“Yes.”
“Where do you live?” It was a stupid question, but it came out.
“Pittsburgh.”
“Doc, can I sit up?” I asked.
Doc put his arm around my back and propped me up against the back of the couch. Brooks didn’t go far, staying put right at my feet on his hind paws, staring down anyone who came close.
“Do you feel light-headed?” Doc asked.
“No,” I said, trying to sound firm as I rested my hand on the top of Brooks’s head.
“What happened, Bess?” May asked, coming to sit down next to me.
I told them what I remembered about AJ showing up and flipping out, demanding my attention and feelings.
“That was before he saw the necklace,” I explained.
Jake frowned at me. “What necklace?”
I pointed toward the counter where it had been. “Lane sent me this necklace today. A heart. It was why he was on the phone, why he called. To see if I received it.”
I tried to stand up and my robe gaped open. Oh my God, I was still in my robe. Had anyone seen my body?
“Not right now, missy,” Doc said, settling me back into the couch.
“But I have to find the necklace and the note ... and get dressed.”
“There’s nothing there, Bess,” May said. “I checked all around the room for clues as to what happened when I got here. Nothing was out of place other than the vase and sand by the mantel. I cleaned it up.”
“Wait!” I called out. “What did you do with the sand?” Tears started to flow at the thought of losing that memento of my time with Lane.
“It’s in the garbage.”
“Get it out!” I yelled with as much strength as I could.
“Bess, darling, you’ve had a rough day. Lots of stress. Let’s just try to stay calm now,” Doc said in a soothing voice.
Calm?
“There was a letter? Where is it?” I leaned forward. “And a necklace?” I tried to stand again, but May held me back as I freaked out, mumbling to myself.
May was running her hand up and down my back when Jake interrupted, “Hey, Doc, maybe something to calm her nerves? A Xanax?”
“No!” May and Doc shouted at the same time.
“I can’t take that,” I said quietly, absently rubbing the leather collar around Brooks’s neck.
“Okay, suit yourself,” Jake said with a shrug. “Listen, my brother is on his way. He’ll be here soon, and I’m sure he’ll solve all this. He’s very good at cleaning up messes.”
I nodded and said, “Really? He’s coming here?”
“Yeah,” Jake said, then edged toward the door. “I gotta go. Take care, Bess.”
Watching him leave, I could have sworn I saw something deep and tormented behind his blue eyes—just like in Lane’s.
