“Yes. Yes, I’m fine.”
He nodded. “Go back inside. Everything’s okay.”
Natalie nodded, turned, and walked inside.
Cole looked over at Angel. She had her arms crossed and was starting to shiver. He reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “How about you? You okay?”
She shook her head and went into his arms.
He pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin, his hand smoothing the hair on the back of her head. “It’s okay, baby. He’s gone. He won’t be back, I promise.”
She held onto him, her face pressed against his bare chest.
Finally, he pulled back and smiled down at her. “Now, where were we?”
She smiled back.
The distant sound of a siren reached them. Looking up, they saw a squad car slowing down to make the turn into the neighborhood.
Cole looked back at her. “I’ll deal with this. You should go back inside. This may take awhile.”
“Cole, maybe it’d be better if I talked to them. I know you and cops are—”
He cut her off. “I said I’d deal with them. Go inside.”
She saw he wasn’t going to change his mind. She turned and walked toward the front door.
Natalie was at the screen door, watching. She held it open for Angel.
Angel stepped inside and turned to her. “He didn’t want me out there.”
“I’ll go. It’s my car, and I’m the homeowner.” She opened the door and walked outside as the squad car pulled in front of the house.
When the police finally left, Natalie and Cole came back inside.
Angel was in the kitchen, sitting at the table, a mug of coffee in her hands. She looked up when they walked in. “I made coffee.”
Cole shook his head and leaned back against the counter. He folded his arms and looked at her.
Natalie poured herself a cup.
Cole’s eyes cut to her. “Mind if I start parking my bike in the backyard? I feel better if I can keep an eye on it.”
“Of course, Cole.” Natalie sat down at the table with Angel.
Cole’s eyes drifted over to Angel. “The officer told us some things tonight.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
Cole shared a glance with Natalie before Natalie’s gaze dropped to her coffee mug. An impatient sigh left Angel’s lips.
“What is it? Tell me.”
Cole blew out a breath. “He said crime in this part of town has skyrocketed in the last year.”
“What?” She looked from Cole to Natalie. “But this has always been a safe neighborhood.
“Not anymore.” Cole was blunt with her. She needed to hear this. They both did. He looked over at Natalie. “Look, I’m sure this was a real nice neighborhood when you and your husband bought this place, but things change. Businesses start to close, they get boarded up, lower income moves in, next thing you know the gangs start to take hold.”
“Gangs?” Angel was stunned. She’d always felt safe here.
“You haven’t noticed the changes? I’ve seen three boarded up businesses down on the boulevard. Graffiti, broken down cars in driveways.”
“I guess I’ve turned a blind eye to it all. I guess I just didn’t want to see it,” Natalie whispered.
Cole looked at her. She knew what he was going to tell her. “You need to sell. Get out of here before your property value plummets.”
“Sell?” Angel couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Natalie nodded, meeting Cole’s eyes. “You’re right. I know you’re right. It’s time.”
“But this has been your home for as long as I can remember,” Angel protested.
“Yes. It has.”
Cole looked between them. He hoped they listened and heeded his words. He didn’t even want to think about his kids growing up in a place that wasn’t safe. “I need a smoke.”
Angel watched him walk out the back door. She turned to her aunt. “Are you serious about selling? It’s just a car breakin. They happen all the time. I think you’re overreacting.”
Natalie looked down at her coffee. “I don’t want to go, but…I don’t want us to be where it’s not safe. If anything ever happened to you or the children, I’d never forgive myself.”
“It’s not going to. Oh, Aunt Natalie, don’t worry.” She covered her aunt’s hand with her own.
Natalie smiled, and then looked past Angel to the back window. “I’m glad Cole’s here. It’s nice having a man around. Especially when something like this happens.”
“Yes. It is,” Angel agreed.
“He cares about you. A great deal. I can see it.”
Angel didn’t say anything.
“Well, I’m going back to bed.” Natalie stood and carried her coffee cup to the sink. She bent and kissed the top of Angel’s head, and then walked down the hall to her room.
Angel turned and looked over her shoulder to the back window. She stood and went outside.
Cole turned when he heard the back door open.
Angel walked over to the table where he was sitting. She pulled out a chair and sat down.
Cole took a hit off his cigarette, watching her.
She looked back at the house, and then at him. “You really think it isn’t safe here?”
He shrugged. “Maybe you’d be okay for another year, who knows? But why take the chance? And like I said, once the neighborhood turns, your aunt will be lucky to even find a buyer, much less get what the place is worth.”
“You said the officer told you some things. What types of crimes? Did he say?”
Cole studied her. “Break-ins, vandalism, purse snatchings. Nothing too violent yet, but give it time and that’ll come, too.”
“None of Dad’s friends have ever said a thing.”
“Like Bill and Mark?” Cole smirked.
She looked at him and nodded. “Yes. Like Bill and Mark.”