Cut Too Deep(73)

Jenna had been working through her own issues. She no longer stopped every time she passed a mirror to examine her flesh and pinch her fat in the reflection. She had the body of a survivor, a strong, healthy body that had survived the worst that could be thrown at it. She still had some control issues, especially now she was living in Ryker’s house and trying to fit in with some of the not-so-great habits of a teenage boy, but she was getting a hold on them. As for her body confidence, Ryker never gave her any reason to think his feelings for her had changed.

Detective Nick Harlem had traveled to Arlington the moment he’d heard about the incident. Though the crime had been committed out of his jurisdiction, he’d told Jenna he’d wanted to make sure she was okay. It had been good to see him again, and she’d reassured him that she was in a much better place now. He’d asked her if she planned on getting back on the road, but she’d told him no. That part of her life was over. She had nothing she needed to run from anymore.

Counseling and support had been offered to everyone involved, and though Jenna and Ryker didn’t feel they needed it themselves, they agreed to go along for the sake of Mikey. Taking a man’s life at such a young age—or at any age—even when done in self defense or to save those you love, would haunt him, probably for the rest of his life. Social services had, of course, been sniffing around them, wanting to determine whether or not Ryker’s house was still the best place for Mikey to be living. After much debate, it was agreed that it would only traumatize the boy more to move him into a foster home, and the authorities came to the conclusion, since the threat had come from outside of the home, and not within, that Mikey could stay as long as they agreed to weekly meetings, and keeping the appointments with the counselor. Both Mikey and Ryker had agreed to these terms willingly.

Jenna hated that she’d been the one to bring such pain into Mikey’s life.

They sat on the couch one lazy Sunday afternoon, almost four weeks since the nightmare with Garrett, and she said as much to Ryker. He put his arm around her and told her it wasn’t her fault.

“I just keep going over and over everything in my head, trying to figure out all the places where I went wrong, or where I could have done something differently. I wish to God I had never mentioned to Garrett about me not believing you were dead unless I saw a body. If I’d kept my mouth shut, Garrett would never have brought me here and Mikey wouldn’t have been forced to do what he did.”

He held her close and kissed the top of her head. “And then you’d probably be dead right now. You’re not the only one who wishes they’d done thing differently, Jenna. I wish I’d taken you seriously about Garrett. I wish I hadn’t lied to you so you’d felt the need to go to the garage alone that day. Hell, I wish I’d gone to work that morning so Sam wouldn’t have died alone.”

They sat in silence for a moment, each trying to come to terms with their own mistakes.

Eventually, Ryker said, “Anyway, haven’t you noticed the change in Mikey these last few weeks?”

She had. Mikey seemed far more open with them than before. He no longer locked himself away in his room, or sat gaming for hours on end. He ate his meals with them at the kitchen table, chatting about his day, sports, or what he’d been watching on television. Ryker hadn’t even been called in to school to sort out the usual sort of trouble his brother used to get into.

Mikey had even apologized to Jenna for stealing her credit card. “If I hadn’t taken the card,” he’d said, “then your ex would never have found you.”

In the scope of things, a stolen credit card wasn’t a big deal, but it must have been playing on Mikey’s mind. Jenna had given him a hug. “Garrett would have found me eventually,” she’d told him.

“I’m sending all the stuff back,” he’d said.

Playfully, she’d smacked him around the back of the head. “Too damn right, you are!”

The next day, the gaming gear had arrived, and they’d sent it straight back. The stolen card had never been mentioned again.

“I think Mikey is realizing how close he came to losing you,” she said to Ryker, “And maybe that’s made him appreciate you a little more. Maybe he’s even appreciating his own life a little more.”

Ryker smiled. “And he’s treating you like a hero. The woman who offered up her own life for him. You can do no wrong in his eyes.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure he’ll get sick of me sooner or later. I’m surprised he hasn’t already started complaining about me still living in his house.”