Forgive and Forget: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #2) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) (7 page)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next morning, Kalina rolled over in bed to find the space where Chris had been empty, the body heat dwindling. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes with one hand, searching for her phone with the other. After groping along the edge of her nightstand, she finally found her phone and checked the time: 7:02. She kicked the sheets aside and staggered out of the room. She found Chris standing by the coffee maker with two cups in hand.

“Hey, I didn’t want to wake you,” he said and handed her a mug.

“That’s okay. I was planning on going for a run this morning anyway.”

He spooned several generous helpings of sugar into his own mug and stirred before taking a sip. “Do you think you’re going to stay in touch with Nadine?”

Kalina slid into a chair by the kitchen table and tugged at her hair. “Yeah. This whole time I felt like such a terrible friend. If I hadn’t gone off to the city and been so lost in my own world and drama things might have been different.”

“What do you mean? You couldn’t have stopped any of this.”

“Maybe not. But she wouldn’t have felt so alone after her mother died. Maybe I would have noticed a change when her father was drugging her and could have gotten her help.”

“Don’t think about it like that. You were there for her now. As I said yesterday, you probably helped her keep it together through everything.”

“I still can’t believe you aren’t mad at me for getting involved.”

“Annoyed maybe but not mad.”

“I swear I don’t mean to get dragged into things. But I get curious and then I have to know what happened.”

“I know. And it’s why I love you. You are so concerned with the people of this town.”

Kalina took another swig of coffee and laughed. “I was telling Nadine the other day that I was really glad to move back home because I didn’t realize how much I missed the people. This is where I belong.”

“Are you sure you want to go for a run? I could just drop you off at the shop on my way to the station.”

“That’s all right. I think I need the time to myself.”

Chris downed the rest of his coffee in two big gulps and set the mug in the sink. He kissed her forehead before he disappeared to get dressed. She waited until he left before she went back to her room to pull on her workout clothes. Barring any unforeseen disasters, she fully intended to come home and shower before heading into work.

With ear buds in her ears, she took off at a steady jog. The weather was far more cooperative than it had been a few days ago and she settled into a comfortable rhythm. She took a different route, going up past the high school and fire department. She waved to a few of the firefighters heading on to their shifts as she went by. Veering off to the right at the next intersection, she found herself once again running along Ocean Front Drive. She hadn’t intended go there but her subconscious must have been driving her. She stopped when she spotted a car in the driveway at 1609. She tugged the headphones out of her ears and approached it. The sound of running water caught her attention.

“Hello?” she called.

Water snaked down around the car’s tires and she stepped out of its path. Kalina rounded the front of the car to find Adam holding a hose, washing away the last remnants of what had happened.

“Oh, hi,” she said.

He shut off the water and tossed the hose aside. “Hi. If you’re looking for Nadine, she’s in the kitchen.”

“Thanks.”

She hadn’t been looking for her friend but maybe they did need to talk. She wanted Nadine to know that she wanted them to remain close. Wiping her feet on the front mat, she headed straight back to the kitchen. Nadine sat at the table, staring at nothing in particular.

“Hey, I hope it’s okay that I stopped by,” Kalina said, snapping Nadine out of her fog.

“Yeah, of course.”

Kalina took the seat across from her friend. “I’m a little surprised you’re back here. I thought you and Adam were heading out of town today.”

“We will but we needed to get this place cleaned up. I wanted to take a few pictures of my mom, too.”

“What are you going to do with it now that it’s yours again?”

“Sell it. There is too much sorrow and sadness in this place for me to stay here. I don’t need the reminder of all the horrible things I suffered because of these four walls. It tore our family apart and if I’m going to move forward and heal from this, I need to not be here. I need to make a clean break.”

“That’s understandable. I’m sure you’ll find a buyer quick.”

“Honestly, I don’t even care about the money. I’ll list it for whatever it’s worth and take whatever I can get. I already called a broker, Thomas Chase. He’s coming over this afternoon to do an appraisal.”

“That is pretty quick.”

“Like I said, I need a clean break.” She twisted a few strands of hair together and looked down at her lap. “I have to write an obituary for my father. But I don’t think I can do it yet. Adam said he talked to the coroner out in Salem and they are ready to release my father’s body.”

“You have time. And you don’t have to do it alone. Adam and I are here for you.”

“I just don’t want people to ask questions. Knowing he took his life out of guilt is hard enough for me to deal with. I don’t think I could handle everyone else knowing because then they would wonder what he felt guilty about. They’d assume it was my mother.”

“You don’t have to write that he took his life. You can say that he passed away suddenly while you were home visiting him. Keep it really vague. No one has to know the truth. It’s your life and your family. You’re in control of what happens now.”

“What about a funeral? I can’t pay for that. I don’t even know if he wanted one. And I don’t know what to do with his body. My mother was cremated but I have no idea if that’s what he wanted, too. And do I put him with her or with his own family?”

“Have you looked at his will?”

“Adam did. I couldn’t bring myself to look this morning.”

“Then let him help you figure all of that out. That’s what boyfriends are for, especially ones who are lawyers. He’ll know what to do or he’ll know the person to talk to. Lean on the people who care about you, Nadine.”

“Thanks. It’s just so overwhelming and I just want it to be over.” Tears shone in her eyes but they didn’t fall.

Kalina reached across the table to give her friend’s hand a firm, reassuring squeeze. She looked around the kitchen at the familiar, pale yellow wallpaper and cream colored drapes. A tiny part of her would be sad to see it come into new ownership but she understood Nadine’s desire to move on. It had been a harrowing few days for both of them but somehow they’d made it through. Maybe it was because they’d had each other for support.

“The reason I stopped by was because I wanted you to know that I don’t want us to lose touch again, even if you’re moving somewhere else with Adam.”

“I’m glad you said that. I think it will be easier now. Besides, I know where to find you, Ms. Business Owner.”

Kalina smiled. “It is pretty amazing that I actually got to become what I’d dreamed of and run the very store I’d always wanted.”

“Not everyone is so lucky,” Nadine said with a note of sadness in her voice.

“Things are going to work out for you. You’ve got a great guy in your life and you can put all of this behind you. We’re still young. You have plenty of time to find what makes you happy. And if a nerdy mood strikes, you get the friends and family discount.”

Nadine laughed a deep belly laugh. Her eyes crinkled at the corners and it had to be the happiest she’d been in a long time. It warmed Kalina’s heart to see that, even with just kind words, she was helping her friend piece her life back together. Sure, tragedy had struck this family but the town was still at peace and unscathed.

Read an Excerpt from DEBTS AND DEBTORS (Geeks and Things #3)

Raindrops pelted the kitchen window in Kalina Greystone’s small apartment. Heat from the kitchen fogged the interior of the glass, obscuring the view outside. Kalina wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm. The weather—in addition to being wet—had turned cold in early November and she’d turned up the heat to compensate. She was up to her elbows in dessert. This was the first Thanksgiving she’d been home with her family in a few years—and the first since her father’s passing—and she didn’t want to disappoint. Checking the recipe for the spice applesauce cake frosting one more time, she moved the saucepan of brown sugar, cream and butter to the burner set on high. It reached a boil in only a few minutes and she feverishly stirred it to make sure it didn’t burn. Master cook she was not. Her phone buzzed with an incoming call, slowly vibrating toward the edge of the table.

“Not now!” she moaned, hastily pulling the concoction from the stove and scooping up her phone.

Luckily, it was just an alarm to remind her she needed to leave for Jillian’s house in a half hour. Chris was supposed to be coming over so they could drive together. The thought of having her very serious romantic partner joining her for a family holiday made butterflies swarm in her stomach. Things between them had been better than ever the last few months. In fact, they were in the process of moving in together. The process had been put on hold due to the holidays but before long she wouldn’t have to live alone. Her front room was already strewn with partially packed boxes. Her landlord was being generous and letting her leave most of the furniture in the place. Easier to rent a fully furnished place in a town like this. She couldn’t believe how lucky she’d been, moving home, taking over the family business and falling back in love with her high school sweetheart. Some days she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

Setting her phone aside, she added the remaining ingredients to the frosting mixture, gave it a good stir and carefully poured it over the cake. It still needed to cool a little bit but that’s what her sister’s fridge was for. Making sure the stovetop was off, she headed to her room to clean up. Ten minutes later she reappeared in a nice, pale blue blouse and black slacks. She slipped into rain boots and tossed a pair of flats into her purse.

She checked her phone, expecting a text from Chris letting her know he was waiting out front. No new messages. “Come on, where are you?”

Kalina busied herself packing up the cake and pulling on her jacket but still no word from Chris. Finally, she sent him a text. ‘Are you on your way? We will be late.’

Still
no response.

This was not the way she wanted to spend her Thanksgiving but she couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed that he was suddenly ignoring her. Finally, she pulled on her coat and stowed her phone in her pocket for safekeeping. Time to brave the storm.

Torrents of water buffeted her all the way to her car. She practically dove into the driver seat; the cake container almost landed sideways on the passenger seat. She let out a breath—air condensing in front of her—and started the engine. She set the wipers on high and waited for the heat to kick in before she pulled out of the driveway and turned left down her street.

Her phone began to ring loudly halfway to Jillian’s house. “Great.”

Her mood already on edge, she pulled over to the side of the road and yanked the phone free. Chris’s number flashed on the Caller ID. She hit ‘Accept’ and put the phone on speaker so she could keep driving. “Hey.” She did her best to keep her tone neutral.

“I am so sorry, Kal.”

“You can meet me there. That’s fine.”

“I don’t think I can make it.”

“You promised.” It came out as more of a whine than she’d intended.

“I know. I wish I could be there, believe me. But I got called out to the beach for a case. I swear I will find a way to make it up to you.”

She took several breaths before she responded. “Fine. I get it. You have to work. You can’t choose when dead bodies turn up.”

“Please don’t be mad at me. I told the guys I was off today but Jimmy called last minute and said he needed my help on this one.”

Kalina’s anger softened a touch at the young officer’s name. He was a good kid but eager to impress. She also wasn’t above gently grilling him for information when she needed something. But that hadn’t happened in months. She was trying to stay out of police matters. She was a comic book shop owner, after all. “Okay. I’ll pass on your regrets to everyone.”

“Thanks. I love you.”

She smiled. “I love you too.”

Easing to a stop at a crosswalk, she hit ‘End’ and set her phone aside. Her sister’s house loomed up ahead on the side of town farthest from the beach. Jillian had insisted on staying local but when AJ had come along she’d wanted a yard too. Somehow, Kalina’s older sister got exactly what she wanted. She was lucky that way. Even getting pregnant right out of college, Jillian managed to make it all work.

Through the downpour she spotted her mom’s car in the driveway. She pulled up beside it and braced herself for the short trek to the front door. Pulling the hood of her coat up over her face, she grabbed the cake container and darted from the car. Thirty seconds later, she was safely inside the front hall being greeted by her nephew, AJ.

“It’s really coming down out there,” he said and took the container so she could peel her soaked jacket from her shoulders.

“It’s insane. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned to snow later tonight.” She leaned against the door to kick off her rain boots and put on her flats.

AJ lifted the lid of the container and took a sniff. “Where’s Chris?”

“Working. He got called away on an urgent case.”

“Lame.”

“Behave yourself,” she chided and quickly finger-combed her hair so she looked presentable before her sister appeared.

“AJ, put that in the kitchen,” Jillian ordered. She stood a good four inches taller than Kalina and she’d inherited their mother’s wavy curls and light brown hair.

No one would have ever accused them of being siblings, and yet they’d shared a bedroom until Jillian had gone off to college. They weren’t especially close these days but Jillian seemed pleased that Kalina was keeping AJ out of trouble.

“Sorry I’m late … and dateless,” Kalina muttered.

“It’s a hell of a storm out there. I’m just glad you made it over safely.” Jillian’s facial features softened and she pulled her sister into an impromptu hug.

“How many glasses of wine have you had?” Kalina whispered.

“Shut up.” Jillian pulled away but smiled. “Do you want red or white?”

“Whatever’s open,” Kalina said with a dismissive wave.

“Red it is.”

Kalina followed her sister into the kitchen. Her brother-in-law, Daniel, stood by the stove dutifully stirring their mother’s homemade gravy. He was a decent guy. He’d stuck with Jillian and married her after he’d gotten her pregnant. They seemed to have a solid marriage now. She had to give them both credit for sticking it out and really building something in the years since AJ came along.

“Hey, where’s Mom?” Kalina asked, accepting the glass of wine Jillian hastily shoved into her hand.

“Living room. She’s … not handling things well today.”

Kalina excused herself with a nod towards the living room and disappeared. Her mother sat on the couch, staring out at the storm. She settled in beside her and leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Hi, Mom. How are you?”

“Fine, sweetheart.” She didn’t look away from the window.

“Mom, come on, it’s me. I know you miss him. We all do.”

Her mother turned to face Kalina with tears already staining her cheeks. “I thought I would be okay, having you girls with me. I’m so sorry.”

Kalina set her glass down on the table and wrapped her mother in a hug. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about, Mom. You have a good cry.”

They sat together for a few minutes in silence, the only sound the occasional murmurs from the kitchen and the hammering of the rain outside. Kalina briefly wondered where her nephew had disappeared to but her curiosity died when a loud knock echoed from the front of the house. She didn’t move, unsure whether it was a knock on the front door or if it was just the weather raging. When the sound came again—this time a more distinct knocking—she extricated herself from her mother’s embrace and went to answer the door. A woman—maybe in her early forties—stood on the front porch, purse clutched to her chest. Her hair was matted to her scalp from the rain.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Jillian.”

Kalina turned toward the kitchen and called, “Jillian, there’s someone here for you.”

Her sister appeared in view and immediately raced forward. “Come in, come in.”

Kalina stepped out of the way, letting Jillian dote on their surprise guest. She waited to be introduced but in all of her fussing Jillian seemed to have forgotten the rest of the family. Even AJ had appeared—from his room it turned out—to survey the commotion.

“You want to introduce us, Jill?” Kalina asked.

Jillian blushed. “Sorry. This is Savannah Hennessey. We went to college together.”

Savannah stood shivering and dripping on the welcome mat. “It’s actually Chase now. Thomas and I got married a couple years ago.” The mention of her marriage brought tears to Savannah’s eyes and her lower lip quivered. “I think something awful has happened to my husband.”

Coming May 2016