LITMIR.BIZ

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frowned. “It’s okay.”

      Okay? Why did everyone keep using that word? Right now she wasn’t sure anything would be okay ever again. She’d thought she’d got over her fear. Thought maybe she could finally have a normal life. Had even thought that she and Kaleb might be able to...

      No. She did not need to get involved with a man.

      Especially not after what had just happened. Right now all she needed was to know that her daughter was safe.

      “I have to go.” She repeated the words, knowing she probably sounded foolish. But she couldn’t help it.

      “You told the officer your ex was acting alone. Are you sure of that? Could he be part of some organization?”

      Organization? It took her a minute to realize what that meant.

      “He’s not a terrorist. He’s just a boy from a hick town who...” Her voice caught. When she tried to force out the rest of the sentence, it caught again.

      Then Kaleb’s arms came around her, pressing her head into his shoulder as a second sob hit her throat. Then a third. And a fourth. She couldn’t believe any of this was happening. A man she’d once loved was dead. A man she’d slept with. Laughed with. Had a baby with.

      A man who’d turned cruel beyond belief as time had gone on.

      She had to call her mom and tell her before she heard it from somewhere else.

      But first she had to get ahold of herself. She curled her hands into the soft fabric of Kaleb’s shirt, the comforting scent of his body washing over her. His fingers cupped the back of her head, moving in small soothing brushes that did what her mind couldn’t seem to do: returned her to the here and now. Edging back slightly, she tilted her head to look up at him. “I was so scared.”

      He pressed his forehead to hers. “It’s okay. You’re allowed to be.”

      Wet spots on the crisp blue of his shirt, along with twin black smudges from her mascara, made her eyes prickle all over again. She brushed at the moisture with one hand. “Your shirt. I’ll pay to have it cleaned.”

      “It’s nothing. It’ll wash right out.”

      Random thoughts spiraled through her head.

      How did he know it would wash out? Had he held crying women often?

      Or had he made them cry? Like her ex.

      No. She might not know Kaleb very well, but he was nothing like Matthew. She would have heard something from Sarah or the other nurses. Hospital grapevines let nothing go by unnoticed.

      Why hadn’t she heard back from Roxy yet? It had been fifteen minutes at least.

      Matthew had hated Chloe. He’d had a jealous streak, even before they’d got married. Back then it had seemed innocent enough. But it had only got worse with time. Until it had no longer been amusing or flattering...but dangerous. And it had finally extended to the child she’d carried. That had been the last straw. She’d divorced him, but trying to live in the same town with his threats and middle-of-the-night phone calls had finally got to be too much. She’d filed for—and been granted—a restraining order. And then when Chloe had turned three, Maddy had decided to leave Gamble Point and move, giving in to Roxy’s pleas to get away from him once and for all.

      Only it didn’t look as if that had worked.

      She realized she was still standing far too close to Kaleb. She stepped to the side. “I had no idea he was capable...I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of this.”

      What if Matthew had started shooting up the place? Kaleb, as well as others, could have been injured. Or killed. She shuddered again.

      Instead, Matthew had taken his own life.

      He shook his head. “I’m glad I was here.” His throat moved for a second. “It could have been much worse.”

      Exactly what she’d been thinking.

      His phone chirped, and her heart leaped to her throat as she watched him press the button.

      “Yes, she’s right here.” He handed her the phone. “It’s your sister.”

      “Roxy?”

      “It’s okay. Chloe’s with me. She’s safe. He didn’t come here.”

      “Thank God. Have you talked to Mom?” She closed her eyes, fingers tight on the phone. “I was so afraid he might...”

      “I called her as soon as I got Chloe. She’s in shock. But she’s not hurt. We’re headed to your place now.”

      “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

      There was a pause, and then her sister’s voice came back through. “How about you? Are you okay?”

      Maddy glanced at Kaleb. “I’m shaken up, but I’m not hurt.”

      “I still can’t believe it.”

      “Me either.” In fact, it was hard to wrap her mind around what she’d seen today.

      “Don’t worry about Chloe. I won’t let her out of my sight. See you when you get to the house, okay? Love you.”

      “Love you too.”

      She handed the phone back to Kaleb just as the police motioned for them to join them. It seemed as if questions were thrown at her for hours, but it couldn’t have been that long. At some point, Kaleb swabbed the cut on her cheek and pressed an adhesive bandage over it. Eventually, the lockdown was called off, glass was swept up, the floor was mopped clean, and patients were allowed back into the unit.

      Through it all, a steady stream of staff members came over to hug her or offer kind words, including the hospital administrator, who was making the rounds and letting everyone know that a counselor would be made available to anyone who felt they needed it.

      The same officer who’d let her make her phone call came over to say goodbye. “We’ll call you if we have more questions. And we’ll need you to come down in the next day or two and sign a statement.”

      “I understand.”

      The man paused, then looked her in the eye. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

      The words were meant to be kind, but with them came a sense of relief. Because although she was sorry that Matthew had killed himself, she wasn’t sorry that the threat of what he might do was gone. He would never be able to reach out and hurt his daughter. She was glad that he’d aimed his fury at her and no one else.

      Still, she thanked the officer and asked him to call her when they were ready for her to sign that statement. Then he strode toward the elevator.

      Tomorrow there would still be talk, and maybe for a few weeks after that, but the horror of today would hopefully fade. Maybe once the glass in her office door was replaced.

      But would her guilt? None of this would have happened if she had followed her head rather than her heart all those years ago. Her hands clenched at her sides.

      “Don’t.” Kaleb’s voice came to her, reminding her he was still there. Still beside her.

      She looked at him. “Don’t what?”

      “Blame yourself for this. I can see the wheels turning.” He touched one of her hands.

      She sucked down a deep breath, forcing her fingers to relax. “He was my ex-husband.”

      “Did you tell him to come here and do what he did?”

      “No, but—”

      “No buts. This was all on him.” He gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Seriously, are you okay?”

      She shook her head. “No. But I will be. I have to be.”

      “Do you want me to drive you home?”

      “No.

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