Page 87 of Sighs By the Sea

But Gray is already grabbing his keys. "Not necessary, Mags. I can do that, Ma." They quickly run through the items she thinks our home needs, and he kisses my cheek before hurrying out the door.

"Uh, thanks for all this, Henrietta," I say when he's gone.

“Call me Ma, baby, everyone does.”

George’s face turns very serious. “Nuh-uh, I call you Gam Gam.”

“Very true, Georgie. You want some eggs?” Georgie makes a face that clearly says that’s the worst idea in the world, and I tickle his sides.

“Eggs are good for little crime fighters, Georgie. You should try some.”

Henrietta turns at the sound of laughter. But when she sees us together, she drops her scrub brush and puts both hands on her mouth, soap flying everywhere. “Oh, you two are just perfect.” She suddenly puts her hands on her hips. “Why was Gray hiding you from us again?”

At the words, I can’t help but bask in the attention, a smile spreading across my face. “Too perfect. Maybe he was intimidated, thinking you’d like me more,” I say.

“Oh, but I do. I heard how you sprang into action last night, keeping our boys safe.”

I suddenly look down. “Not all my boys. Remember Harry? He… " I glance down at George, wondering how much to share. "He’s in the hospital.”

Henrietta’s demeanor shifts at the mention of Harry, her curiosity piqued. “It's Harry that's hurt?”

I nod, my throat growing tight. Seeing the man I think of as a father bleeding from his chest was the scariest moment of my life. Thankfully, I didn't lose it until after the paramedics arrived. While they worked on him, I let the tears pour freely. Henrietta's lip trembles for a split second before she raises her chin defiantly. "We're going to need reinforcements." She whips out her phone.

"Sammy, Gray needs us in LA." The voice on the other end must resist because Henrietta's brow lowers before she shouts, "Then cancel it!"

I think even her own words shock her because she takes a breath. "I have never asked any of you for anything. You get the girls and get here." She hangs up, and the phone slams on the kitchen counter. I clear my throat. "He's okay, Henrietta."

"Ma," she whispers, then sniffles. I knew she was flirting with him at the surf thing, but I had no idea she cared this much.

I set George in his own seat, who is luckily unaware of his Gam Gam's emotions. Rising from the chair, I go to her side, rubbing her back. "Ma, he's going to be fine." She nods and sniffles again. I wonder if she's even capable of crying. I chuckle as she straightens up. "I didn't realize you two were—"

She waves a hand. "We aren't. But he's a nice man who's taken care of you, and you had to…" she swallows a lump and shakes her head. "No one should see someone they love like that, baby."

I inhale a shaky breath. "It could have been Gray, or even—"

Her arms wrap around me. "Don't think like that, baby." I let out a choked half-sob, trying to keep it together since George is in the dining room. Picturing what I was thinking is too much. Thank God Harry was here. He's a fucking hero. My hero. She tightens her hold. "My girls will be here, and we'll fix everything. You just go to work and put whatever fucker that did this away."

I nod against her shoulder, a little shocked at her harsh words. When she pulls back, her eyes are like daggers. "I mean it, Maggie. No one hurts my family like this."

Her determination must be rubbing off on me because my spine stiffens. "I will, Ma. I promise."

"Good. Now go shower. You have blood on your arm." I look down, and a fresh wave of guilt washes over me. But Henrietta is shoving me out of the room. "None of that. We did the crying. That's step one. Step two is to get to work. Go."

With a chuckle, I make my way down the hall. My bathroom is a bit cluttered and a little gross, but that's a problem for another time. With the water on the hottest setting I can manage, I step into the shower.

After scrubbing the top layer of skin off, I quickly dress and braid my wet hair. No time for making myself perfect today. Today, I have a job to do.

Back in the kitchen, Henrietta is scrubbing my oven, the scent of cleaner heavy. She doesn't say anything as I sit down at the waiting plate. After I eat what is the best frittata of my life, I grab my purse, ready to leave right as Grayson comes back into the house, his arms loaded with bags.

He sets them on the counter. "You're going?"

I nod. "Captain texted. I need to fill out some reports and go through my suspect list." I don't mention that there's only one name on that list. Don.

“Maggie baby, I need you to unlock that door before you go. I have a set of bunk beds coming for Georgie.”

“Uh, that room is… not safe,” I say. The second bedroom is a nightmare, and there’s no way I’ll let Henrietta see it.

But Henrietta puts her hands on her hips. “Is it full of something dangerous or naughty?”

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