“Feeling actual feelings, especially ones that have been buried for years is exhausting. Go get some rest.”
I didn’t want to hang up the phone, but I knew she was right.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”Love you. Those were the final two words that lingered in my mind as I hung up the phone, although I didn’t say them. It didn’t feel like the timing was right to admit the depths of my feelings for Grace. I still had more work to do to get there.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Grace
“You’re leaving early today?” Charles questioned as I stepped into the nurses’ station and headed to the computer to input some patient information.
I turned and smiled over my shoulder, nodding. “Three isn’tthatearly,” I reminded him. “I’ve been here since seven this morning.”
I’d taken an earlier shift than usual because I had a very important errand I needed to run after work.
“Guess I’m just used to you working these twelve hour shifts, lately.”
I nodded as I continued to type. “Yeah, me too. Feels weird leaving so early but I have to take care of some family stuff,” I lied.
“I hear you. I’m helping my parents move into their smaller home this weekend and am already dreading it. Family is …”
“A pain.”
We both laughed.
I saved the information I’d been putting into the computer and logged out. Standing, I smiled over at Charles. “You enjoy the rest of your shift. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
I had the next day off and then Charles had a couple of days off so we wouldn’t see each other for a few.
I tossed him a nod over my shoulder as he said good-bye and I put my long, black coat on, strapping the belt closed, and grabbed my purse from underneath the desk. I had an hour and a half drive ahead of me and I was hoping to make it to my destination at just the right time to meet up with the person I intended.
I didn’t even bother to stop for food or anything on my way. I was headed to another city outside of Williamsport, and the first stop I made once I reached the city was the police station whose address I had written down on the notebook in my purse. Checking the time, I realized I still had ten minutes before the desk I needed to get the information I’d requested closed.
Slamming my door shut and clutching my coat close to my chest due to the cold, I hurried inside the main door of the station and scanned the entrance for the records desk. I made a beeline and was happy to see no one else there waiting.
“Hi, I’m Grace Young and I put in an online request for information.” I smiled at the older gentleman dressed in his police uniform.
He frowned slightly as he looked from me to the computer but then his eyebrows lifted. “Here you are. Damn computer hasn’t been working right all day. Now ten minutes before I’m scheduled to leave it decides to cooperate.” He let out a hefty chuckle.
I smiled. “Technology. Can’t live with it, can’t live without it.”
He snorted. “Okay, let’s see here. You put in a request for a … Suzanne Greene, correct?”
I nodded.
“And …” He paused, and I held my breath. “No, it looks like you requested just a basic criminal background so we don’t require a signed statement from Suzanne granting you permission to have this information. It’s open to the public.”
I released the breath I’d been holding, grateful that I was able to get what I came for.
“Printing it out now. The total will be five dollars.”
I lifted an eyebrow.
“There’s over fifty pages here but I won’t charge you for the last three.”
“Thank you.” The copies were only ten cents a page according to the police station’s website. The fact that there were more than fifty pages led me to believe there was a great deal of information in these reports.
“Have a good day,” I said to the officer as I grabbed the envelope full of the papers he’d given me and headed back to my car. Right there in the parking lot of the police station, I sat in my car and pulled out the documents and began reading.
