Trail of Secrets(23)
Seth stared at her in disbelief. “Are you saying you want to track down whoever’s done these things to you and Dan?” He chuckled and shook his head. “Callie, you’re a college professor. You know nothing about police work.”
She nodded. “I know that, but I’m smart, Seth. And I’m determined. I can figure things out, and you understand how to investigate. I think we’d make a good team.”
“I don’t know, Callie. This is too dangerous for you to get involved in.”
“I’m already involved, Seth. Somebody welcomed me into this case when he pointed a gun at the car I was riding in. I want to know who it was and why he did it. I think the only way to find out who that was is to first find out who Hope was and how she ended up in the Mississippi River.”
He stared at her for a moment before he smiled. “Maybe you’re right. I’d sure like to solve Dan’s case. It can’t hurt to give it a try. But first, let’s try to get a few hours’ sleep before we make any decision on this.”
She buckled her seat belt and smiled. “That sounds good. I just hope I’m able to sleep after facing your mother for the first time since we broke up. I don’t imagine she’s going to be happy to see me on her doorstep.”
Seth started to protest his mother would welcome Callie into their home, but instead he shook his head. His mother loved her children, and she could be as ferocious as a mother bear in protecting her offspring.
Uncertain of what awaited them, Seth started the car and headed toward home.
FOUR
Seth unlocked the front door of his house and allowed Callie to step inside first. She walked into the entry hall, stopped and looked around. He wondered if she was remembering the last time she’d been here. It had been almost two years ago, and she had come for dinner. His mother and sister had excused themselves after they’d eaten because they knew Seth was planning on proposing.
He still remembered the white summer dress she was wearing that night and how beautiful she’d looked in the light from the candles. Every time she smiled at him, he would reach down and touch his coat pocket where the ring box rested to make sure it was still there.
After dinner he and Callie had gone into the den and settled on the couch. It was then she’d turned to him and told him she had decided to take the job at the University of Virginia and would be leaving town at the end of the week. The news had been so completely unexpected he could only stare at her in disbelief.
“B-but Callie,” he had finally managed to stammer, “I thought you were going to take the job at the University of Memphis. What made you change your mind?”
She’d had trouble meeting his gaze. “It’s quite an honor to be hired at Virginia.”
“I know. But I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay here and marry me. Have you changed your mind about loving me?”
A sad look had flickered in her eyes. “No, I haven’t changed my mind. I do love you, but I don’t think it’s going to work out for us. I’m still young, and I’m not ready for marriage and motherhood. I want to concentrate on my career. I can’t do that if I’m married.”
He’d frowned and shaken his head. “I would never keep you from following your dreams. In fact, I would help you any way I could, and I wouldn’t push you to have children until you were ready.”