off her phone. She does that when she wants to be left alone. I know what she’s going through is so hard...and I don’t know how to help most of the time. I try to give her space to figure things out, but I’m never quite sure what to do. Or if she needs me for anything at all.”
She failed to keep the slight edge of resentment out of her tone, and Hank noticed.
“I imagine this is difficult for both of you. Riley, um, Erin hasn’t been quite the same since she woke up. We notice it, too. She’s...I don’t know. Like she’s looking for something, I guess. There, and then not there.”
“At least I get to see her more these days. I think you guys knew her better than I did before. She certainly spent more time with you all, and I know being around you now is a comfort to her. But I worry she’s too caught in the past to move forward. She doesn’t like hearing that, as you can imagine.”
Hank drew himself up, all six feet who-only-knew-how-many-inches of him, and looked down at her with calm understanding. How did this big bear of a man come off so Zenlike? As he started to speak, she expected him to make excuses and find some means to escape her dumping all her problems on him. She never did that, not as a habit, and wouldn’t blame him for wanting to get clear of her.
“Have you had anyone to talk to since this happened?” he asked instead.
A beer came, magically appearing in her hand. Hank said something to the woman that she couldn’t hear over the noise.
“I ordered some dinner and got something for you, too.”
Kit was taken aback at his presumptuousness, but then she acquiesced as she knew he meant no offense. And he would know what was good to eat here anyway.
“Thank you.”
“C’mon, the back is quieter. It can get nuts around here on the weekend.”
He led her to a table near the back, pulled out a chair for her and then sat himself. He looked sort of ridiculous at the small tavern table, being lumberjack-sized.
“So you didn’t answer my question.”
“What question was that?”
Kit started to relax a bit. It had been a long time since she’d been out for an evening, even longer since it had been in a bar with any member of the opposite sex. She’d needed a break more than she thought.
“Have you had a chance to talk to anyone about what’s gone on with Erin? The department has counselors for us, and they work with family, too, when it’s needed.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. I was just ticked off that she stood me up.”
“Yeah, she gets caught up in her head these days. Can’t blame her, but it’s not easy to live with, either. None of this is. Our schedules, lifestyles...it’s hard on loved ones.”
“Yours, too?”
“I’m not married, if that’s your way of asking. Or involved.”
Kit’s felt her cheek warm. “I wasn’t asking, really, that’s none of my—”
“Then it was my way of letting you know.”
Kit stopped, flustered. “Oh. Okay.”
Luckily, the server arrived with their food. Kit was immediately in love—with the chicken.
“Dig in. Don’t be shy.” Hank smiled, triggering another warm curl low in her belly that wasn’t caused by the spicy aroma of the food.
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