’t have Caitlin either.”

She gave a huge sigh. “I should have known better than to ask you, Mr. Perfect,” she muttered. She shoved Ajax’s head off her lap and stood. “It’s hard not to give up. He’s never home.”

“Look, go home and at least talk to him. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Give it a shot anyway.”

Her gaze came up and tears sparkled in her eyes. “Didn’t you hear me, Matt? When am I supposed to talk to him? He’s never home.” She grabbed her purse with quick movements. “I’ve got to go.” She stopped by the door. “Pray for me. I don’t think I can get through this.” She vanished through the door.

The human spirit could take more than one ever thought it could, but Matt wished his baby sister didn’t have to go through this.



FIRST THING IN the morning, Hannah and Angie hit the road. Five hours later, they were nearly to Parke County. They’d crossed the Illinois line into Indiana half an hour ago. Hannah’s four cats prowled restlessly in their carriers in the back. Their yowls had grown more outraged in the past hour.

The last time Hannah had come through here, she’d been peering out the back of Reece’s truck as the world she knew fell away. Then, the landscape was still in the grip of winter with an early spring beginning to poke through. Now spring blossoms dotted the green hillsides, and she caught glimpses of covered bridges down several narrow lanes.

Home.

The word evoked both dread and longing. She knew what would face her, and the thought was something she’d pushed down into the darkest recesses of her mind for ten years.

“You okay?” Angie asked from the driver’s seat.

Hannah slanted a smile her way. “A little scared. I don’t think I could have done this if you hadn’t come with me.” She looked back down at the quilt piece in her lap. Working on it kept her mind from peeking into corners she’d closed off for years.

“It’s what friends do. Besides, we’ve got to get that book delivered.” Angie’s grin was cheeky. “They won’t eat you, will they?”

“It might hurt less if they did.” Her heart squeezed at the thought of the reception that awaited her. There would be no slow smile from Luca. And her friends might not talk to her. She missed Sarah. Hannah took a last sip of her iced vanilla coffee.

“Which way?” Angie asked.

“Let me check my GPS. Turn left here.”