Page 35 of Her Devoted HERO

“Are you doing all right, Honey?”

Kenna settled at the sound of her mother’s tone.

“Yeah.”

“Have someone walk you out to your car tonight.”

“Mom, it’ll still be daylight when I get off work,” she protested.

“Just do that for me.”

Kenna pressed a thumb against her temple. “I will.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow night when I watch Austin.”

“See you tomorrow, Mom. I love you.”

“Love you too, Honey.”

She hung up and called Rosalie and got her voicemail. She left a message and went back to work. When she finished her shift for the day, Patsy sidled up to her.

“Let’s walk out together,” she suggested.

“Did you get a lecture too?” Kenna asked with a laugh.

“What are you talking about?” Patsy asked, clearly confused. “I’ll just feel better if I have someone to walk with me to the parking lot.”

Kenna ducked her head. “Oh. Yeah, that makes sense,” she agreed.

She walked with Patsy to her Prius and the woman then insisted on driving Kenna to her car. It was clear she was really freaked.

“You know that this didn’t happen here. It happened at her house,” Kenna tried to reassure the woman.

“We don’t know that he didn’t target her from the hospital,” Patsy said.

It was true. But still, it all seemed like overkill to Kenna. All that mattered was that Jean was dead. She sucked in air through her nose, trying to keep it together.

She got out of Patsy’s car and leaned in. “Thanks. I’ll see you on Thursday.”

“Not tomorrow?” Patsy asked.

“I work four tens. I’m off on Wednesdays,” Kenna reminded her.

“Oh yeah. You work longer hours than me, so I guess carpooling is out.”

“It’s going to be okay, Patsy. They’ll get this guy.”

“I know. I’m just antsy.”

“Well, when I am here at the hospital, I will definitely walk with you to and from your car. You have my number, right?”

Patsy nodded.

“Good. Thanks for the lift.” Kenna shut the door and waved.

She got into her car and immediately locked the car doors, then took a deep breath.

She bent her head and said a soft prayer for her dead friend, then started her car.