“Strong-willed and determined,” her mother said.
“I don’t think those are great qualities,” Lauren said.
“When it comes to you, they are absolutely necessary.”
“Absolutely,” Lina agreed.
“And—” Lina interrupted her.
“I know I haven’t known you long, mija.” Lauren looked at Lina sideways. When she was syrupy sweet and caring, it was a cover for something calculated and unhinged. “But the broken heart…was it really because of the fiancé?”
Lauren’s anger swelled. Lina held her hands up in surrender.
“All I’m saying is you seemed more broken over family. Maybe only your ego and expectations were wounded over the man,” she said smiling, nodding gently.
“You’re too nice Lina,” her mother said.
“But she’s not!”
“And if you won’t say it plainly, I will. You didn’t love that man and he didn’t love you. Not enough to put your needs first.”
Obviously.
“When you dedicate your time and energy to something or someone, Lauren, you see it through because you like?—”
“Succeeding?” Lauren supplied preemptively.
“Hell no, you like winning. But if that’s how you wanna spin it to minimize how competitive you are, continue to tell yourself that.”
This. This is why she loved, but didn’t always like, or appreciate, talking to older women. Their reality checks were rugby-level brutal. You couldn’t be weak and survive women like Ma Mable.
Unless your name is Lahn, she thought caustically.
She’d work on being more empathetic and forgiving starting tomorrow. For real this time. But tonight she was gonna get her mom settled at her house and then head over to Santi’s to see what he’d have for her tonight.
She gathered her things and placed them in her bag.
“Ma, you ready to go?”
“Oh I’m not going home with you. I’m staying the night at Lina’s where I can sleep in, have a decent dinner and breakfast in bed, and then do some shopping in town. I’m definitely not gonna stay and hear you and that sheriff do things to each other no mother should hear.”
Lauren ended up staying another thirty minutes, talking to some of the business owners and council members, promising to schedule meetings, before she headed to her home.
Outside, the mist obscured the landscape. She’d parked her car around the corner and was about to head to it when Santiago pulled her to a stop.
“I need you to pack a bag and head to my place tonight. There was another break-in at your house this evening.” Alarm surged through her. “It’s okay, whoever broke in looks like they tried to break back out after your roommate got a hold of them.Aside from some blood and a few broken items, all is well there, Lauren. Roan and Derry gathered the evidence they needed and cleaned away most of the blood. They’re back at the station now. McIntyre is sitting on your house waiting for you to get your things and escort you back to my place. Wren…” She blinked and took a deep breath. He shook his head and grabbed her hand. “You’re coming back to the station with me. I’ll finish up with Anderson and Flemming as soon as I can, then we’ll?—”
“No…no,” she said, trying to shake free of her fear. “You go finish up with Archer and Flemming. The whole point of my presentation was to hold them accountable for what they’d done. I’ll go pack a bag and lock myself in your house. I won’t open the door until you come home and relieve your deputy of his duty.”
He tried to talk her into going to Lina’s and she thought about it, she probably would have but she really didn’t want to deal with her mother and Lina right now. She was tired and knew she would be safe at Santi’s.
He walked her to her car and promised to be no longer than ten minutes behind her.
The mist was thick tonight, forcing her to drive slower, more carefully.
She thought back to the first day she’d arrived in Shrouded Lake. It felt like a lifetime ago. Which really did go to show that if you gave yourself the space to heal, life conspired to quickly show you how much better it could get.
After pulling into her front yard, she greeted McIntyre who escorted her in the house. She was careful as she made her way upstairs and began to gather enough items to stay at Santi’s for a week.
