Page 57 of Crosshairs

“I need to call Gran. I’m sure she saw the news too,” she said once they were in the kitchen but made no move to make the call.

“Want me to do it?”

Ainsley shook her head as if to clear it. “No. She would really think something was wrong if you did that.”

“Put it on speaker. Maybe I can reassure her.”

She made the call, but before she could say a word, Rose said, “Why didn’t you call me! I’ve been worried to death ever since I saw the ten o’clock news! Why didn’t you let me know you were all right?”

“I’m sorry, Gran. I had no idea the shooting would make tonight’s news. We just got to Cora’s.”

“We?”

“I’m with her, Rose,” Linc said.

“Oh good.” Relief sounded in Rose’s voice. “Ainsley, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, ma’am. Just a little wound up.”

“You don’t have to stay at Cora’s, you know.”

Ainsley sighed. “I won’t worry as much about you if I stay across the street.”

“Who’s going to keep me from worrying about you?”

Linc spoke up. “I’m staying the night in one of the guest rooms upstairs.”

Ainsley jerked her head toward him, her eyes wide.

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Rose said. “You both sound exhausted. Get some rest.”

A minute later, Ainsley pocketed her phone and turned to him. “What did you mean about staying overnight here?”

He hadn’t meant to spring that on her. “You don’t need to be alone.”

“Cora has a perfectly good alarm system, and you don’t have any ...” Her face blazed.

“I packed a bag when I went by my apartment.”

“Oh. But—”

“How about we talk about it over a cup of Cora’s decaf?” he said before she could protest further. “She usually has cookies in the cabinet. Might help you unwind.”

“I was thinking of some of her medicinal Jack Daniels.” She laughed when his eyes widened. “Decaf and cookies sound good.”

Ainsley sat at the round wooden table, and he popped a K-cup into Cora’s new Keurig. While the coffee brewed, he looked in the cabinet where she usually kept her snacks. “How about lemon snaps?”

“Sounds good.”

A few minutes later he set their coffee and the cookies on the table and sat across from her.

“This kitchen is like Gran’s. Homey,” Ainsley said.

“That’s the right word for it. Cora and I usually enjoy a cup of coffee or hot tea the days I help her with the book.”

Ainsley laughed. “I wondered how you knew where she kept her cookies.”

A comfortable silence surrounded them. Ainsley took a sip of coffee, her shoulders relaxing a bit. “I’m glad you talked me into this.”

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