Page 38 of The Night Ride
“Aiden, you really didn’t have to, but I appreciate it just the same.Let me know how much I owe you and I’ll grab the cash for you tomorrow.”
“There’s no rush on that end.Get it to me when you can.The potatoes should be done by now.And there’s a bagged salad in the fridge too.”
“You thought of everything.I’ll get the potatoes and salad out while you finish these.”
“It’ll only take a few more minutes.”
Beth headed back inside.And I realized there was so much more I wanted to say.That I was sorry for that night.But when it came to my emotions and verbalizing them, I always fell short.Ever since my marriage ended, I had closed myself off from softer feelings.It was easier not to feel, not to allow anyone in.The life I lived wasn’t easy.And I couldn’t see myself getting married again, not until I retired from the Navy.Once I was home full time, I would see.
When the steaks were cooked, I loaded them onto the pan.Shut the grill and propane off.And then headed inside with our meal.
While I was outside, Beth had set the table.Put the salad in a serving bowl with some bottles of dressing on the table.The potatoes were on the plates in their aluminum foil wrapping opened and topped with all the fixings.
God, this woman knew how to make a meal complete.She went the extra mile with everything she did.I respected the hell out of her.She was an amazing woman and any man would be lucky to call her theirs.So why the fuck was I sitting on the sidelines?Fear of being hurt?I danced with death daily in my job.But I also hadn’t opened myself up to the possibility of a relationship in years.“The potatoes look fantastic.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I added all the extras.It’s the chef in me.”She appeared worried, like I would get pissed.
But then I remembered the weekend I spent at her house all those years ago.Beth’s mother had been a piece of work.She’d heaped praise on Evan, while admonishing Beth for things that weren’t even an infraction.
“It’s far better than I could do.Hopefully the steaks are up to your liking.”
“I’m sure they’ll be wonderful.Especially since I don’t have to cook.”
We sat and ate in silence for a few minutes when the rain started.“Just in the nick of time.I still need to clean the grill.”
She shrugged.“It’ll be fine for the evening.I don’t think it’s supposed to let up until after midnight.”
“Have you heard from the detective?”
Beth frowned, her congenial attitude grew tense.“No.But he had mentioned it would take them some time to examine my employees’ records and background checks to see if there’s anything fishy.If the cameras don’t catch them over the next week, then they will interview my employees until we narrow down who the culprit might be.”
“I’ll check in with the store tomorrow about the cameras.Should only be another day or so before they’re in.The installation should only take an evening.And then we’ll get to the bottom of who’s behind the theft.”
Beth sighed and pushed her food around her plate.I didn’t like seeing her depressed.The need to protect her was overwhelming.
“What is it?Talk to me, Beth.”
She lifted her gaze, it was full of such disappointment and sorrow, it took everything in me to stay in my seat and not go to her and offer her support.“If I’m being honest, there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to figure out who’s behind it.But I’m also not willing to part with any more of my profits.”
“It’s tough that you feel like you can’t trust your employees.”
“It sucks.”
“It does.One time our unit had this informant.Nice guy.He was very helpful or so we thought.In the end he was working both sides, taking what he could from both and trying to ensure whichever side prevailed he would come out on top.He led our unit into an ambush.Betrayal is never easy when it’s an acquittance.When it’s someone you depend on to help run your business, it must weigh on you something fierce.But I’ll give you a piece of advice.”
“Oh yeah?What’s that?”
“It’s not your fault for believing in them.Nor that they proved in the end not to be trustworthy.”
“Problem is I don’t feel that way.I feel like I should have seen it.But it was such small amounts here and there I thought it was just normal errors.They happen in a service-based industry with customers.You know a batch of cookies getting burned.Someone giving back too much change or not enough from the register.I’ve been guilty of all those things.But it hurts, being betrayed like this and on the heels of losing Evan.”She blinked at the moisture lining her lids and glanced down at her meal.
I took her hand in mind.“I know it hurts, but you didn’t do anything wrong, they did.And they will pay for what they did.Our informant did with his life.”
Her head shot up with wide eyes.
“I know what you’re thinking.No, we didn’t kill him, the enemy did.Discovered he was playing both sides and hung him on the side of the road as a warning for what happens when someone crosses them.”
“I figured.And thanks.”She rose with her empty plate.“For dinner and the talk.”
