The General smiled as he sipped his coffee. “Your brother, as I’m sure you know, can be a pain in the ass.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that.”
“The trick,” he answered with a wink. “Is I’m a bigger pain in the ass.”
When the General decided it was time to go to bed, he said goodnight. Lilly convinced him to stay with Drew in the guest apartment above the garage.
Ollie liked the man, although he’d only just met him. More importantly, he could tell Ashley and Lilly liked him. He wasn’t quite sure who he was or why he was here, but he figured he’d find out soon enough.
When Lilly went to the kitchen and Drew excused himself, Ollie was able to finally talk to Ashley alone.
The two of them went to the front porch and sat on the swing just as the sky turned a deep shade of dark blue.
“How are you holding up?” Ollie said.
Ashley didn’t answer right away. Her go to response was ‘fine’, but she wasn’t fine and she knew it. If there was anyone she could be honest with, it was Ollie.
“Not good,” she admitted. “I’m alternating between being weepy, trying to be there for Cole and being a complete bitch to Drew.”
Ollie shifted, putting his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest and he kissed the top of her head.
“Well, it’s natural to cry,” Ollie said. “You are there for Cole and I’m sure he knows it. And in the grand scheme of things, it’s perfectly acceptable to be a bitch to Drew. He deserves it.”
Ashley snorted. “That’s what I figured. He left me here and never looked back. And it broke my heart. Growing up, Drew was my hero. I can’t tell you how many times…” She broke off, wiped away the tears that had fallen. “It doesn’t matter.”
It did to Ollie. “You don’t talk about how bad things were back then. Every once in a while, something slips out, like tonight you said how he was cruel to you, but he brutalized Drew. What did you mean by that?”
Ashley didn’t answer.
“Can I tell you what really has me pissed off about Drew?” Ashley said instead.
“Sure,” Ollie answered.
Ashley sighed. “Drew’s been great with Cole. I mean, really great. He walked in here and just got him. Cole’s asked over and over again to go see Kelli. Hated the fact Lilly and I went without him. I should have taken him, but I just kept thinking I needed to protect him. I needed to shield him. But I can’t. I can’t protect him from the fact Kelli was murdered. What I should have been doing was helping him through it. It’s not something I can make better, but I can help him. I want to help him, but God dammit, I don’t know how. And Drew does.”
Ollie took her hand. “I’m glad he’s helping.”
“He is,” Ashley said. “Ever since we found out, I’ve barely been able to get Cole to eat. I’ve been so worried he’d pass out. But Drew got him to eat this afternoon. Just a few chicken nuggets, but he ate. And then he ate his dinner because Drew made him promise.”
She squeezed his hand back. “Dammit Ollie, Drew got Cole to eat and it’s pissing me off. And I don’t know why. I mean, I’ve got some pretty powerful feelings about Drew. We’ve got issues. But nothing can come before Cole. If he helps Cole, if he’s good for that little boy, then that’s it, right? I’m a total bitch for still being so angry at him. Right?”
Ollie asked himself that ever since this afternoon.
“No, I don’t think so,” Ollie said. “I saw him today. Drew was really good with Cole. I mean really good, but that doesn’t take away the person he is. And…”
Now it was Ollie’s turn to taper off and not finish his thought.
“Go on,” Ashley said. “I know he’s my brother, but there’s nobody in the world I trust more than you. You won’t piss me off.”
“Alright. I’m not sure Drew is the best thing for Cole. And it’s not just because he left you. That’s part of it, but not the whole thing. Back when we were growing up, Drew was quite frankly an ass to me. He’d push me around and say mean things. I know I’m not a little kid anymore, but Cole is.”
Ashley sat up suddenly and Ollie thought he’d upset her. “Ollie, why didn’t you ever tell me? I would have straightened his ass out.” She smacked his arm. “It’s your own damn fault for being such a nice guy.”
“Well then,” he said. “Sorry.”
She smiled and fell back into his arms. “Don’t be. That’s what I love about you.”
That’s what I love about you.
Her words echoed in his mind. It was almost enough to imagine hearing her say, ‘I love you.’ Saying it, and meaning it the way he wished she did.
But Ollie understood she meant it like a friend. She loved him the way she loved Lilly. Platonic, friendly, safe love.
Ollie thought about talking to her about how he felt. Letting her know he didn’t love her in that way. Or at least not only in that way. Maybe this was the perfect moment. Cole needed a family. Ashley would make a great mother. He thought he’d make a decent father. He’d felt something for the kid the moment he’d seen him, so the idea of being there for Cole as he grew up held a lot of appeal.
Lilly appeared at the door behind them. “Hey, Ash. You’ve got a phone call. Chris Manzullo.”
Ashley groaned. “We had a date scheduled. He’s been out of town and I’ll bet the moron hasn’t the foggiest idea what’s happening.”
Without saying goodbye, Ashley pushed off the swing and went inside. In a few moments, Ollie could listened to her talking to Chris, calling him names and explaining with very little detail what happened. When she started to promise to make it up to him after things settled down again, Ollie decided it was time for him to leave.
Walking over to his car, he gave one last look towards the house. He should just move on from his idiotic fantasy of ever being with Ashley Duncan. The fact was; she’d never see him as more than just a friend, more than a shoulder to lean on.
More than safe.
He turned to his car door, took out his keys and hit the unlock button when someone came out the door. He spun, hoping it was Ashley asking him to stay. Even as a friend.
Instead, it was Drew Duncan. He’d changed out of his jeans into a pair of running shorts. He moved down to his SUV which was parked right in front of his.
Drew nodded towards Ollie. “Heading to the park for a run.”
Ollie forced himself to nod. “My partner likes to run at night too.” He had no idea why he said that.
Drew looked back to the house. “I wondered if you and my sister hooked up, but I guess not.”
Ollie felt his back stiffen. “We’re friends. Good friends. I’m always going to be there for her, Drew.”
Drew held his keys in his hand, jiggled them a bit. “I get it. You’ve always been there.”
“That’s right,” Ollie said. “I have been. While you left, I was there for her.”
Drew froze. He wanted to let Ollie know he was grateful to him, but instead he’d touched a nerve that had Ollie looking like he was ready to slug him. His sister he understood, but he didn’t owe Oliver Miller an explanation as to why he left.
“Do we have a problem?” Drew said.
Ollie clenched his fist, ready to use it. It wasn’t the right thing to do. Certainly not the right time to do it, but he was done being pushed around.
“I suppose that’s up to you.” Ollie walked over to Drew, stood inches from him and wasn’t going to back down. “I’m always here for her, and I always will be. She can count on me.”
“And you’re saying I won’t be?” Drew said. “I’m back and I’m staying.”
Ollie sneered. “We’ll see. But that’s not the point. Things have changed over the last few years. I’m not the same pudgy kid you could push around because you didn’t like the fact he was trailing behind your sister. Try and push me around like you used to do, and I’ll fucking push back. And you won’t know what hit you.”
Ollie jutted his chin out, daring Drew to hi
t it. Drew stood there with his fists ready to pounce, but held himself back.
“I’m not convinced you’re the best thing for Cole or for Ashley,” Ollie said. “I’m sorry about your sister, I really am, but right now, I’m worried about them. I’ll be watching to make sure you’re not the same guy who bullied me when we were kids. Because if I get even a hint you’re bullying Cole, I’ll make you sorry you ever came back to Ember Falls.”
Ollie didn’t give Drew a chance to respond before he turned and went to his own car. He glared one last time at Drew before he drove off.
Drew watched him go, thought about getting in his car and chasing him down and going a round or two. Instead, he got into his car and tore off for the park to try and run off the anger and the grief.
Neither of them saw the small boy in the window who heard every word.
Chapter 7
The Best Coffee in Ember Falls
Drew drove way too fast to the park. He didn’t care. Right at that moment, he didn’t give a shit if he got pulled over or pissed off another driver.
He didn’t bother to lock the doors to the SUV. He left the keys inside and took off on the trail. Drew wished he was home, where he had access to his gym. He wanted to beat on something. He knew there wasn’t a lot of crime here in Ember Falls, but he wished some moron would try and mug him as he cut through the park so he could have an excuse to use his fists and pound out his fury on someone’s face.
What the hell was wrong with Ollie?
Somebody murdered his sister. Slit her throat and tossed her away like a piece of trash. Whoever that was needed to be found and stopped in the most painful way Drew could think of. He wanted to be the one to find them and take them apart, once piece at a time.
Then there was her Ex, the one who kept her isolated and terrified for so long. If he’d known what was happening to her, he would have found her. Drew would have taken Kelli and Cole from that house and kept them safe.
Earlier today, when Drew talked with Cole, he’d gotten up too fast. He’d seen the look of fear in his eyes. In that moment, Cole had expected Drew to knock him across the room.
What Drew wanted to do was find Edward Hunter and knock him across the room.
Drew would never hit Cole, but dammit he wanted to hit someone.
Instead, he hit the brakes as he came to a barrier across the running path.
“What the fuck!”
Wooden barricades blocked his path. Even in the dark, Drew could tell the path way was torn up. He thought about kicking one of them down when he heard someone behind him.
“The city is repairing the pathway. Taking their time about it too.”
Drew spun around. She was tall, shapely and stunningly beautiful. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a pony tail which reached the bottom of her long, slender neck. She wore a running outfit, a black top and grey sweatpants. Her brown eyes, which were the color of fall leaves, looked him over as she came closer.
Something about her looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her—At least not until she took another step, the light from the moon hitting her face.
“You’re Miller’s partner,” Drew said. “Aren’t you?”
She nodded. “Deputy Samantha Rossi. People call me Sam when I’m out of uniform. Hell, half of them call me Sam when I’m in uniform. I wanted to tell you how sorry I am.”
This wasn’t the mugger he’d hoped for. “Thank you.”
“Do you want to talk?” She said. “Or would you rather I leave you to run? I won’t be offended.”
He didn’t want to talk, but he didn’t really want to run either. “I wouldn’t be very good company right now.”
Sam nodded. “I understand. You had a very intense look on your face as you were running. To be honest, when you turned around I thought you were going to take a swing at me.”
“Really?” He thought of how Cole flinched away from him. “You didn’t look scared.”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t scare that easily.”
Drew smiled and it was the first real smile he’d had since he’d heard about Kelli.
“You think I’m kidding?” Sam’s eyebrows went up. “I’m a cop. I can take care of myself.”
Drew shook his head, putting put his hands in the air in mock surrender. “I’m sure you can kick ass. And you’re right. When I heard you behind me, a part of me was hoping you were going to have a knife demanding I give you my wallet.”
Sam moved to stand more to his side. “I’ll bet. I would too. We could go a round or two if it’ll make you feel better. I promise not to arrest you for assaulting an officer. Or I could buy you a cup of coffee. There’s a place near here that makes great coffee.”
Drew ran his hand over his hair. He really wanted to pound something, but that wasn’t going to happen. Maybe he should talk to someone, preferably someone who didn’t look at him and see the teen boy who had grown up here.
Besides, despite the grief, the anger, and the fear that gripped him, he looked at Sam and wondered what she would taste like. Right here, right now with that coating of sweat on her.
For now, he decided to go with the coffee.
They ran back out to the park entrance where they got into their respective cars. Drew followed her to a house off Route Nine. He was surprised when she pulled into the driveway, but he pulled in behind her.
“I thought we were going to a diner or something,” Drew asked as he got out.
Sam shook her head as she opened her door. “I had a feeling you’d want more privacy. And this is the place with the best coffee. Trust me.”
He followed her inside and looked around as she busied herself in the kitchen. “You live here alone?” He examined the small kitchen filled with pig décor. Pig plates, piggy salt and pepper shakers and even a pink, pig toaster.
“No, my grandmother lives here. I moved to town when she had a heart attack. I wanted to be close to her.”
Drew looked at a pig-clock on the wall. It was nearly ten. Not extremely late, but not early evening either.
Sam fiddled with a small device on the counter. She grabbed the handle that was on top and started to turn it clockwise. It made a grinding sound that filled the kitchen.
“Have a seat,” she called out over her shoulder. “This is gonna take just a little bit, but it’s worth it.”
There was a little table off to the side, so Drew took a seat while Sam put the freshly ground coffee beans into a glass container with a black handle. “How strong do you like your coffee?”
“Plenty strong,” Drew answered.
Nodding as she continued to work, Sam added a little more coffee grinds. By now, a high pitched whistle filled the room. Sam turned towards the stove and turned off the gas to the front burner before picking up a pig tea kettle. She walked over to the glass container and poured in the hot water out of the pig’s snout. She then grabbed what Drew thought of as a metal doohickey and placed it on top. There was an elevated handle, like a plunger on top. Slowly, she pressed it down. Once it went as far as it would go, she took out two large coffee mugs, poured the coffee and carried them over to the table.
“There’s sugar right there,” Sam indicated a small pig bowl to the side. “Do you need cream?”
“No thanks.” He accepted the cup. The aroma that filled the air was beyond heavenly. Taking a sip, he couldn’t help but close his eyes and savor the flavor.
Sam smiled at his grin. She appreciated a man who could enjoy a good cup of coffee.
“This is amazing,” Drew said. “You were right. It was worth it. I just feel bad. Between the smell and the noise, aren’t we going to wake your grandmother?”
Sam shook her head as she sipped herself, having added two tea spoons of sugar. “Not much chance of that.”
Drew nodded, took another sip, and set his mug down before he finished it all. “Heavy sleeper?”
“She can be,” Sam said. “Right now, she’s out dancing her fanny off, as she likes to put it. There’s a
country western dance in town. Nana loves her two step.”
Drew’s smiled broadened. “And what about you? You like to dosey-doe?”
She grinned over her mug. “On occasion.”
Drew took another sip of the coffee, amazed at how comfortable he felt talking to her. There was something about those big, beautiful, brown eyes. Or maybe it was the coffee.
“It must be tough,” Sam said. “Coming back to this town and knowing your sister is gone. I know you two weren’t close…”
“Really?” Drew asked. He placed his cup down. “Just what do you know?”
Sam saw the hardening in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t assume. I was told you hadn’t talked to Kelli or Ashley for some time. I don’t know the details, but I shouldn’t assume. I didn’t mean you didn’t care for her. I know you did. It was written all over your face today at the police station.”
Drew stared at the coffee mug, fingered the handle and rolled her words around in his head. She had her facts straight. She was right; the devil was really in the details.
“I loved my sister,” Drew finally said. “I love Ashley and I loved Kelli.”
Slowly, Sam reached out and covered his hand with hers. “People don’t grieve the way you are, hurt as deeply as you’re hurting right now, if they didn’t love. But I’ve always loved my Nana. I always looked forward to visiting her. I went months and even sometimes years without seeing her, even though I wasn’t far away. Then things happened and I made a choice. I didn’t want to just love her and look forward to a visit once a year. I wanted to be close.
“I’m sorry you never got the chance to make that choice with Kelli,” she continued. “But you’re here and you can make that choice with Ashley and Cole. I know Ollie said you’re probably just here to bury your sister and move on, but…”
“Is that what he says?” Drew did his best to keep the bitterness out of his tone this time. “For the record, I haven’t talked to Ollie or anyone about my plans. Well, almost anyone.”
“Oh?” Sam said. “Who have you talked to?”
Drew took another swallow of coffee. “Cole. I told him I’m staying.”
Torn Away (The Torn Series Book 1) Page 8