Misty pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and shuffled across the threshold. “I need to talk to you.”
Telling Misty to go home wouldn’t do any good. When she got like this the only thing Justine could do was ride it out with her. They’d talked about the incident at the salon, for the good it would do. Resigned, Justine offered, “How about some tea?” Not the sweet, iced kind everyone around here preferred, but a nice green tea with benefits like antioxidants.
Misty plopped onto the sofa as if she owned the place. “No thanks.”
Justine closed the door and joined her. Misty knew Justine had a routine, but she simply disregarded that knowledge whenever she felt needy. “What’s the problem?” Justine was spending more and more time holding Misty’s hand these days. She needed to stop obsessing about the things thatmightgo wrong. There was simply no purpose init. From the moment Austin’s release had been announced, Misty had been in a tizzy.
Justine wished her friend would pay a little more attention to herself instead. She could be attractive if she tried. Even after spending fifty bucks at the salon for a cut and style, she still stuck her hair into a ponytail. And those baggy clothes. The whole image got on Justine’s last nerve.
“It’shim,”Misty said, squeezing her hands between her knees. “He won’t leave.”
Justine had watched Misty get like this before. She was a perpetual worrywart, and once she latched on to an idea she simply wouldn’t let go. Justine couldn’t say she hadn’t expected this.
“Stay away from him,” Justine urged, “and you’ll be fine. I’m certain he won’t try to bother you.” The whole idea was irrational.
Misty glared at her through those Coke bottle lenses. “It’s not me I’m worried about. It’sher.It’s just like before; she’s following him around like a puppy.”
“I see.” Justine felt the first swell of significant tension. “Has something specific happened?”
“Not yet.” Misty moved her shoulders in a noncommittal gesture. “But she’s not going to let it go and neither is he. There’ll be trouble. You know what he’ll do.”
“You saw her following him around?”
Misty nodded. “She was at Sid’s today too. I tried discouraging her with the rumor that Austin was innocent.”
Justine cringed inwardly. Misty was truly a brilliant individual. Her IQ was off the charts, but she was so dense when it came to everyday life. “Emily’s never going to consider Clint Austin innocent. And I’m not sure nudging her in that direction is a good thing.”
“She doesn’t have to think he’s innocent; she just needs to leave it alone before something bad happens.”
“I think,” Justine said calmly, despite the suspicions now niggling at her, “that we need to just relax and talk about something else.” Misty was obsessing even more than Justine had surmised.
“You saw her this morning,” Misty countered, not ready to let it go. “She’s not taking this well. She’s on the edge, just like you said.” She shook her head. “I’m really worried.”
Justine placed a reassuring hand on Misty’s arm. “Misty, honey, I think this whole thing will settle down. Ray is taking care of everything.” Ray loved this town. He wasn’t about to let the past destroy all that he cared about.
Misty gave her head another of those hard shakes. “I don’t think so. She’s not going to stop until it’s too late.” Misty had really worked herself into a state. Justine draped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “Let’s forget about this whole business. Let the chief and his boys take care of it.”
Justine had learned a long time ago that staying calm in most any situation was extremely valuable. She wished she could teach that lesson to Misty. Life would be so much easier for her. For everyone. Sometimes Misty’s need to be protective was detrimental to both of them.
Misty leaned her head on Justine’s shoulder. “You heard about the break-in at his house, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“He shouldn’t have come back here.”
“No,” Justine agreed. “He shouldn’t have.”
The quiet that followed was soothing. Perhaps the turbulence would pass this easily. There was just one thing, but Justine really hated to bring up the subject again. “You weren’t the one who broke into his house, were you?”
That Misty didn’t immediately tense or draw away was a good sign. “Don’t be silly, Justine.” She laughed, poked at her glasses. “Why would I do that?”
Justine patted her hand. “See, I made you laugh.”
“You did.” Misty stifled a yawn. “Can I sleep here tonight? I don’t want to go home.”
“Sure, honey. You know you’re always welcome here.” Justine relaxed. “That’s what friends are for.”
20
