Page 70 of Colorado K-9 Rescue
Mckenna nodded. “Yes. Although my fear is different now. It’s something I can face better, learn to manage, but it’s a part of me. It makes up who I am. Have you gone to the support group I suggested?”
“Yes, last night was the first one,” Lily said.
“What did you think?”
“I liked it.”
“What did you like?” Mckenna asked.
“To realize that even though all our experiences are slightly different, there are other victims out there like us. That they’ve been able to move forward and that they feel the same fear and have the same emotions and it’s okay.”
“I liked it for the same reason,” Mckenna said. “I go every week, so I’ll see you next time. Maybe we can grab coffee afterward.”
“I’d like that,” Lily said. “I’m going to head home now, but I wanted to thank you. For finding him. For Autumn. For me.”
“You helped too, Lily,” Mckenna said. “Being brave and remembering things to tell us was important and helped a lot.”
The young lady smiled and then headed out.
“You want me to walk you to your car?” Evan asked Lily.
Mckenna loved his offer. She understood that something so simple as going to your car in a parking garage might feel like a huge achievement and was scary at the same time once you’d had an experience like they had. She loved that Evan knew that too.
“Yes, please,” Lily said.
“I’ll be back,” Evan said, leaning over and giving Mckenna a quick kiss.
“I knew it,” Lily said, with a big smile.
“What?” Evan asked.
“That it’s not complicated like you said, Mckenna. You two are a thing.”
CHAPTER 44
A couple of days later
Mckenna snuggled closer to Evan, the sheets tangled between them. They’d ended up back at Mckenna’s after Mocha started chewing on Evan’s couch. The Lab was happily snoring on his bed, content to be home.
The sun went behind some clouds making the room darken. Mckenna couldn’t remember ever being this happy. Once she had been released from the hospital, Evan had taken the personal days he mentioned. Originally, they were going to hike to the summit of Mount Blue Sky before it closed for the winter and try to get tickets to a concert at Red Rocks, but so far, they hadn’t made it very far out of the house.
She closed her eyes, for once feeling safe and secure. Protected.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Evan said.
“What’s that?” Mckenna asked, opening her eyes, and propping herself up on one elbow so she could see Evan and trail a finger down his chest.
Evan swallowed hard, his face turning serious. Now Mckenna was really wondering what he had to say. “You have a girlfriend? Wife?”
“What? No. You really think that?”
Mckenna laughed. “No. Of course not. I’m teasing you and now, whatever you have to say, it’ll be fine.”
Evan sighed. “I’ve been offered a promotion. To ASAC.”
“What? Evan, that’s great. It’s what you wanted. Why do you look so upset?”
“Because it’s in Oregon. But I think I’ll turn it down.”
