Part 4 (1/2)
Sarah reached into her purse and pulled out a card. She wrote a number on the back. ”This is my cell phone. You can reach me today or tomorrow, any time you want to talk. On Monday make an appointment at the office. Dr. Mason usually handles these cases for the hospital. She's very good and you'll like her.”
”Can I talk to you?”
”Sure.” Somehow Sarah was hoping she'd say that. For so long she'd refused to open those doors that were so painful, but by helping Brooke she could also help herself.
”I remember you talking about your family last night,” Brooke said. ”Are you close to your twin now?”
”Yes, we are.”
”I have two sisters younger than me and I don't know what to say to them.”
”I think you'll find that you won't have to say much. They'll just want to comfort you.”
”Yeah. People have been real nice. Detective Garrett was here earlier and he's so nice and good-looking. I just thought that cops in the movies were that handsome.”
Was Daniel handsome? Of course he was. He was tall, lean, with dark eyes and hair. At times his hair curled into his collar. His features were strong and chiseled, his nose straight and his lips... Oh, my. She touched her warm cheek. She'd noticed Daniel more than she'd ever thought. Denial-she'd been firmly in denial. But not anymore.
She was going to take her own advice and make an effort to move on with her life. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually laughed, felt silly or giddy. It was time for a change.
Brooke's parents entered and Sarah stood. Lois ran to her daughter and hugged her. Her father did the same.
”The doctor said you can go home soon.” Bob Wallace wiped away an errant tear.
”I don't know.”
Brooke seemed afraid and before Sarah could say anything Bob added, ”Don't worry. No one's ever gonna hurt you again. Not as long as I'm around.”
Brooke's fears eased and Sarah knew she was going to be okay with the love and support of her family.
”I'll go,” she said. ”If you need anything, just call.”
”Thank you, Ms. Welch,” Brooke replied. ”Will the police still be questioning me?”
”Yes.” Sarah glanced at Bob. ”Call if you need me, but I feel your father can handle them.”
”Yeah.” Brooke nodded confidently and Sarah slipped out of the room.
WHEN SARAH GOT IN her car, she grabbed her cell phone. She had to talk to Serena. Serena, please, please, be home. The phone rang and rang then the answering machine came on. She clicked off, wondering where Serena could be. This wasn't like her. But Sarah still wasn't worried.
She drove toward Fort Worth and home, and realized it was almost noon. She had the house to clean and laundry to do yet. But the emotional tennis ball in her head kept bouncing back and forth with a ferocity she couldn't ignore, couldn't deny any longer. She had to sort through what she was feeling, about Daniel, about her life, and the only way to do that was to talk, as she'd told Brooke. She could talk to Karen-she had many times-but she didn't open up to her colleague the way she did with Serena. She had to talk to her sister. Where are you, Serena?
She drove into the garage and smiled. Ethan's truck was parked to the side. Serena was home. Sarah jumped out and ran to the house. The door burst open and Ja.s.sy flew toward her, her red hair in a ponytail, bouncing.
”Sari, Sari, Sari, it's me,” she shouted.
Sarah dropped her purse and caught Ja.s.sy, swinging her around and into her arms, then she just held her tight.
”Look at me, look at me.” Ja.s.sy wriggled and leaned away from Sarah. ”Look how big I get. Daddy says I grow like a weed. Daddy says he's gonna put a rock on my head. Daddy says I getting too big for my britches.”
Sarah kissed her cheek. ”Daddy says a lot.”
”Yeah. Daddy knows everything.”
Jasmine Marie was the light in her father's eyes and she wors.h.i.+ped him. Serena taught school and Ethan kept Ja.s.sy while Serena was at work. Ethan had retired from the FBI and he occasionally did P.I. work, but since Ja.s.sy's birth he only took care of his daughter. He'd been married before and had lost a son, so he tended to be overprotective. That's why Serena made him go away for the odd weekend. She wanted Ja.s.sy to be around other people.
”Where's Daddy Says?” She teased her little niece, using the name that Sarah called Ethan because every other word out of Ja.s.sy's mouth was ”Daddy says.”
”In the house with Mommy and Gran. Mommy said I could watch for you and I saw you first.”
The door opened again and Serena came toward them.
”I gonna go tell Daddy you're here.” She slipped from Sarah's arms, ran around her mother and back into the house.
The sisters embraced. Two identical young women-same red hair, same blue eyes, same height and body shape and weight, except Serena's hair was now shorter and hung in a natural style past her shoulders. Sarah's was still long and wound into a knot at her nape.
Sarah clung to her sister, then she did something out of character. She burst into tears.
Serena just held her.
Finally, Sarah pulled away and brushed away tears. ”I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little emotional or I'm just really glad to see you.”
Serena looked into her eyes. ”Sarah, what is it?”
Sarah blinked and admitted something that she hadn't been able to before. ”I need to talk. I need help.”
CHAPTER FOUR.
SARAH QUICKLY GOT HERSELF under control. ”I don't want Ja.s.sy to see me crying. We'll talk later.”
”Are you sure?” Serena asked with a worried frown. ”Ethan's an expert at taking care of our daughter.”
”Yes. Right now I just want to enjoy my family.”
Arm-in-arm they walked into the house. Ethan immediately got up and hugged Sarah. Tall and lanky, with dark good looks, Ethan was one of a kind. He'd been shot in the hip while working for the FBI and now walked with a slight limp, but since he was in such good shape it was hardly noticeable. If she had to use a word to describe Ethan, it would be honorable.
Daniel was a lot like that. Where did that thought come from?
”See, Daddy,” Ja.s.sy said, crawling into Ethan's lap. ”I told you Sari was here. I saw her first.”
Ethan pulled her ponytail. ”Yes, you did.”
”Were you surprised to see me, Sari?” Ja.s.sy asked.
”Yes.”
”Mommy said we were going to surprise you.”