That there was no one incident that had caused Glenda to stop speaking.That it was a series of internal events and traumas that no one would ever be privy to if Glenda didn’t want them to be.Which would explain all the varying and sometimes conflicting answers among those that had observed Glenda’s life.
Sometimes life didn’t make sense, no matter how many answers you got.
“Maybe you should hit up Cal when he gets back,” Nate suggested.“He tends to get through to Glenda for whatever reason.”
Sam had been considering that, but she didn’t know what kind of lines that crossed.The problem with this case was that there were delicate lines everywhere.So far, though, she hadn’t had to deal with the possibility of tangling Nate’s oldest brother up with this because Cal had been in Texas the past few weeks tying up the loose ends of his life there.
Sam still wasn’t sure Cal would stick back in Marietta, but she knew Nate was hopeful his brother really was planning to be back for good, so she allowed herself to be hopeful as well.Not because Cal Bennet was her favorite person or anything, but because…
Well, the really weird thing about being in love with someone was wanting them to be happy.Cal back for good would make Nate happy.
As though discussing him conjured him from out of the blue, she happened to glance up at the big storefront window and saw Cal striding down the sidewalk outside.“Speak of the devil.”
“I don’t think we should be invoking any devil talk,” Nate replied, but his gaze drifted to the window.“Things have been too calm.”
“Oh, don’t say that.You jinxed it.”
“You’re the one who brought the devil into it.”
The bell to the door tinkled and Cal stepped in.“Good, you’re both here,” he said by way of greeting.
He was dressed in one of his slick lawyer suits, and he pulled the no-doubt expensive sunglasses off his face as he stepped inside.He might beback, but he certainly wasn’t looking the part of anything but well-paid, big-city lawyer.
“Welcome back,” Nate replied dryly.
“Back with a plan.A plan that involves both of you.Well, mostly you, Sam.”
She couldn’t stop herself from exchanging a look with Nate, who shrugged, clearly as in the dark about thisplanas she was.
So she went with a joke.“I’m not hiring unless you’re looking to do custodial work.”
“I am not interested in either of those things.You haven’t rented out the apartment upstairs.”
“No.No takers,” Sam agreed.“People aren’t loving the idea of living over a private investigation business.But the realtor thinks spring will—”
“I’ll rent it.”
“Like, instead of living up at the ranch?”Nate asked.
Cal didn’t glance back at Nate.He kept his gaze on Sam.“Yes, exactly like that.”
*
Nate studied hisbrother’s back.Cal with a plan was better than a Cal falling apart in plain sight, but it still left a restless feeling in Nate’s chest.Like Cal was bulldozing ahead on a not-quite-sturdy foundation.
Physically, Cal had recovered from the gunshot wound he’d suffered last year.Emotionally?Well, Nate wondered if a man ever recovered from witnessing his mother’s murder by his father and then suffering from dissociative amnesia most his adult life.That gunshot wound was really the least of Cal’s legion of problems.
“You think Aly and Landon are going to go for that?”Nate asked, even though Cal was clearly focused on getting Sam on his side.
Cal shrugged, finally glancing over his shoulder at him.“Doesn’t matter if they do.”
Nate flicked a glance at Sam.Saw most of his own concerns reflected in her dark eyes.They weren’t on the same page abouteverythingin this world, but Cal was one of the things they tended to agree on.
Cal sighed irritably.“No need for the not-so-subtle concerned-about-my-sanity looks, guys.I know the wholetraumatic amnesiawas a little off-putting, but Iamnearly forty years old.I don’t need keepers or deciders.You don’t have to rent the place to me, Sam, but I’ll only rent somewhere else on Main Street.I’m not living in that house.”
Sam hesitated, and Nate knew it was for his benefit as much as Cal’s.“You don’t even know how much I’m going to charge for rent.”
“Sounds like you can’t afford to overcharge me since you don’t have any takers.”
