Carter sat in the hospital waiting room and surveyed the strange mix of people that were gathered.
There was a group of bikers in one corner. She recognized a few, especially the big, handsome Native American who’d been at her house so many years ago to collect Grizz’s chess set. Anthony Bear. The pretty blonde talking to Ginny was his wife, Christy. They’d never been formally introduced before this tragedy. Anthony was Grizz’s friend, not so much Tommy’s. The Bears had moved to this coast just this past year, and even though Christy and Ginny were friends, Carter still hadn’t crossed paths with them until today.
Another corner harbored men and women in business attire. They had to be some of Tommy’s work associates. Some were dressed more casually and it was obvious that others had made their way over from the office. She recognized Tommy’s secretary, Eileen, who’d been with him for years. Her red nose and swollen eyes made it obvious she’d been crying.
A bigger, louder group was huddled together in the center of the room. It looked like some of Ginny’s friends from her church and neighborhood, as well as some of the parents of Mimi and Jason’s school friends.
Carter noticed when one of the bikers glanced at someone who had just walked in. She turned and recognized the reporter from the execution viewing room last summer. What could she possibly want? The biker, who she now recognized as Blue with much longer hair and a beard, headed straight for the reporter and, grabbing her by the elbow, roughly escorted her away from the waiting room. Glad I’m not in her shoes.
Her gaze then fell on Mimi. Her nose was red and her eyes were puffy. It was obvious she’d been crying. She was sitting next to a very handsome young man. He had been introduced as the oldest son of Anthony and Christy. His name was Slade, and Carter had no doubt he and Mimi were trying to conceal something. They had known each other since they were children, and Mimi looked at Slade with a desire Carter recognized. Carter couldn’t tell by Slade’s demeanor if he felt the same way.
She could tell, however, that Slade’s younger brother, Christian, didn’t like it. He was sitting across from the two with his arms crossed as he glared at his brother the entire time. Even though she’d never met the family before today, Carter had heard enough about them over the years to know Christian was about Mimi’s age. And it was obvious by his stare that he did not like seeing his older brother with her. Carter tried not to smile. The complications of young love. I’m so glad I’m past that. She felt a rush of love for Bill, her Bill, always so steady and true. She’d take that over passion and drama any day.
She looked at her watch and wondered when Bill would be back with Jason. He had taken the kid out to get him away from the hospital for a little while. Jason was having a really hard time with the trauma of Tommy’s attack, and Carter was grateful Bill was in town and doing his best to provide a distraction.
A loud wail from behind her brought her out of her observations. Everybody in the room stopped their conversation and watched as Sarah Jo came into the room and dramatically launched herself into Ginny’s arms.
“I’d have been here sooner, Gin. I got on a plane as soon as I heard.”
Carter knew Sarah Jo had been out of the country with her husband. He had been interviewing all over the world since last summer and had yet to accept a job. They just couldn’t agree on which country they wanted to settle in.
Ginny started crying all over again as Sarah Jo clung to her, trying to calm and soothe her. Everybody went back to their discussions and left the friends to console each other, but Carter just stared at Sarah Jo. Something was off. She didn’t look as upset as she should. Wasn’t Tommy a childhood friend? Shouldn’t she be sporting red eyes and a red nose? As if reading Carter’s mind, Sarah Jo started crying, too, as if on cue.
“Thank God you and Stan haven’t moved yet, Jo,” Ginny babbled, sniffling. “I can’t imagine dealing with this without you. Just thinking about you moving to another country is too overwhelming.”
Sarah Jo continued to hold Ginny tightly. “We could never move now. I would never move and leave you here to deal with this. This is just awful, Ginny. Don’t give it another thought. I don’t even need to talk to Stan about it. We’re staying.”
Ginny let out a loud sob. Christy walked over and handed her a clean tissue.
“Stan’s in there now consulting with Tommy’s doctors,” Sarah Jo added. “He’ll make sure Tommy’s getting the best care possible.”
Carter shifted uncomfortably in her seat and watched Sarah Jo with suspicious eyes. Something wasn’t right. Sarah Jo was crying, but Carter didn’t see any tears.
Ginny’s ponytail swung slightly as she and Jo hugged. The ponytail was sporting the blue bandana, but was sagging under the weight of this morning’s trauma. Carter had never forgotten the favor Grizz had asked of her all those years ago; she had only been too happy to comply. He had told Ginny to use the blue bandana as a way to signal him if she ever needed him.
Carter had watched her friend for years. It wasn’t hard. They spent a lot of time together. They belonged to the same church. Carter went to all of Mimi’s piano recitals and whatever sporting event Jason happened to be involved in. There were family dinners, barbecues, shopping trips, vacations. Not to mention all of the animal rescue fundraisers they’d both attended. That blue bandana stayed on Grizz’s bike for years.
Even after Grizz’s fake execution last summer and Ginny’s realization that he was still alive, that blue bandana had never been worn, and Carter purposely made sure to be around her friend even more than normal.
She hadn’t noticed any difference in Ginny’s behavior after finding out that he was still alive. She was the same Ginny, same attentive, loving, and giving wife and mother. That had never changed and never would. Ginny was just Ginny.
But she also detected something else behind Gin’s eyes. Carter regretted confirming Ginny’s suspicions that day in the driveway, but that’s what Grizz had wanted. To make sure she knew. Carter now questioned the wisdom, or lack of, behind that decision. It was probably the worst thing Grizz could’ve done.
But she understood it. She honestly believed what she’d told Ginny that day. She had never seen a man love a woman as much as Grizz loved Ginny. She had wondered to herself if Ginny would ever talk to her about it. And besides, if she needed him, wouldn’t she just come directly to Carter and ask her to get in touch with Grizz?
Carter smiled to herself and shook her head. No. Ginny was too smart to mention him. Carter was certain Ginny would understand the instructions were there for a reason. She wouldn’t risk mentioning his name even to Carter. No. Her friend would wear the bandana if she ever needed Grizz. The short discussion they’d had in her driveway last summer had never been mentioned again, and Ginny had seemed to accept it and move on.
Carter had received a call from Ginny just two days ago. It was a reminder that Jason had an important basketball game the next day.
“He’s in the playoffs. You’re coming, right?” Ginny had asked her friend then.
“Bill and I wouldn’t miss it. You know that, Gin.”
Carter and Bill had been at Jason’s playoff game the following afternoon. They sat in the bleachers and cheered his team on with Ginny, Tommy, and even Mimi.
Ginny had been wearing the blue bandana at that basketball game. Carter had excused herself to go to the restroom and sent a page within twenty minutes of seeing the bandana.
And that had been almost twenty-four hours before Tommy had been shot….
The End