Page 148 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

I actually thought the break-in was a good thing. Without that incident, we might never have pushed Ryder as hard in the interrogation room.

“So what happens now?” Betty asked.

“Magee arrested Christopher at the hotel he’d been staying at in Kalispell. They’ve already pressed charges.”

“And the phone registered under Ryder’s name? Did they find it?”

“No. I’m sure Christopher destroyed it. But they got the text history from the phone company, so at least there’s that.”

Betty sighed. “What are the chances he’ll get away with this?”

“According to Magee, slim to none. I hope to hell he’s right.”

Christopher hadn’t confessed to the murder, and I doubted he would. His conviction would all come down to the evidence. But Magee was a good cop and would find enough to put that asshole away for the rest of his life.

“So that’s it?” Betty asked.

I nodded. “That’s it. Now we move on.”

“Yes, we do.” She stood from her seat and looked around the kitchen. “All right. What do I need to do before dinner? The meat’s ready to

go in. I need to peel some potatoes. Run the dishwasher. Take out the garbage.”

I smiled as she continued with her verbal reminders. Willa did the same thing when she was planning. Her to-do lists came out in a whisper as she thought them through.

I stood from my seat and went to the garbage, opening the lid and tying up the bag. “I’ll take this out.”

“Oh, thank you. Once upon a time, Nate and I made an agreement. I’d do all his ironing if I never had to take out the garbage. Let’s just say I haven’t ironed one of his shirts in twenty-five years.”

I chuckled. “I’ll make you a deal. If I’m here, I’ve got the garbage. Just ask.”

“Willa’s a lucky woman.”

“Nah.” I grinned. “I’m the lucky one. I don’t know if I deserve someone as good as your daughter. She’s had to put up with a lot of my bull—er, crap lately.”

“Yes, but dealing with the bullshit is how you know it’s real.” Betty smiled. “It’s easy to love someone when times are good. Real love is about holding on to one another when times aren’t.”

I nodded, letting her words sink in.

Somehow, the timid woman who’d occasionally come into the bar—the girl whose name I’d fucked up for years—was the only person who’d made it past my barriers. She’d broken them down, one by one, and given me a love I’d cherish always.

“I do love her.” For some reason, it was important to me that Betty knew I was truly committed to her daughter.

Her eyes softened and her mouth opened, but before she could respond, Ryder came bounding into the kitchen.

“I won!” He clapped and went right for the fridge, taking out the SunnyD that Betty kept stocked for him.

Nate and Willa came into the kitchen too, smiling at one another.

“Oh, I’ll take that garbage, Jackson.” Nate went for the bag, but I waved him off.

“No worries. I’ve got it.”

“Thanks.” He clapped my shoulder. “I hate garbage duty. I guess it’s good that Betty and I made a deal years ago. I do my own ironing and she takes care of the garbage.”

“What?” Betty’s mouth fell open.

Willa giggled. “Uh, Dad? I think you might have that backward.”