Page 35 of Obsession

“Thank goodness,” she said, her relief evident. “Jace was awake a few minutes ago, asking for a drink of water. He may not have fallen back asleep yet.”

“Be there in five.”

Before he could end the call, his sister added, “Sam ... I’m sorry for being so snarky about Emma this morning before you left, but I’d hate to see you get mixed up with her again.”

Jenny had practically idolized Emma before the breakup and had taken her rejection personally. Another reason to keep his distance from the lovely park ranger. “Don’t worry, Sis. Not happening,” he said, ignoring the memory of wanting to kiss Emma.

Sam hooked his phone on his belt and hurried to his SUV. It was important to catch Jace before he went to sleep, and he let his speed creep above the limit in the short distance to his sister’s small house.

He’d been in love with Emma since high school, and it had been torture watching her flit from one boy to another. Then the first year at the junior college they both attended had been his turn, and he’d been surprised when they became a steady item even after he went away to college in Arizona on a full scholarship.

A couple of buddies who had been Emma’s castoffs warned him not to get serious about her. He should have listened. Instead, he asked her to marry him when he came home for the summer and she accepted. He’d given her a ring and was about to chuck the rest of his Arizona scholarship to attend MississippiState with her and Ryan. At least she broke the engagement before that happened.

He thought he’d gotten over her, but being around her had reopened old feelings. And old fears. Presently, only three people knew the truth about what happened between him and Ryan the night he disappeared. Ryan, Jenny, and Sam.

He’d even had a perfect opening at one point tonight when he could have told her what really happened. How he and Ryan had gotten into a fight in the parking lot when her brother wouldn’t leave the tavern. Sam had already been on his way home when Jenny called, needing his help. Emma and everyone else assumed he’d left Ryan because of his sister’s trouble, and he’d let them believe it.

While it wasn’t a lie, neither was it the whole truth, and he wasn’t proud of that. But then Emma had hurt him so deeply when she broke up with him that he didn’t see any point in correcting her impression.

Sam slowed in front of his sister’s small house and turned into the drive. He really needed to get a place of his own. Maybe even next door. He’d noticed their neighbors had moved out over the weekend, and he’d meant to call the owner this morning to see if the house was available. Tomorrow he’d make the time.

He glanced up at the crescent moon before he inserted his key in the lock, hoping Jace would be awake. The key turned much too easily. Jenny had left the door unlocked again. She was sitting on the sofa folding clothes when he walked into the den. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She and Emma had that in common, if nothing else—the ponytail part, not the color. Jenny’s was blonde but Emma’s fiery curls matched his mood. “How many times have I told you to keep the doors locked, especially the front door?”

“You don’t have to take my head off,” she said. “I forgot. Okay?”

He raked his fingers through his hair. “I just want you and Jace to be safe. Natchez isn’t like it was when we were kids.”

She palmed her hands. “I’ll try to remember. Where were you when I called?”

Sam hesitated. If he told her, she’d be on his case again, but he was tired of avoiding the subject. “Emma Winters’s apartment,” he said. “I’m going to check on Jace.”

Sam walked to his nephew’s bedroom and sighed when the ten-year-old was asleep. He really had meant to get home in time to check out the moon with him. His heart swelled at the sight of the sleeping boy. Jace was smaller than most ten-year-olds and still had an angelic face at times. That almost made him laugh out loud. Jace would not like Sam thinking he looked angelic.

The boy’s eyes fluttered open. “Sam, you’re here,” he said sleepily.

Sam had refused to be called Uncle Sam. “Yep, buddy, I’m home. Are you feeling better?”

“Uh-huh. Is it too late to look for the moon?”

“Let’s see.” He crossed the room and pulled the curtain aside as Jace scrambled to his knees on the bed. The thin white arc hung overhead against a black night. “Do you remember what we call this phase?”

“It’s a crescent moon.”

“Good. Now, is it waxing or waning?”

Jace held out his hand facing the moon and made aCwith his thumb and forefinger. The moon fit neatly in the curve. “It’s waxing, right?”

“Yeah. What does that mean?”

“It’ll be a full moon in a couple of weeks,” Jace said, looking around at him.

“Good, you remembered. I’m proud of you.” Words he never heard from his own father.

“Thanks for waking me up.”

“I didn’t mean to, but I’m glad too. Now, let’s get you tucked in before your mama skins me alive.”

Jace wrinkled his face into a frown. “I’m too big to be tucked in.”

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