Page 41 of Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case

His response pleased Simin enormously. “My doctor said so, too, but strangely I feel better hearing it from you.”

Matthew seemed intrigued by this, but there was also a strange expression on his face, one I had a hard time deciphering.

“Can you really see everything?”

Jon waffled a hand back and forth in a seesaw motion. “Yes, but I can’t always pinpoint what I’m seeing. Emotions don’t always come with signs and a roadmap, so while I can often see what the emotion is, and what it’s connected to, sometimes I’m making an educated guess. If you’re wondering if it’s all right to askthat, then please do. He’ll be overjoyed.”

Again, more Jon-isms. I had a feeling I was somehow the topic though. Gut feeling, nothing else.

It seemed to reassure Matthew, as he shared a very loaded glance with his wife before turning to me. “In truth, after welearned we’re pregnant, we thought of asking you to be the baby’s godfather.”

Of all the things I had expected him to say, it wasn’t this. For the second time that night, pure joy hit me, and I could barely restrain myself from reaching across the table and hauling them into a massive bear hug.

“I—I—yes. Absolutely yes.”

They looked happy but relieved, too, and it was the relief that didn’t sit well with me. I could feel those Havili instincts kick right in. “Why, is there a problem?”

“Kind of,” Simin admitted to me, face screwing up in a pained grimace. “After everything that happened in London, I’m no longer in contact with my family. They wanted me to withdraw the charges, forgive my husband, and get back with him.”

“The hell?” I blurted out, a little too loudly for a restaurant, but I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “After what he tried to do to you?”

“It’s part of what made me break fully from my culture and religion.” Sadness filtered through her, shoulders slumping. Matthew put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “How could I reconcile with either when they were the very things used to force me into such an abusive relationship to begin with? I’m not saying it’s the right choice for everyone, but for me and Eshaal, I think it was. I honestly feel breaking away from it all was the best thing for us. Eshaal and I went through therapy for a while. I think we’re both far better for it.”

I could tell they were. “I’m glad you did.”

“As for me,” Matthew chimed in, “I’m an orphan. I don’t have any relatives that I know of. Ever since marrying, we’ve both been worried about our child. Well, children now. What would happen to them if something happened to us? Simin wanted to ask you to be our designated guardian of the kids, just in case. I felt it a bit much to spring it on you.”

“Not at all.” I said this firmly because I meant it. “I’m glad you did. And please put me down as guardian.”

Jon nodded along with me. “I’m more than fine with this. I mean, I hope it never comes to that, but I don’t blame you for making plans, just in case. You really can’t anticipate what lies ahead.”

I knew such words for fact. I’d had no idea going in for a job interview would help me meet the love of my life and future husband. Even a prophet couldn’t anticipate everything.

“Speaking of things wanting to be asked…” Jon looked right at Eshaal. “Ask.”

Eshaal blinked, then abruptly looked shy. “Is it okay?”

“Of course.”

What the hell were these two talking about?

Turning to me, Eshaal asked, “Can I be your flower girl at your wedding?”

Now how in the world could I say no to that? “I’d love for you to be.”

She gave a little chair dance. “Yaaaaas.”

A waiter came to take our order, the conversation naturally pausing there. With all of this news out, I honestly couldn’t remember being nervous anymore. It felt so natural to sit here with my friends, talking of the future, planning for joy. I should have never lost contact to begin with. I’d missed so much of their journey to this happy life they had now.

One thing was for sure: I wouldn’t let go of them again.

15

To say Donovan was elated would be missing the mark by a country mile. Heglowedwith joy, contentment, and a myriad of other emotions. I didn’t think he realized how heavily it had weighed on him to be in the dark about the mother and daughter he’d saved until that weight was lifted from him. I distinctly saw in his lines the easing of his burden, replaced with simple, pure happiness.

Seeing him this happy made me horny. Not going to lie. I was a simple man with simple buttons, what could I say?

Donovan was driving, mostly because we’d taken the Power Wagon, and he loved driving my antique truck more than anything.

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