Mark thought for a moment. “I don’t understand how you can be so matter of fact about it.”
“I knew I was in love with him when we were thirteen, Mark. It’s been a long time since then. Lot of life to live. Lot of losses, including Marcus in the end, too.” He stared out of the window, wondering if he should tell Mark the rest.
“What?” Mark asked. “You’re not telling me everything here.”
“Damn cops,” Francis teased, then looked at Mark. “He cheated on Padraig and I knew about it.”
“What?” Now the outrage was clearly directed at Marcus and not the circumstances, and Francis quite enjoyed it.
“I saw him hooking up with twinks at conferences. That’s when I let go of my last hope.”
“Why only then? He was with Doc for so long.”
“Because those guys were young and feminine and nothing like me. And every time I saw him with one, I knew it would never, ever be me. He was purposefully looking for guys who were nothing like Padraig and well, nothing like me either.” Francis knew his smile was sad and brittle. “I guess until that point, not that long before he passed, some part of me held on to hope.”
“That one day it would be you?”
“Yes. Except, never, ever at Padraig’s expense. Not once did I think I’d take his place.”
Mark hummed. “I can see that. You’re not that kind of a guy. Not someone who would break up people to get in between them.” He glanced at Francis. “You’re a good friend.”
“I try,” Francis quipped, despite the fact that he still sort of felt guilty about everything. Even with the way he and Padraig had talked things through.
Soon, they drove into the yard of a large, gorgeous house.
“Wow… they live here alone?” Francis asked, a bit in awe of the house and the surroundings.
“Yeah.” Mark took his seatbelt off. “They wanted a big family, but only had one kid.”
They got out of the car and Francis wondered how sad it must’ve been, especially with how the daughter now lived elsewhere and the sheriff’s department and nurse services were responsible for checking up on the Grahams.
Nobody had removed the snow off the steps and the edge of the porch, so they stomped their feet to get the excess off before Mark rang the doorbell.
While they waited, Francis grabbed the broom by the door and swept off the snow as much as he could. At least it was light and not sticky snow.
The door opened just as he was putting the broom away.
“Oh, Deputy Forrest, come on in,” an elderly woman said.
“Hello, Mrs. Graham. I have company this time,” Mark said, gesturing toward Francis who was out of her view.
Francis quickly stepped closer so she could see him. “Hi, Mrs. Graham, I’m Francis Archer.”
“Oh yes,” she said with obvious delight. “Pearl called. Please do come in, both of you!”
She backed away from the door and they shuffled in. Francis kept an eye on how she moved and how steady she seemed to be.
Henrietta Graham was a tall, slight woman who had a regal aura about her. She’d probably been gorgeous in her youth.
“Come, let’s sit in the living room,” she said.
They waited for her to go first. She seemed steady on her feet, if slow and careful. At least she wasn’t overdoing it in any way.
“Who was it, Hen?” An old man sitting in an armchair asked, then smiled when he saw Mark and Francis. “Oh, Deputy Forrest! Come on in. This must be your nurse friend?”
Mr. Graham was rounder in shape, but in much worse condition than his wife. He tried to stand to greet Francis, who quickly walked to him instead.
“No need to stand on my account, Mr. Graham,” he said, taking the offered hand to shake. “I’m Francis Archer, and yes, I’m the nurse friend of Deputy Forrest’s Pearl called you about.”
