Page 117 of Guarding Over You
The picture of Gracie riding her new bike outside warmed his heart considerably. He hadn’t known Arden was planning on doing that after work and was glad it happened.
Maybe he needed some brightness in the dark of what he was carrying.
The thought that something he did brought this on her.
He pulled into his driveway, got out and went to the front door. Up to his room, he showered and changed.
Back down in fifteen minutes, he knew Gracie wouldn’t be in bed for another twenty, so he couldn’t go to Arden’s place now anyway.
Well, he could, but then Gracie wouldn’t want to sleep and he wanted to talk with Arden.
Needed to know how it went. If Gracie understood he was more than a friend to her mother, and if so, was she upset by it?
The text from Clay popped up.Call when you get a minute.
Didn’t sound urgent. Otherwise Clay would have said so.
“What’s going on?” he asked the minute Clay answered.
“Are you telling me this is all the people you work with?”
“God no,” he said. “Maddy gave me that list to start. It’s nurses and PAs during her Monday through Friday shifts. She doesn’t rotate like others. It’s a start with the ones I could think of I work with the most. Those that are the closest or talk to me.”
He’d spent enough time watching every move someone made. He couldn’t do his job effectively or efficiently if his mind was on so many others, but he couldn’t stop himself today either.
“I’ll see what I can find,” Clay said. “Anyone to start with?”
“No. I obviously didn’t even think this could be me. I’m still not completely convinced.”
“Why?”
“Because nothing is standing out. Wouldn’t I have caught someone targeting me by now?”
“Not always,” Clay said. “Not if there has been a plan in place that you’re not even aware of.”
He sighed. “Maddy suggested we put it right out there for everyone to see we are together. Almost act like nothing is going on.”
“Did you?”
“We did. I know it’s not in Arden’s nature to be so public.”
“Nor you.”
“Exactly. But we were as normal as could be. At least in my mind. I didn’t notice anything. Maddy said she didn’t either, but everyone was working. It’s not as if all staff on duty saw us together. It’s just not possible.”
“It’s not. I still think you should bring her here.”
“She won’t do it. Maybe if she were alone it’d be different.”
“If she were alone she’d be staying with you,” Clay said.
“True. I’ve got to cover my night rotation at the end of the month. I’m not going to feel comfortable with that so I hope we get some answers before then.”
“Or you’ve got time to convince her to not stay there.”
He sighed. “I’ll work on it. I’d rather this be over before then.”
“Wouldn’t we all. I don’t like getting kids involved.”
