Page 1 of Taking What Was His

Chapter One

Beth squeezed her son Jayden’s hand as they walked up the sidewalk to one of her best friends Marla’s house. Any other time, she loved being there, but not that day. That day they were putting Marla’s husband Brad in the ground.

Brad had been a cop and died in the line of duty. Like so many other officers before him, he had gone on a domestic disturbance call, and the husband had shot him at the door, just like Beth’s husband.

Domestic issues tend to be more dangerous because of the high emotional angst and raw feelings.

Beth had also lost her husband, a detective in the 9th District. He’d been investigating a shooting in one of the rougher parts of the city and had been gunned down. It happened five years before, when Jayden was seven years old.

Now he was twelve and was too smart for his own good, and every year, it got a little tougher to raise him on her own. Her husband’s best friend and partner on the police force, Evan, helped out when he could, but things had been awkward between them after he tried to come on to her, and she shot him down.

She’d been startled when he grabbed her and kissed her. She had pushed him away from her and yelled, ‘Stop.’ They had stood silently and stared at each other for a long moment before she explained that she didn’t feel like that about him, and she really wasn’t ready to date, anyway. It had been one of the most awkward times in her life.

Evan was a handsome, sweet guy, but she’d never had romantic feelings toward him. He would always be Rick’s buddy and partner in her mind.

She knew he’d been attracted to her long before Rick died, but she had always ignored it while Rick had joked about it.

She looked up when the door opened, and she saw one of Marla’s cousins and smiled.

“Hey, Beth, I’m glad you’re here.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Marla, Miss Drama Queen.”

Beth sighed. “Betty, she just lost her husband. Give her a break.”

“I know, and I feel bad for her, but why does she have to wail?”

Beth just smiled. Marla and she had known each other since grade school, and her friend had always loved drama and being the center of attention, while Beth liked to be in the background.

People had always wondered how they could be friends and be so different, but their relationship worked.

“I’ll see if I can’t calm her down.”

“You’re the only one that could.”

She handed off the casserole dish. “Could you put that in her fridge, please?”

“Sure, honey.” Betty ruffled Jayden’s hair. “There’s your handsome boy with the gorgeous eyes like his momma.”

Beth chuckled at the red tinge that covered her son’s face. People commented on their eyes a lot. They were a bright jade color that stood out against their dark Italian hair and complexions.

“Mom, can I go find Charlie?”

“After you give your condolences to Marla.”

It took the two fifteen minutes to get across the room because they were stopped every foot or so, being greeted by the people that stood between her and Marla.

Beth cringed as a cry rent the air. “Excuse us. Marla needs us right now. We’ll talk later.”

“If you can get her to stop making that damn sound, it would be much appreciated.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Marla’s cry froze as Beth got near her.

“Marla, Jayden would like to say something.”