“Hey, Jess. How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
I didn’t ask how she was. I mean, I kind of cared but I didn’t want her to know I cared.
Her engagement ring sparkled under the bakery lights. I thought about my engagement and wedding rings sitting in my jewelry box in my apartment.
I probably should give them back to Alan.
“Did you know, when Earl Schilling and his nephew kidnapped Lainey last spring, Alan was the one who found her? It would have taken the police hours to find what he was able to in minutes. Lainey didn’t have hours—they were trying to rape her when Adam rescued her. And while Adam was rescuing her, Alan was saving Brian’s life by putting a tourniquet on his leg where his femoral artery had been nicked.
“The only people who know Alan was even there are Brian and Adam, and me and Lainey after the fact. I think Brian’s dad suspects, but as the chief of police, he prefers not to officially know anything. Your husband saved my sister and my fiancé, and no one even knows.”
I believed her. I could see him being a quiet hero. Not wanting the spotlight.
I felt my eyes water as I whispered, “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you need to know he’s a good man. Did he mess up by lying to you? Absolutely. Should you make him grovel and kiss your feet? One hundred percent. But at the end of the day, you have to consider what kind of man he really is. He saved the lives of two people he barely knew; imagine what he’d do for you and Ruthie.”
“I feel so stupid, being the only one who didn’t know.”
“That’s on all of us. But to be fair, that’s a secret we were sworn to. It’s not something we were going to discuss casually with you. I had no idea you didn’t know, and I don’t think Lainey did either. But you have to ask yourself, is this worth ending what you had with him?”
“It wasn’t real.”
Jade cocked her head and asked, “Do you really think that, or is that your pride talking?”
Chapter Eighty
Alan
Me: I just wanted to let you know I have to head to Lancastle for a few days. But I’ll be back on Thursday.
Jessica: Who is this?
Me: Ha ha.
Jessica: How did you get my number?
Me: Well, given what you’ve learned about me recently, I think you can figure it out.
Jessica: Isn’t that illegal?
Me: Patriot Act.
Jessica: When do you leave?
Me: Tomorrow morning. Why? Do you want to have dinner?
I mean, it didn’t hurt to ask.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when she replied.
Jessica: Okay.
Me: Okay?
Now I was suspicious.
