As if she’s reading my mind, Kelsey says, “Maybe you should take your daughters away for a little while. Can you go to a relative’s house to visit? You wouldn’t have to tell them why you’re going away. It can just be a little trip out of town.”
I think about that for only a second before I know I can’t. “No, the girls have their big meet coming up next week. They can’t miss practice at all before that.”
While I’m telling her that, all I can think about is the team shunning Cassandra and Danielle just like those kids at school did. Neither one said yesterday’s practice was bad in that way, but the longer this mess goes on, the bigger the chance is that even with as talented as they are, gymnastics is going to be ruined by the horrible rumors going around about their father.
Damn Connor! I could just scream when I think about what this is doing to our children.
Worry settles into Kelsey’s expression, making her mouth turn down so lines form. Added to her scars that are ever present, they show how worried she is about me.
“I know what I’m about to say is unnerving, but hear me out. If you believe your husband is innocent, maybe you should tell the police about his gun being missing. They’ll do a ballistics test on the gun they found at the scene, and hopefully, that will clear him.”
As much as I know that sounds like a good idea, I don’t know if I can do it. “What if it turns out to be his gun?”
Kelsey sighs. “That would be bad.”
When I don’t say anything, she asks, “So you do think there’s even the tiniest possibility that he could have done this?”
I can’t bring myself to answer her. All I can do is nod, and even that feels like a betrayal of my husband.
She sets her jaw and nods like she knows what will fix this for me. “Then I believe you have to think about yourself and your girls now, Jamie.”
I start to defend Connor, so she quickly says, “I’m not saying you shouldn’t stand by him. I’m just saying your daughters need you to protect them now. People can be very cruel. Your girls did nothing wrong, but you know how things go. Children overhear their parents talking, and although they may not understand what’s going on, they follow their parents’ lead. It’s wrong, but it happens. I don’t want to see you or your daughters hurt by this.”
She’s right. I know she is. But abandoning Connor isn’t something I’m prepared to do. We may have had our ups and downs over the years, but he’s my husband.
I belong at his side, just as our daughters do.
Kelsey gives my hand a sympathetic pat and then writes something on her napkin. Handing it to me, she says, “If you ever need me and I’m not here, just call that number, okay?”
I smile, thankful for a friend in this horrible time. “I appreciate that. I worry things are going to get worse before they get better, so I just might be calling.”
“Good. I told you before. I have two good ears to listen to whatever you need to talk about, so call whenever you need to.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Connor
I rubthe last of whatever sleep I got after coming home from the police station from my face and roll out of bed. After dealing with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum last night, I made sure to call Martin to tell him I couldn’t come in today. Checking my phone, I see he texted and he’s fine with my being out today.
At least that’s one good thing to happen to me lately.
Clinging to that and wishing today would be better than yesterday, I make my way downstairs to grab some breakfast. The house is quiet, thank God, so at least there’s that.
I don’t dare spend any time on my phone checking the news like I usually do each morning. I can’t bear reading about how I’m the only suspect and everyone around here is convinced I’m guilty.
What has my life become?
My peace is shattered when I hear Jamie walk in the front door. Not a minute later, she walks past me into the kitchen,mumbling something. I know I shouldn’t ask what she’s saying, but the words are out of my mouth before I know it.
“What are you saying?”
She throws me a nasty look and shakes her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
As much as I don’t want to have this conversation, it’s either now or later, and to be honest, I’d like to get it over with. I stand up from the table and walk over to where she’s standing at the island in the kitchen, sure she wants to get this over with as much as I do.
“I didn’t kill him, Jamie. My God. He shot himself. You believe me, don’t you?”
My wife gives me a blank stare and then sighs. “You were the last one with him. That’s what they’re saying. The last person to see him alive.”
