Page 7 of Static

Heading back to my room, I grinned and shook my head. There was a time where the thought of watching old action movies with a nine-year-old would have seemed boring. Now I craved it. Lena never wanted kids. But somewhere deep down I always suspected she'd change her mind. I wouldn't have forced the issue. I married her because I loved her, or so I thought. I would have been content spending the rest of my days with her. Too bad she hadn't felt the same way. Shaking off the old memories, I stared down at Gwen.

Her dark blonde lashes laid against her cheeks and her lips were parted as she slept. This was the kind of woman you grew old with. She'd give you kids and be there every step of the way to raise them with you. You'd get to see her go through all the stages of life and your love would grow along the way.

Sighing, I leaned down and scooped her up into my arms. Her head fell against my shoulder, her body pliant and soft. She was the type of woman you didn't want to let go of.

She was also the type of woman who would take your entire soul with her if she left. Something I wasn't willing to risk.

Gently, I laid her on her bed, covering her with a light blanket. She mumbled something, her brow wrinkling as she shifted under the covers. When she quieted, I pulled the blanket up higher. I brushed a lock of hair from her face. "Sweet dreams."

As I left the room, I couldn't help but wish I was laying there next to her, keeping the nightmares away.

CHAPTER 4

Gwen

Frowning, I shrugged my purse higher onto my shoulder as I walked through the door to work. "What's going on?" I asked Cheryl, who was sitting at the desk. Rob, the head veterinarian, was in the corner of the room, speaking to the police.

When I pulled into the parking lot and saw the cop cars I'd nearly turned around again. Some of the cops were working with Fremont, so they all made me a little nervous. Though, Seek had friends all over the city who were on the force. And the officers who had shown up after the incident with Trent had been so kind and caring. They weren't all bad and that was why I'd firmly parked my car and forced myself to walk in today.

"Someone broke in last night," Cheryl said in an exaggerated whisper that was anything but quiet.

"Seriously?" I asked, my brows shooting up. "Did they go for the medications?" Vet offices didn't exactly get hit very often, but all it took was one desperate tweaker.

"No. That's what's weird," she said with a shake of her head. "They broke into all the employee lockers."

"What?" I frowned, wondering why anyone would do that. "Maybe it was a jealous ex or something?" I offered.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Karen's the only one who broke up with her boyfriend recently, but who knows. Far as the cops can tell nothing was taken, but they're gonna want you to go through your locker and make sure everything's still there."

I didn't keep anything of importance in my locker. Not even a picture of my children. As much as I wanted to, so that I could look at them throughout the day, I always figured it was better not to. Trent had gotten a little weird when we first split up and had shown up at my work a few times. Ever since then all I kept around here was the current paperback I was reading and a jacket. Of course, I locked my purse in there during the day, but it went home with me each night.

"What's the plan for the day?" I asked.

"Got the word that we wouldn't be canceling any of the surgeries. Just had to call to push back the first few of the morning."

"Okay," I said and went into the back area so I could stow my things away and get ready. There were still animals who needed to be seen, break in or not. I smiled at the officer who was in the back employee area.

"Morning, Ma'am," he said with a return smile.

"Morning."

"Could you please show me which locker is yours?"

I pointed toward number nine and waited as he used gloved hands to open it up. "Anything missing?"

"No," I told him, eyeing my book and jacket. "It's all there."

"You pack light," he teased. He was cute. I guessed around thirty or so, only a year or so older than me. Dark hair and soulful brown eyes. He looked nice in his uniform.

I held up my purse. "You wouldn't say that if you had a look in here."

"Is that an invitation?"

I froze. "What?"

Humor flashed over his face. "Sorry. Kidding." He held up his hands as a sign of peace.

My lips barely lifted as I brushed past and set my purse in my locker. I'd have to get a new lock, but that was a problem for later. We had clients coming in within thirty minutes, and I needed to help get the exam rooms prepped.

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