“Exactly. That was probably the ultimate goal. We’re trying to turn Gary. Our suspicion is that Dale has leverage on him, and that’s why Gary is staying quiet.”
“So those guys did the grunt work, but someone else has been calling the shots.”
“Exactly.” Micah nodded.
“Are the Hendersons connected to any of this?”
Micah blew out another long breath. “We don’t think so. But Travis Henderson is a problem all on his own, and he probablywon’t be going away any time soon. When he hit your SUV, that probably had nothing to do with this. And he most likely set the snare on your property as a way of sending a silent message that he still thinks the land is his. He was probably the one you saw in the hospital also. His cousin really did have surgery.”
She nodded slowly. “It sounds like you’re inching closer to answers. That’s good news.”
“It is.”
Silence stretched between them for a moment.
Finally, she drew in a deep breath before changing the subject. “By the way, Karen called this afternoon.”
Micah looked at her. “And?”
“She said that given everything that happened, that the Hardings won’t be getting their hands on Grace any time soon.” Naomi looked down at her glass. “She said the court filing has been suspended pending the criminal investigation and that my position as Grace’s guardian is secure while everything is sorted out.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yes.” She felt the truth of it settle in her chest. “It really is.”
Naomi observed Micah as he stared at his glass, turning it slowly between his hands.
She had a feeling he was working himself up to do or say something.
She waited.
She’d gotten good at waiting for Micah Sutherland to find his words, and she knew that whatever he finally said was usually worth hearing.
Micah didn’t know how to start.
Which wasn’t a problem he had often. He dealt in facts. Timelines. Evidence. Words that meant exactly what they said.
This felt different.
“So, the other day . . . when I was holding Grace,” he started, knowing he needed to explain himself—and also knowing that putting his heart out there was more terrifying than facing a gunman.
Naomi waited, her expression soft and compassionate in a way that silently encouraged him to keep going.
“In the nursery that night . . . I stood there holding her. Then I looked at you, and I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.” He paused. “And it scared me. Terrified me, actually.”
“So you pulled away.”
“I pulled away.” He exhaled. “I’ve been telling myself for years that I’m better on my own. That I’m not meant to be in a relationship.” He turned the glass again then made himself stop. “I failed Caroline and our unborn child. I don’t want to do that again.”
“That’s understandable. What you went through was terrible.”
He held her gaze. “The feelings I have for you scare me, Naomi. They’re the wrong size for how long we’ve known each other, and they don’t leave room for careful, and I don’t know what to do with that.” He paused. “But I know that I don’t want to lose you. I know that much.”
She was quiet long enough that Micah started to wonder if he’d read everything wrong. If he’d miscalculated the one thing that actually mattered.
Then she stood, crossed the small distance between them, and stopped in front of him. He tilted his head to see her eyes.
“Can I tell you something?” she asked softly.
