“This is Sergeant Wilson of the Charlotte Metropolitan Police. I’ve been asked to inform you that a Mr. Zane Crandell was taken into custody today. He’s here at the Central Station.”
A wash of relief fell through Crystal’s body, and she dropped herself into a deck chair.
Larry approached, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Thank you,” she said to the man.
“Do you have any questions?”
“No.” There was nothing more she wanted to know. Zane was off the streets and that was all that mattered.
“Very well,” said the sergeant. “Goodbye, then.”
“Goodbye.” She gripped the little phone tight. “They got him.”
“That’s great,” said Larry, with a squeeze. “Do you want to tell the kids?”
Crystal pictured their dripping hair and laughing eyes. “Let’s do it later.”
Larry nodded, and Crystal’s phone rang again.
She put it back up to her ear. “Hello?”
“Crystal?” It was her mother.
“You heard? I am so relieved.”
“Crystal.”
Relief began turning to anger. “Whatever they give him. Whatever he gets-”
“What?”
“It’s Amber.”
Everything inside Crystal went dead still. “What?” she rasped from deep in her chest.
“They had to do emergency surgery.”
Time stopped while her mother took a breath.
“She didn’t survive it.” Stella’s voice broke.
“No,” Crystal moaned. “No.”
How could it happen? How could it have gone so terribly wrong? The relationship should have run its course. Zane should have grown tired and left town.
“It was the bleeding,” said her mother, regrouping. “They couldn’t stop the bleeding.”
David’s laughter echoed down the stairs, and Nash immediately retreated inside, closing the door behind him.
Larry’s arm went around Crystal’s shoulders as the first sob burst from deep in her soul.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE FUNERAL WAS SUNDAY. While his family attended the NASCAR race in Michigan, Larry was in Charlotte, standing in a wind-swept cemetery with a cluster of Amber’s friends and family watching Jennifer protectively clutch her little brother who was sitting on a dark, folding chair between his sister and Crystal, tears streaking his cheeks. The little girl was dry-eyed, and had been that way since she heard the terrible news.
Crystal’s face was stark white above the collar of her black dress. He knew she’d been busy with the arrangements for the past three days, but it looked like reality had now hit her with a sledgehammer.
The preacher spoke of life, death and redemption, but Larry didn’t think Crystal was hearing a word. She stared straight at the polished coffin and its simple bouquet of white roses. Her parents sat next to Jennifer, while the rest of those assembled stood in the early morning sunshine.
Larry knew there was nothing he could do or say that would ease her sorrow. The preacher finished, then the family bravely rose as the coffin was lowered into the ground. They each dropped a rose into the grave, then the other mourners filed by.
Larry said his own goodbye to the woman he’d never had the chance to get to know, then he followed Crystal, catching up to her at the line of black cars waiting at the curb.
While the kids got in, he gently touched her elbow.
She turned.
“If there’s anything I can do…”
She nodded and gave him a brave smile, patting his arm. “I’m going to keep it low-key this week.”
“Good idea.”
“I don’t…” Her voice broke. “I don’t even know if I should take them home for some of their things, or buy them new clothes. Would familiar things be good, or would the trip traumatize them?”
“Play it by ear,” he suggested. “You’ll know what to do.”
She gave a little nod of uncertainty, looking small and tired and so alone in the world.
His hands curled into fists, and he had to steel himself to keep from drawing her into his arms, lending her his strength, trying everything in his power to take away some of her burden.
But he knew he couldn’t do that. Being half in, half out of her life was the worst thing he could do. He could still see the love in her eyes. It matched the adoration he felt in his soul. If there were no complicating factors, he’d whisk her and the kids off right this minute and keep them with him forever.
But life wasn’t simple. Hell, there was nothing about life that was remotely simple.
“Thank you, Larry,” she whispered, stretching up to kiss him on the cheek.
And then she slipped away. The car door closed, and they pulled away from the curb.
When the car disappeared around the corner, he turned to walk back to his own car. He put it in gear, drove home and headed straight to his study, forcing himself to take up his research, hoping against hope he could take his mind off Crystal and the kids.
He worked relentlessly every day. But when he was forced to stop to eat, he’d think about Crystal. Several times he picked up the phone, only to slam it back down in self-disgust.
But, as the days wore on, he weakened. He started asking himself what would be so terrible about a call, or about a quick visit? At the very least, he wanted the kids to know he was there for them. And he was. He was prepared to offer anything they needed.
Then, on Friday, he remembered Crystal’s overnight bag. It was still in the backseat of his car from the night they broke up. He could return it, say hello to the kids, maybe stay for coffee.
Without giving his better nature a chance to protest, he abandoned his whiteboard and grabbed his car keys.
IT HAD BEEN A QUIET WEEK for Crystal. The first couple of days were the worst, but they were slowly settling into a routine. Amber’s will had made it clear that she wanted Crystal to raise her children, and their grandparents supported that wish. The day after the funeral, Crystal’s mother had arrived with some of the kids’ clothes from their apartment, and wisely arranged to have their beds, quilts and stuffed animals delivered to Crystal’s place.
Not for the first time, she appreciated her mother’s strength and practicality.
Jennifer and David seemed comforted by the familiar things. David was on-and-off weepy, particularly at night, but Rufus seemed to give him great comfort. Crystal was grateful for the dog. It was the need to walk him that first got her back outside. Yesterday, they’d even done a grocery shopping trip.
Jennifer hadn’t cried yet. Crystal had worried about that. But then she read that it was normal. Everyone’s grief took a different path.
There was a knock at her kitchen door.
Rufus immediately took up his post.
“Can I get it?” asked Jennifer, looking up from her book.
“Go ahead.” Crystal nodded. “But look through the window first.”
Jennifer rose and padded across the room. “It’s Uncle Larry,” she called, joy in her voice.
Crystal’s stomach clenched with nerves, while David skidded out from the bedroom. “Uncle Larry?”
Jennifer opened the door, and Crystal came face-to-face with the man who’d been haunting her dreams.
