Page 69 of A Lonely Road
“This has gone far enough,” my father muttered.
Roberts held up a hand. “Cassidy, let me do my job, would you? I understand everybody is on edge. My team will be out here in a few minutes to take photos, dust for prints. I’m going to set an unmarked car cruising by here around the clock, Jake. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to stick close to Nora and to let us know if you see anything even an inch out of place.”
“Of course, Chief,” Jake said grimly.
Roberts turned his gaze to the garage apartment with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know, Cassidy, if Nora’s staying with Jake, you could take the apartment, stay close in case of an emergency. Wouldn’t hurt to have another set of eyes on things, and I know you can handle whatever comes your way.”
“You really think that’s necessary?” I asked softly.
My father didn’t answer right away, just looked straight at me and Jake before sighing. “Under other circumstances, I wouldn’t even consider it. I know neither one of you wants me hovering around while you’re finding your feet. If you twowould rather I not intrude like that, I’ll respect your privacy, but I’m not much help out at the cabin if an emergency arises.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Jake said, squeezing my hand. “This guy is a coward—a show of force might be enough to scare him off.”
I wasn’t sure that was true, but it wasn’t like Dad would be sleeping in the next room. With my father waiting for my agreement, I finally nodded. “Okay. I’ll go get my key for you and give you the grand tour, if the chief doesn’t mind?”
Roberts gave us the go ahead as Detective Hanson and her team arrived and got straight to work. We left Jake and the chief conversing in low tones as they reviewed footage from the security cameras. When I led my father up the sturdy stairs to the apartment, he paused to run his hand over the railing.
“Jake did all the work on this?” he asked.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw admiration written across his face. “Yes. Wait until you see inside, he did a beautiful job. His house is even more impressive, but it’s not quite finished. He’s been doing the renovations in his spare time.”
My father seemed suitably impressed, not only with Jake’s skill but with the fact that he had clearly poured his time and a great deal of love into something that wasn’t his own, in a field that wasn’t even his livelihood. Though I knew my father wished he could whisk me away from danger, even after I'd hit thirty, I also knew he was comforted by knowing I had Jake inmy corner.
“I have a box at the back of the bedroom closet,” I said, “and some clothes left in the drawers, but I can get that stuff out of here.”
At that, my father turned and raised an eyebrow. “You sure travel light these days, Bear.”
I shrugged, offering a rueful smile as I countered, “I can’t really fit too much in Baby, so I’ve learned to declutter. It’s very trendy these days, you know. Capsule wardrobe, minimalism.”
“Oh, Nora,” he said gently, squeezing my shoulders. He looked like wanted to say more but hadn’t the faintest idea where to begin.
“It’s just stuff, Dad,” I whispered, then my hands covered my face as the tears slipped free again. “It’s just stuff,” I said again, sniffling. “Even Baby.”
He hugged me tight to his chest. “I know how you love that car, Bear. I’ll help Jake get her cleaned up. Everything’s going to be just fine. I’m sorry I haven’t been around for you as much as I should have.”
It took another minute or two for me to regain my composure, but I finally scrubbed my hands over my cheeks and stepped back. “I always knew how to reach you, Dad.”
He nodded, but he looked utterly unconvinced. “It’s not the same. It was easier to just keep reminding myself that you’re a grown woman who can handle herself. After your mother left . . . well. I should have been around more. If I could redo one thing in my life, it would be that. I’m sorry that I didn’t make more of an effort.”
“You’re here now. I appreciate that.” I gave him a wobbly smile. After a deep, steadying breath, I added, “I should get back out there.”
“Nora,” my father said quietly, “I know you’ve been on your own a long time and gotten used to taking care of everything by yourself, but you and Jake make a good team. Try to let him help you. It’s okay to lean sometimes, especially when you’re in love with somebody.”
His gentle words almost spurred a fresh round of tears. I bit my lip hard until it passed, then nodded. “I really love him, Dad.”
My father’s smile was sweeter than I’d ever seen. “I know, Bear. I know.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Nora
Whendinnertimerolledaround that evening, Baby was safely tucked away next to Jake’s truck in the garage and my father had transferred himself and his things over to the apartment. While he nursed a beer alone above the garage, probably contemplating how his adult daughter could have chiseled down her entire life into a single box at the back of a closet, Jake and I were spooned together on the leather sofa, only half paying attention to the movie we’d chosen.
“Holding up okay?” Jake asked, rubbing his cheek against my hair.
Though I would fight anyone who went so far as to call me fragile, at least under almost any other circumstances, I felt a little too rigid after the morning’s drama, almost brittle, like it wouldn’t take much for me to fall apart.
Again.
