The length of time it was taking this puzzle to form, and knowing that kind of shit was his job, the man had to have the patience of a saint.
“No problem, Harry.Congratulations again, and my love to Lillian.”
“Thanks again, and I’ll tell her.Later.”
“Later.”
Some time after that, Hutch had set up his dummy and was doing “leave it” and “guard” drills with Blitz when his phone rang again.
He pulled it out, looked at the screen and released a long breath.
Because his dad would be disappointed in him if he ignored it was the only reason he took the call.
“Hey, Aunt Elaine.”
“Ranger, how are you?”
He clenched his teeth.
Only two people his entire life called him that stupid-ass name.
His mother and his Aunt Elaine.
Strike that.
His mother was now dead.
So it was only his Aunt Elaine.
“Things are good,” he replied.“You?”
“I’m preparing for the anniversary.”
He knew this was coming.
What he didn’t know was why the woman had to commemorate her sister’s death every damn year.
Hutch knew the widows of dead husbands who did that, and he understood it.Especially if the man left behind a family.That was love.That was respect.That was remembrance.And that was a way to keep him alive in their hearts.
His aunt insisting he fly home to New Hampshire so they could have some kind of special dinner to honor that woman, especially when she was well aware of what kind of woman his mother was, what she put Hutch through, what she put his dad through, was lunacy.
“Hope it brings you some peace,” he said.
“Ranger, Lisa was your mother.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Her death was a tragedy.”
“She died of cancer, Aunt Elaine.And it took her a long time to do it.”
He could tell his Aunt Elaine wasn’t a fan of how he worded that, but she let it go and stated, “In her fifties.That’s a tragedy.”
“Listen—” he began.
But she cut him off.“She loved you, Ranger.She adored you.And this is how you dishonor her?”
“I was at her bedside, holding her hand when she died,” he gritted, maybe because he was tired, maybe because he was just so fucking done with this shit.“And we both know she didn’t deserve that.”
