by Sara L Foust
The drive back to Nashville seemed even longer. Hadn’t Annalise lectured Zach just a few days prior about not driving with a concussion? And now here she was doing exactly that. The farther from Memphis they got, the more everything that had happened began to feel like a dream. She had shot Zach’s father. Killed him. She shuddered. Tears welled every time she thought about it. About the fact that Zach would never get the closure he needed now. Would never have all the answers he sought. The relief of taking out the head of the Juarez Cartel couldn’t overcome the hurdle of the guilt and grief she felt.
Olivia slept most of the drive, leaving Annalise alone with her torturing thoughts. As she pulled into the hospital parking lot, she nearly turned around. Her racing heart wanted her to flee, but her conscience dragged her inside, a groggy Olivia hobbling at her heels. Neither one of them seemed to have words on the elevator ride up to Milt and Zach’s room.
Annalise nodded at the officer at the door and gently pushed the door open. Her breath caught as her gaze landed on Milt. He sat in his bed, quietly reading a magazine. And looking exactly like his same old self. Thank you, Lord!
Olivia squeezed past her and ran to her father’s side.
He dropped the magazine and wrapped Olivia in a long embrace.
Annalise’s gaze traveled farther into the room and landed on Zach. In stark contrast, he lay motionless and flat in the bed, with thick, white bandages covering his hair. She couldn’t move. Could scarcely breathe. How could she have left him in this state? How could she have gone days without an update and not even known how bad it was?
Somehow, her feet carried her to his side. She sank onto the bed next to him and let the tears fall. She felt Milt and Olivia’s gazes on her, but they remained silent. Slowly, she leaned over him and placed a gentle, long kiss on his forehead. Would he ever do that again to her? She’d taken everything about him for granted far too long, and now—she choked back a guttural sob.
A warm hand pressed against her cheek.
Her eyes flew open as she jerked backward.
Zach grinned up at her, his thumb still stroking her cheek. “Everything okay?”
“You...I thought you were—”
“Just sleepin’. Killer headache, but the docs say I’ll be fine. I’m too stubborn to die, you know.”
Annalise gently slapped his shoulder. “You scared me half to death.”
Zach pulled her face closer. “I’ll be okay. You, however, are looking a little rough.”
She chuckled. “Gee, thanks.”
“Care to tell me the story?”
Annalise’s heart sank. Confession time. Would he still love her in any capacity when she finished?
She leaned back, and his hand dropped to hers, resting on the bed next to him. Annalise glanced at Olivia, who similarly sat with Milt.
Olivia nodded.
The rock in her stomach seemed to occlude words for a moment. But with Zach’s next flashing broad grin, she related all that had happened over the past twenty-four hours. Everything spilled out in a near-breathless, run-together stream of words and tears.
Zach’s face paled, his smile slipping away.
She was breaking his heart! And that was breaking hers. “Zach, I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know how you’ll ever forgive me.”
The following seconds stretched into agonizing moments. Was he ever going to speak? Was her heart going to keep beating until he did?
“This isn’t your fault, Lise. There’s nothing to forgive.”
“Wait. What?”
“You heard me. You did your job, and I’m proud of you.” He smiled and tugged on her arm. “Closer.”
She leaned in, expecting a kiss to the forehead, like usual.
He placed his hand on her cheek once more and directed her lips to his.
Fireworks and bombs and sparklers and everything else noisy and beautiful and glittery exploded inside her, ricocheting to every part of her body. Whoa.
When he pulled away, Annalise couldn’t open her eyes. Not even if she’d wanted to.
“I love you, Lise. Not just as friends.”
It took a full thirty seconds for her to find her voice. She swallowed hard and peeled her daydream-heavy eyelids open. “I love you too, Zach.”
He sighed. “Oh, thank heavens. That would’ve been super embarrassing if you’d said I was crazy.”
She laughed, but he interrupted it with another fiery kiss.
So, this is what it felt like to fall in love with your best friend, huh? Annalise thought she might be able to get pretty used to it, pretty quickly. She smiled as a future she could once more look forward to returned to focus.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Olivia paused on her front step, drew a deep breath, and sent up a silent prayer of thanks. He had brought her home. Her husband and babies waited just inside. Two days ago, she was sure she’d not see them again until they met in heaven.
She swung the door open and hobbled inside. Time stood still as her gaze locked with Jonah’s.
His eyes widened. His jaw dropped.
Tears clouded her vision. “Hi.”
Without a word, he stumbled over the toys in the floor and wrapped her in his safe, strong arms. Home. She was finally home.
“Mom?” Andi’s shaky voice asked from nearby.
Olivia opened her eyes.
Jonah released his grip.
The crutch she held under her arm fell to the floor, and both children raced to wrap her waist with their little arms. “Oh, I missed you both so much. I’m so, so sorry.” She squeezed them as hard as her one semi-good arm would allow.
“What happened to you?” Drew asked.
“It’s a long story. But what you really need to know is that it’s over.” And if she had anything to say about it she wasn’t going anywhere ever again.
THE NEXT DAY AFTER arriving home, Milt pulled to a stop in front of the Motel 6.
Orrin waited, leaning against the railing, arms crossed over his chest. Pants sagging a mile.
They’d have to discuss those britches at some point. Milt leaned out the window. “Get in the truck.” He gave Orrin a look he hoped said he meant business.
Orrin didn’t argue.
Milt started the truck as Orrin sat down and slammed the door. “Put your seatbelt on, boy.”
Again, Orrin complied in silence.
“We need to have a chat.”
Silence.
“Your brother is doing great. He doesn’t need trouble from you. You understand me?”
Orrin grumbled his reply.
“You will address me as sir, as your brother does. Understood?”
Orrin hesitated but finally mumbled, “Yes, sir.”
Maybe there was hope for the young man after all. “I’m gonna tell you a story, and I expect you to take it seriously. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I lost everything that was important to me. My wife, my kids, my home. Twice. Everything but my job because I was stubborn and made poor decisions. My girl Olivia is back to me by miraculous circumstances.”
“Why’s this matter to me?”
“You wait till I’m done, you’ll find out.” Milt sighed. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes. What I’m about to offer ain’t going to make up for all of them, but helping your brother has made me happier than I’ve been in a decade. If you think you can abide by my rules, like he has, you’re welcome to stay with me. As long as you need.”
Orrin’s gaze jerked to him, jaw dropped. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I love your brother, and he loves you.”
“What’re the terms?”
“You go to rehab. You complete rehab.” Milt pinned him with a stern glare. “That’s a deal breaker. If you leave without completing the program, you’re out.”
Orrin nodded, almost imperceptibly.
“When you get out, you get a job and you work as hard as you can to provide for yourself and your brother.”
“All right.”
“And you come to church at least once a week with me. You don’t have to love it or even believe it, but I want you to see it before you decide.”
Orrin was silent for a full five minutes before softly replying, “Okay.”
“This is the only second chance you’ll get from me. Don’t take it for granted.”
“Yes, sir.”
Milt pulled to a stop at the next red light and extended his hand. “Men shake on deals and don’t go back on their word.”
Orrin hesitated and then squeezed Milt’s hand in a firm grip. “Yes, sir.”
ZACH LEANED HIS HIP against Kirk’s desk, folded his arms across his chest, and smiled.
Kirk stood across from him, grinning. “Good job, guys. You two really do make a good team.”
Annalise smiled.
Zach aimed his smile at her, and a blush crept into her cheeks. Could he be any prouder of her? He doubted it. “I have a question, Kirk.”
“Shoot.”
“Any policy against Special Agents dating?”
Kirk’s eyebrows shot up, and Annalise’s blush deepened.
“Zach!”
“Well, I need to know.”
Kirk glanced from him to Annalise and back again. An even bigger grin settled on his lips. “Not a one. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” The pride Zach felt in his beautiful best friend turned girlfriend filled his chest with a warm, full-to-the-brim sensation. “It’s gonna be our best teamwork yet.”
Annalise smacked his biceps, but she nodded along with his idea. He had a long way to go toward moving past the grief of his dad, toward forgiveness for someone who he could never speak to again, and he couldn’t imagine a better partner—on the job or in life—than Special Agent Annalise Raven Baker.
The End
Dear Readers,
I hope you have enjoyed continuing Annalise and Zach’s story.
Check out book number three, The Drowning of Corinne Porter, which is available for preorder on Amazon soon! Coming June 2021!
When an unreliable witness reports a body that they can’t find...
Special Agents Annalise Baker and Zachary Leebow will be stretched to the limits of their patience and their imaginations. Deep in the wilderness of Cades Cove, the Smoky Mountain Investigate Force’s spotless track record is on the line if they fail.
...But how do they solve a crime when there is no victim?
Pssst.. Just a quick reminder, if you haven’t already, please join my newsletter. I’d love to have you! Sign up now and get my free eBook novella, Of Walls, delivered right to your inbox. Plus get the inside scoop on all of my new releases and giveaways and receive monthly newsletters where we can connect, get to know each other, and pray for one another. Here is the link (or click on the image below): http://eepurl.com/cfqP5H
Acknowledgments
Thank you—You know who you are. My family is amazing. My Lord is amazing. I am blessed.
About the Author
SARA IS A MULTI-PUBLISHED, award-winning author and mother of five who writes surrounded by the beauty of East Tennessee. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is the author of the Love, Hope, and Faith Series, which includes Callum's Compass (2017), Camp Hope (2018), and Rarity Mountain (2019). She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone and a novella, Of Walls (2018). Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.