Page 28 of Nick

“Opal misunderstood the way I said it. I’ll straighten it all out with her. You’ll see. Can I get some of that hot French bread? It smells so good.”

“Of course. Opal’s made some special bread that has walnuts and raisins in it. Would you like to try a slice of that too?”

“Yes, please.”

I watched as she sliced me a thick slice and then buttered it. When I took a bite, I knew my eyes had rolled back. This was the best-tasting bread I have ever tasted. “It’s delicious. I’ll take a loaf of it, also. Can you slice it for me? I’m going to a meeting, and I know everyone will want some.”

I went straight from there to the meeting. I was eating another slice of bread when I walked inside. Matt and Angel were on zoom.

“What are you eating?” Matt asked.

“I got this bread from the bread shop. It is the best bread I’ve ever tasted. It has walnuts and raisins.”

“If you ladies are finished discussing your bread, can we get started? I have to leave soon.”

“Where are you going?” I asked Hunter, who was staring at my bread. I passed the bread around, and everyone took a slice.

“I have something I’m doing for Opal. Let’s get started.”

“Why would Opal ask you to do something and not me?”

“Why would she ask you?” Asher asked. Asher was married to Ruby, Opal’s sister. I looked at Jax. He was married to Amber, Opal’s other sister. He was waiting for me to say something.

“Because we’re friends.”

“Opal has tons of friends.”

“I know. What are you doing for Opal?” I asked, looking at Hunter. Jax and Asher watched me for a couple moments before finally turning around.

“I’m going to pick her up. Her car was hit while parked in the parking lot. Since I am already going to Bend, I’m picking her up.” The rest of the day, I worried about if she was in the vehicle when it was hit.

A couple of days later, when I went to the bread store, Opal was still not there. “Where is Opal?”

“She went to get Luca today. He’s getting out of prison.”

“That’s great. I’m really happy for Luca. I bet Jenna is happy as well.”

“Yes, and so is his other sister. She’s in the hospital being treated for cancer.”

“I hope everything turns out for all of them. Maybe I’ll see Opal tomorrow?”

“She has a doctor's appointment tom—” Tina knew she had messed up before she finished the sentence. “She has her yearly appointment. I’m sure she didn’t want me to tell every customer who came inside. Can you not mention it to her, please.”

“I won’t say a word.”

I bought another loaf of that delicious bread and started my walk home. That’s when I heard a woman screaming. I ran toward the sound and a man was trying to rob a woman and she wasn’t letting go of her purse. I grabbed him by the back of the neck before I saw the knife in his hand. It slashed across my stomach. I looked down. Blood was soaking my shirt quickly. The man took off running. The woman called nine-one-one. I dropped to my knees as the blood drained from me. I heard the sirens, and Tina told me to stay calm so my blood wouldn’t pump faster.

14

Opal

Ianswered my phone when it rang. “Hey, Tina, what’s up? Wait, say that again.”

“Nick was helping a woman who was being robbed. The man sliced his stomach open with a knife in his other hand. He’s in the hospital. I thought you might want to know about what happened. It doesn’t look good.”

“How is he?”

“I tried to get him to stay calm. His blood was leaving his body so fast.”

---