Ethan’s call came through.
“You got it for me?” Joel asked when he answered.
“It’s white. A white Toyota Highlander.”
Joel hung up and called Polly back. The phone rang, then it rang some more.
But she didn’t answer.
“So you haven’t spokento your mom?” Maggie asked gently, as she popped a piece of croissant into her mouth.
Polly wrapped her palms around her mug of coffee. Bloom was quiet and empty around them with five minutes until closing. “She’s called a couple of times and she’s texted every day. I just need some space. I know why she lied. She didn’t want to lose meorJonah. At the same time, I hope she understands why I can’t keep bailing her out when things go wrong for her.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
Polly’s brows flew up. “You are?”
“Absolutely. Your entire life, you’ve been cleaning up her messes. Holding her together after every breakup. And every breakup has cost you a little bit of your sanity. Her mistakes have had such a huge effect on your life. Heck, you barely dated because of it.”
It was true. If it wasn’t for Joel, she wasn’t sure she’d ever have gotten to the point of actually having a functioning relationship with a man. “I still don’t think I’ll ever be the marriage type, but you’re right. This is progress.”
“It really is.” Maggie leaned forward and touched her hand. “You’re finally putting yourself first. And it issogood to see you happy.”
“Iamhappy. I feel safe with Joel. Something I haven’t felt with a man…ever. I don’t know how he did it, but he broke through every bit of armor I was wearing.”
Maggie’s eyes grew watery. “Good. You deserve to be in a loving relationship. And you make him happy.”
“You think he’s happy?”
Maggie laughed. “According to Ethan, Joel is a changed man. Still obsessed with snacks and still finding his feet in this cat-dad role, but apparently he’s more authentically happy than the team’s ever seen him.”
Polly’s heart thumped. “Good.”
“It’s okay to still worry about your mom though,” Maggie added. “God knows I still did that with my aunt for a while.”
“How’s that going?”
Maggie had the aunt from hell. Things were better in the sense that her best friend could walk through town without getting open insults thrown her way, but they’d never be good. And Polly would never forget what the woman had put Maggie through.
Maggie lifted a shoulder. “I run into her every so often. We don’t talk, but sometimes she offers a tight smile. Honestly, I barely think about her anymore. I mostly think of my mom and wish we could find her killer and get her justice.”
A shudder skittered through Polly. “I hate that there’s someone out there who’s been hurting women for decades.”
“This new killer might not be the same person.”
“That’s almost worse. Then there are two of them.”
“Do you really think it might be Jonah?”
“I don’t knowwhatto think.” She really didn’t. There was one piece of evidence, and it couldn’t be a coincidence. “Until we know for sure, I don’t like the idea of him being around my mom.”
“Of course.”
“But that’s not my choice.” With a sigh, Polly rose. “I should close the store.”
“I’ll help.”
“Don’t you have an appointment with a client in ten minutes?”
