“And I saved hers by carrying her out of the fire when she got impaled by that firebrand.” Linx’s shoulders slumped as the weight of Salem’s death pressed on her. “After Jessie was born, she stopped calling and coming by. I never figured out why she broke away fromme.”
“Some friendships were meant to end.” Tami gave Linx a hug. “I know it hurts when someone you thought was a friend fadesaway.”
“We never had any words, no arguments or upset. And then, she died.” A sob caught Linx’s breath, and she put her face down on Ginger and let the tears roll. “She was a piece of work, but I still missher.”
Linx told Tami everything about the intercepted text messages, the fake phone number Salem had given her, claiming it was Grady’s, and the fake messages she sent betweenthem.
“Why, that bitch! Er, sorry, witch!” Tami clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m thinking she wasn’t exactly a good friend. Maybe she was only keeping an eye on you because you had Grady’sbaby.”
“Why would she care either way?” Linx felt her heart contract and expand, pulsing and aching. “All she cared about was smokejumping and getting on the firecrew.”
“So she could sleep with Grady, that’s why,” Tami exclaimed. “Once she had you two safely broken up, and the baby given away, and you out of firefighting, she went back and jumped what, three or fourseasons?”
Linx could only nodmutely.
If Grady had known about Jessie, things would have been different, and he might not have slept with so many women. He might have become a responsiblefather.
And pigs might be able tofly.
But still, Grady Hart wasn’t anogre.
She’d seen him speaking to Jessie, reassuring her that he’d find her dog, and then later, when Grady did find Betsy, she’d noticed how attached Jessie got tohim.
She should have made sure Grady knew, because then, the blissful picture in her dreams, the one where Jessie held both their hands as they strolled down a country lane, chasing butterflies and picking flowers, would have been real andtrue.
“I should have trusted Grady over Salem.” Linx bowed herhead.
“You know, it’s not too late,” Tami, the eternal optimist,said.
“I hope you’re right, but somehow, I think you’rewrong.”
