Page 180 of Solanum

Chapter Twenty-One

"Did you see the pictures Sali and Maggie sent?" asked Nora as she paraded through the living room of our apartment in nothing more than an open robe.

"Floating on a surfboard during a Hawaii sunset. Can't believe they're still there."

"They deserve it. It was a terrible few weeks for them…" Nora set her phone down on the coffee table then climbed into my lap. "But they seem good."

"They do." I slid my hands up her thighs when she straddled my legs. "Miss them?"

"Yes. Maggie and I talked last night and they're thinking of using Sali's settlement money to buy a condo down there that we can all share."

"Now that sounds fun." I grinned up at her. "I've never spanked you outside of the North American mainland."

She laughed and cupped my face in her palms. "Beach life sounds fun. I've never really been…"

"Really?"

She shook her head. "I'm worried about Anita."

My brow furrowed with concern at the sudden topic shift. "Is she handling things okay?"

"Not really. Her place is even worse than before. She resigned from the FBI completely, and has made plans to become part of the hospital in Olympia rather than Seattle since she's moved. But she has no idea that Marita works there."

"Marita is the…how do you describe it?"

"One of her good friends who is chronically in love with her. Like this sweet unrequited love story. Thing is, I don't think Anita is not in love with Marita. I think she's afraid to allow herself to be."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I'm not sure. She won't talk about it. Downright shuts it down." She massaged the space on my chest left uncovered by my tank. "I just worry because you and I are here, Sali and Maggie are in Hawaii, Harper and Gene are living their pregnancy excitement, and Anita is alone."

"Is she choosing to be alone, Nor?"

"Yes, but she doesn't want to be alone. I just know it…"

"How, honey?" I stroked her arms while she toyed with my hair.

"Because…when I stay with her, she cuddles with me even when I don't ask her now. And when I leave with you, the way she looks at us… It's just in her eyes. I can see that she's sad. And she cares a lot about Sali. Watching her up on that bridge…"

"It was devastating." My heart sank at the memory. "Honestly, that scared me almost as much as when I learned you were missing…"

"Watching her up there, Car…"

"I know, honey."

"I've had patients suicide. Overdose. I watched my own mother overdose half a dozen times as a kid…but Sali on that bridge, I'll never get it out of my head. Psychotic. Panicked. And Maggie's face."

"Maggie's face…" I nodded as I hugged her arms to my chest. "I know."

"I'm glad they're okay. If we feel this way though, I can't imagine how Anita feels. And she won't talk about it much."

"So…what are we going to do about it?"

"I'm going to meddle." A smile parted her lips. "And find Marita."

"You little naughty cupid." I kissed the end of her nose.

"I'm really good at meddling." She snickered and hugged me around the neck.

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