Page 72 of Life

“Then, honey, you have nothing to worry about. You fell in love. He loves you back. Live your life. Enjoy it. There’s nothing more important than true love.”

“But Tommy…” I whisper around the plum-sized ball of guilt stuck in my throat.

Bree chokes on a cough.

Kat gasps.

Gillian’s eyes widen and her hand goes to her throat.

Kat speaks first. “It’s unfortunate Tommy had to leave this earth the way he did, and we will all miss him and appreciate his sacrifice. But you and each woman in here know he was not your forever mate. Honey, you may have cared for him, but all of us could see you enjoyed the safety that came with being a cop’s girlfriend. After what you’ve been through in the past, it makes a great deal of sense, and at the time, that’s what you wanted, so the three of us supported your decision. But I don’t think anyone here is surprised you fell in love with someone other than Tommy. Ladies?”

I look up at Bree and then Gigi, who are both shaking their heads.

“So you’re not upset?” I ask the three of them.

“Goodness, no!”

“Heck no!”

“No way!”

All of them answer at the same time. An anchor-sized weight floats off my shoulders with their admission.

“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it, but having the support from the three of you means more to me than anything. I can’t tell you how much.Te amo, damas.”

“Love you more,” Gigi says.

“Right back atcha, babe,” Bree adds.

“Always,” Kat finishes.

When the Creator above decided my path would contain years of hardship, struggle, and surviving against all odds, at least He graced me with three gifts—Gillian, Bree, and Kathleen. I’ll always be thankful to the big guy above for them. And as long as I have them in my life, I can make it through anything.

“That was so great!” Gigi locks her arm with mine as we walk out of the elevator. The small lobby in Kat’s building is empty of residents.

“It was. I’m so glad Kathleen is home and Chase has a nurse coming regularly. Especially since she won’t allow any of us to stay with her. Stubbornla mocoso,” I mumble, calling her a brat.

Gigi laughs. “I remember that one!”

“Probably because I used it on you plenty of times over the years.” I smile wide and open the door to the street for Gigi to precede me out of Kat’s building.

The sun has set, but it’s still light out. Strangely, Gillian’s bodyguard and car are not waiting at the curb. Usually, Jack greets us outside the elevator. I should have noticed he wasn’t there right away. “Where’s the limo and Jack?” I’m standing under the awning to the building, looking up and down the street. The wind blows my hair off my neck, chilling my face with its crispness.

Gillian frowns. “Shoot, I forgot to tell him we were ready.” She glances left and then right. “Oh, no problem. The limo’s parked a block down. We’ll meet him.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Maybe we should go back inside and call.” I look around at the buildings, the busy street, and the sidewalks. People are milling about, getting into taxis, going into different buildings, ducking into stores. It seems fine, but still, something at the back of my mind is sending a soft buzzing to the surface. Not quite alarm bells, but I’ve definitely got the heebie-jeebies.

“Oh please. I can see Jack leaning on the front of the car now.” She points down the block and tugs my arm. I have no choice but to follow her.

A sizzling prickle hits my spine, and I glance around, walking briskly. I hold my purse close to my side and put an arm around Gillian’s waist to keep her moving. Glancing left and right, I’m trying to focus on the details of the people around us.

Woman and man getting into a taxi.

Homeless man sitting on the sidewalk shaking a can of change.

Two people standing at the ATMs across the street.

Cars going by at normal, regular speeds.

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