Page 83 of Unexpected Danger
“Wewillcatch him. It hasn’t been for lack of trying, but the guy has slipped through our fingers numerous times.”
“I wish I hadn’t been so foolish to believe he was upstanding.”
Brodie tapped his thumb on the steering wheel. “Unfortunately, Haack is cunning and experienced at charming people.”
“Charming is right. Everyone where I worked, including my boss and coworkers, believed him to be something he wasn’t. He, Jasmine, and I hit it off right away. I think it helped because our cubicles were right next to each other. Unfortunately, through all this, Jasmine took Dustin’s side.” Londyn blinked rapidly, and the pain in her voice told of her former friend’s rejection.
Brodie recalled that Detective Rivas had interviewed Jasmine and hadn’t been impressed, but there was nothing criminal to pin on her. He thought of all of those who had rejected Londyn in her life. Her mom, in a way, when she put her desire to marry and divorce in rapid succession above her children. Her dad, who left when Londyn was little and never looked back. Her brother, who had estranged himself from his family. And now Jasmine. No wonder she was standoffish and afraid when it came to permanent relationships. “I’m sorry about Jasmine.”
“Thank you. I should have wised up sooner when I realized she’d told Dustin other things I’d told her in confidence.”
“As far as Dustin goes, while I’m no psychiatrist, I do suspect some narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies.”
An owl hooted, a coyote howled, and the porch light flickered before continuing its shiny glow. He and Londyn had always been able to enjoy each other’s company, even when no words were spoken. Tonight was no exception. As a matter of fact, dancing with her at Jimmy’s brought back a slew of memories of how close they’d been. Of how he’d eagerly wanted to take the next step in their relationship.
And how she’d wanted just the opposite.
With effort, Brodie shoved the thoughts aside. If friendship was all Londyn desired, he’d do his best to acquiesce.
“Do you remember when your dad would take us to the range?” asked Londyn, interrupting Brodie’s thoughts. “He was so patient, teaching us everything that we would need to know about gun safety. He would set up those empty water bottles and pop cans, and then later that snazzy target we got him for his birthday.”
“I remember like it was yesterday.” Brodie missed his dad every day. What he wouldn’t give to be able to bounce questions off of him, seek his advice on not only matters of law enforcement, but his godly wisdom regarding the challengesof life. God had taken Dad home far too soon. “The only consolation—and it’s a big consolation—is that we’ll see him again someday.”
“I’m sorry I brought him up, but he was just such a remarkable man and a dad not only to his own kids, but to kids like me who needed a father.
“And he loved you like a daughter.”
Brodie detected movement inside the house. A little hand pushed aside the curtain, and a round face pressed against the window.
Brodie was surprised Xander was still up. They should probably get inside so Roarke and Mila could get home. But Brodie found it a struggle to leave Londyn’s company.
She rested her head against the seat. “Brodie, I know I hurt you badly when I left. I know I hurt Aileen, too. I have so many regrets.”
In the dim light, he thought he saw a tear trail down her cheek. “I don’t understand why you left. All you had to do was say you weren’t interested in marrying me, and we could have gone our separate ways or even continued to date. But you just said no, and then you took off and moved to an entirely different town.” So much inside of him needed to know her reasoning for leaving. He had questions he’d wanted to ask since that day, and now, as the words wanted to surge to the forefront, Brodie knew he should pray first before uttering even one of them. But the thoughts on his mind formed the words that spilled from his mouth before he could seek the Lord’s wisdom. “I guess I just don’t understand. I love you, and you didn’t feel the same, which is obvious. All you had to do was say so.”
“And break your heart even more?” Londyn’s abrupt words caught him off guard, but they were true. If she did love him and did care about him the way he loved and cared about her, she wouldn’t have moved to Rowland. “I apologize, too, for notstaying in touch as well as I should have. I started well with Aileen, and I could have done better with you.”
“I am glad you periodically texted Mom.”
“I love her, and she is more like a mom than my mom ever was.”
Mom had mentioned that she and Londyn had sat down one evening since Londyn’s return and talked at length. Mom possessed a forgiving heart, so it was no surprise that she and Londyn resolved the issues between them, and Mom had forgiven Londyn’s brash actions. As for Brodie, it wasn’t so much that he struggled with forgiveness—even though he did—but far more that he struggled with the pain of the realization that he cared for someone who could never return those same feelings.
The garbled thoughts rammed through his mind. He didn’t know what to say to Londyn or where their future would lead. Would he be content with always just being friends, or were theyevenstill friends? After tonight, the way he held her with his arms around her when they danced and the way she’d smiled as he’d spun her around, how they‘d shared pizza and talked as though there was nothing between them, he knew without a doubt he still loved her. Probably now, even more than ever. But he would let her go. With God’s help, he would let her go.
“I hope that you can forgive me, Brodie.” Londyn’s voice wavered. Brodie focused his attention out the front window and across the driveway.
“I do forgive you.”
Search my heart, Lord. I do forgive her, right?
“Thank you.” Her words came in gasps, and he longed to pull her into his arms and comfort her. Tell her all would be all right. But he couldn’t,wouldn’trisk that type of rejection again.
“Can we reestablish our friendship?” she asked.
“Sure.” His voice sounded flat in his own ears. But wisdom dictated that with Dustin Haack on the loose, and how he hadcome so close to losing Londyn, he shouldn’t waste even a second of time holding a grudge. He cleared his throat. “Did you like living in this city?”
“It was all right, but I’m a small-town girl. I missed Pronghorn Falls, especially during rush hour traffic.” She offered a wistful smile. “Here, people know each other, and they talk and smile and they have each other’s backs. Rowland’s a huge city. Yes, I made friends there, and I liked my job, but it’s not the same atmosphere as Pronghorn Falls.”
