“You wouldn’t happen to have a picture of your ex handy?”
She shook her head, starting to say no, but hesitated. “You have Camilla’s computer?” At his quick nod, she added, “Let’s look on her Facebook page. I’m sure there are lots of them on there.”
“Lemme grab it, just a second.” He returned quickly with the state-of-the-art laptop, and Beth quickly logged in, easily navigating to Camilla’s page.
“This is Evan. Probably taken about a year ago, maybe a little more.” She clicked on the photo, enlarging it. It showed a happy, smiling man, groomed and polished to perfection, the way she remembered him.
“Can you e-mail me a copy of that?” He rattled off his e-mail address, and Beth shot the photo to his phone, wondering why he wanted a copy. She hadn’t realized she’d spoke her question aloud until he answered.
“I’m going to head into town, see if I can spot him. I know some people who might help. At least I’ll feel like I’m doing something instead of simply sitting around, waiting for something to happen.”
“Wish I could go too. I feel useless, being babysat by everybody else.”
“You’re not useless. You are protecting your child, and that’s more important than you wandering around trying to find a needle in a haystack. You’ve got the important job. Let the rest of us find you ex and send him back to Huntsville.”
“I know, I just hate feeling helpless. Before I met Evan, I was strong. I had confidence, knew who I was and what I wanted. Somehow, over the years, I’ve become…less. I feel like I’ve lost a part of me, of who I am.”
Heath surprised her by leaning down and hugging her, a brief but tight squeeze. “The last thing I’d say about you is you’re weak. It takes strength to stand up to a man and tell him no. You did that. From what my family has told me, when you and your sister found out what your ex-husband tried to do, you stood up to him. Divorced him. Protected your child. Gave the money back to the people of Crowley County. A weak-willed person wouldn’t have done that. They’d have sat back and taken the money, lived a comfortable life, without a single lick of conscience. Nope,” he ruffled her hair again, “you’re a warrior woman. Brody’s got his hands full.”
Beth was speechless at Heath’s words. Did he really see her like that? More importantly, did Brody see her as a strong, independent woman, and not the meek puppet Evan wanted?
“He’s right.” Camilla walked in, her gaze assessing Heath. She’d had a shower and now looked like the sophisticated, put together woman Beth was used to seeing, instead of the screaming harpy who’d answered the door.
“Of course I’m right.”
Camilla ignored him, her stare focused on Beth. “I’ve always known you were incredible. But you proved just how much fortitude and willpower you possessed when you stood up for your convictions, doing the right thing. I never doubted your strength or your character, not for a second. Captain Caveman is right, you are a warrior. You just needed a chance to prove it.”
“And with that, I’m out. I’ll call the Big House if I hear anything.”
Beth watched Heath walk away, and noticed her friend’s eyes glued to the big man too, with a curiosity that piqued Beth’s interest. Camilla had been hurt in the past, and stayed away from anything resembling a commitment. She dated, but played the field, never staying with any one man for more than a month or so before she moved on. If Camilla stayed around, who knew what might happen? Though she didn’t know Heath, having just met him, she did know his family, and if he was anything like the rest of them, which she was pretty confident he was, Camilla could certainly do a lot worse.
“I see you got my laptop back from the Neanderthal. Hope he didn’t screw up my files.”
“Camilla, give the guy a break. He drove halfway across the country to see his family, only instead of getting to spend time with them, he’s been plunged neck deep in my problems. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt, okay?”
“Halfway across the country? West coast, I hope.”
“Nope. Virginia. Actually works in D.C.”
“No way he’s a politician. He’s not polished enough.”
Beth shook her head. “I think he works for the ATF. All these Boudreau men seem to like high energy, uber-masculine jobs.”
Camilla pushed her hair behind her shoulders and straightened.