Second Time's the Charm

BEFORE JON COULD do more than grin stupidly, there was a knock on the door and Greg Richards came in, followed by Addy.

“We got him, Jon.” The sheriff spoke immediately upon entering. Jon. As though they were friends.

The lawman had told him about Abraham’s well-being when he didn’t have to. Then again he’d also judged Jon by his criminal past.

“You weren’t the only freshman at Montford who came to town with a criminal record,” Addy said over the sheriff’s shoulder. “The other guy had an alibi for the nights of the break-ins, but the sheriff dug deeper because something didn’t feel right.”

“He’d be telling you that himself, but technically, because the case is ongoing, he can’t,” Mark said, coming up behind Addy. The sheriff’s head bobbed in a slight nod.

“When I told Greg about the fact that your truck was at home every night of the break-ins, he told me that his other suspect lived in your complex—and would have been able to get the tools out of the back of your truck and return them without you being the wiser. Greg went back to the other guy and while we can’t say what transpired, or how or why, he ended up with a confession.”

“It helped that my investigation of you turned up some other evidence that fit him,” Greg Richards added.

The sheriff didn’t say what it was. Jon figured he’d have to wait until the case went to trial to hear all the details.

“When I’m sure I’m right, I’m usually pretty good at getting a guy to crack,” Greg said with a bit of a grin in Jon’s direction.

“Yeah, well, a guy shouldn’t crack unless he’s guilty,” Jon shot back.

The sheriff nodded. And Jon figured that maybe they’d just taken their first step toward mutual respect.

“This is yours,” the sheriff said, pulling a wad of bills out of his pocket and handing it to Jon. “But I’d suggest you keep it in the bank from now on.”

“And unpack that bag,” Lillie added. “You’ve got no reason to run anymore.”

It was too much for Jon to take in all at once. That four-walled, windowless room, filled with people he cared about. People who cared about him. But he suspected he had years ahead of him to relive the moment. And he knew he would, too. Over and over again.

Savoring it.

Like he’d once savored dreams of what might be in the future.

* * *

JON SUGGESTED LEAVING Abe at the day care until after lunchtime so he and Lillie could have a little time to themselves at home, to discuss their future, before they gave all of their focus to the little guy who had no idea how much better his life had just become.

They talked about a quick marriage, officiated by Becca Parsons. She happily agreed to perform the ceremony but insisted that the Heroines of Shelter Valley, as the town’s matriarchs had been affectionately dubbed, would need a couple of weeks to pull the celebration together.

And they’d talked about Clara Abrams, too. Addy was drawing up papers to allow Lillie to legally adopt Abe, in conjunction with Jon, which could be done with only Jon’s permission since his was the only name currently on Abe’s birth certificate.

And for the fourth time in an hour, Jon brought up that morning. When he’d been alone in that sterile little room and she’d come to see him.

“Why didn’t you just tell me when you first walked in that I was free?” he asked her, running his hands up and down her arms as though he couldn’t believe she was real.

That he could touch her whenever he wanted to.

They were standing together in Abe’s room, had been discussing a new bed for him when they moved him into one of the bedrooms in Lillie’s house. They planned to store the crib in her garage. For the next time they’d need it.

“I didn’t tell you because I needed to know that you weren’t just committing to me in the good times, Jon. I needed to know you’ll let me be there for you through the bad, too. And that you’ll stick around through the bad. You aren’t going to shut down on me and go your own way like Kirk did.”

Because she had her own scars. Her own issues.

But she’d faced them now.

Through Jon’s mirror.

And was ready, able and committed to being happy.

He studied her face for a long moment and grinned.