Seeing her in the flesh was like a slap to the face—I’d missed her so damn much.
My mouth trembled. “You could have let me in. I’d have done anything to help.”
Her chin jerked up but I could see, deep in her eyes, she knew I spoke the truth. “How could I have told you?”
“We were friends!”
She squeezed herself tighter. “I know.”
“W-Why would you do this? Why would you let me mourn you?”
“Howdid you do this?” Stan inserted. “It takes a lot of bribes to disappear like that.”
Beatriz ignored him, but his words registered and I thought out loud: “Paul Desen.” When dismay flickered over her expression, I knew I was on the right track. To Stan, I continued, “He worked in the hospital where we were nursing residents. In the morgue. Tell me you didn’t, Beatriz.” She didn’t say anything. “He had a massive crush on you. God, what a mess.” I slumped against Stan, knowing he’d hold me up. “A-Are you okay?”
It was all I could think to ask.
She’d run away from me, New York, her family, hereverything...
I couldn’t imagine how alone she must have been.
Beatriz firmed her lips but dipped her chin again.
And that was the sum total of what I got out of her.
The woman Keira had sent along sidled closer, slipped in front of us, and pressed her hand to Beatriz’s,Trixie’sshoulder.
Because that was who she was now. Not my Beatriz. Hell, not George’s, Millie’s, or Lara’s Beatriz, either. But Trixie.
For the first time, with the sharp light from overhead, I noticed the scars on her face. I wanted to know how she’d gotten them. From the car crash? Or something else? I wanted to understand what had happened…desperately.
But she didn’t want to share.
And I… Well, I had no choice but to accept that.
I retreated a pace, appreciating how in sync Stan was with me because he shifted like we were back onRussu’sdance floor. “Take care of yourself, Beatriz. For me, if not even for yourself. I-I love you.”
With that, I turned away.
It was hard. Damn hard. I shoved aside my incessant need for answers, for the desperate desire to understand, traits that made me a good nurse, and I let her go.
Because that was what she needed of me.
When we headed downstairs, Storm waited for us.
As much as it made sense to be formally escorted off the compound, he lessened the pain with the orchid in his arms.
I gaped at that then at him, and he graced me with a gentle smile. “For your ma.”
“I couldn’t?—”
“Sure you can. Please.”
“That’s so kind of you,” I rasped, those damnable tears making another appearance.
Stan accepted the plant pot on my behalf with a soft murmur of thanks, but he held out a hand for Storm. They parted on friendly terms, meaning I hadn’t caused any problems between the two—the last thing I wanted.
Pressing a kiss to Storm’s cheek, I locked my eyes on his. “Is she safe here?”
