Page 51 of Finding Our Reality

“Well, some information came from him. Some from his commanding officer.”

“You talked to his commanding officer? When I went to the recruiting office, after he enlisted, they wouldn’t tell me anything.”

“I was his POA.”

Now, I’m really blown away. “What?”

“He came to me after Harlan’s funeral. Harlan had been his power of attorney. He couldn’t ask his parents or his brother to do it. He said I was the only person he could think of. One of the few people he respected. He said that if you trusted me, then he trusted me too. It was either me or Ray, and he knew Ray wouldn’t do it, not considering how he’d left you.” Marcum clears his throat. “A power of attorney was even more important in his situation because of his grandmother and the decisions regarding her care that had to be made on a regular basis with the nursing home. He left me in control of all his finances, all decisions about his grandmother, everything. Of course, I didn’tdo anything without consulting him, but there were a couple of times that I had to act first and ask him about it later. Being overseas, he was sometimes out of pocket for days or weeks. I was his medical POA too, and listed as his next of kin contact. They contacted me after the IED explosion.”

I shake my head, rattling my brain from one side to the next. “How could you not tell me he nearly died?”

Marcum leans forward, wrapping his hand over mine. “The same way I didn’t tell him that you nearly died.”

Chapter 19

ELLA

I’m completely caught off guard when my headlights flash across Ry’s body as he sits on the small front stoop of my house. Well, the small front stoop of the Children’s Wing, I mean. He quickly stands, pushing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. My heart jumps in my chest and nerves tickle the back of my throat. I wish my physical attraction to him would fizzle out, go away.

But it doesn’t.

He’s wearing jeans and a button-up blue checkered shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow. The cold snap finally broke so he doesn’t need a jacket. Which sucks. Because his forearms are sexy enough to drive me to the edge of madness. The gray baseball cap on his head shadows his face in danger and seduction.

I climb out of the car and grab my work bag, purse, and overnight bag from the back seat. He rushes to my side when he sees the load I’m trying to carry.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

He slips the overnight duffle and work bag from my shoulder. I don’t argue; I know it’s a moot point to protest his chivalry.

I changed into flats before the drive back to town, so he towers over me, reminding me of his power and strength. I always loved it when he picked me up. When I wrapped my legs around his waist. When I—

“No hello?”

I snort, walking ahead of him. “Hello. Now, what are you doing here?”

“You didn’t tell me you were going out of town.”

I dig in my purse for my house key. “I told you I wouldn’t be going to the station yesterday.”

“True, but you didn’t tell me you would be in a completely different state.”

“I didn’t realize I had to clear my schedule with you, Detective.” The door swings open, and I lean in, dropping my purse on the floor. I refuse to invite him inside. The last time he was in my house—in the Children’s Wing—we were happy, we were together. Seeing him in these familiar surroundings would undo me. I spin around, holding my hands out for my bags.

“I can put these inside for you.”

Staring into his pale green eyes, I nearly lose myself… nearly invite him in. “I can handle it.”

He smirks but stops resisting and hands me the bags. I gently set them next to my purse. “You didn’t answer my question, Ry. What are you doing here? Did you need something?”

“Happy birthday.”

Oh my god. “You remembered.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day, Lulu. I do own a calendar.”

I giggle, trying to disguise my emotions. “Yeah, I think you’ve mentioned that before.”

“I went to the bar. Will said you weren’t coming out. They wanted to take you to dinner, but you said no?”

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