husband’s senseless murder. She’d known her for two minutes before she’d had to deliver that news, and even she could see the difference.
Roni had dark hair that fell to below her shoulders, and while her brown eyes were still sad, they’d lost some of the shock that’d been so present the last time Sam saw her.
Sam followed her to sit on the sofa. “How’ve you been holding up?” She hated herself for the stupid question. How did she think the young widow was holding up?
“Good minutes, bad minutes.” Roni shrugged. “You know how it is. You just lost your dad.”
“I do know, but my dad was a lot older than Patrick…”
“A loss is a loss, no matter when it happens.”
“True. Remember that grief group I mentioned a while back?”
Roni nodded. “What about it?”
“The first meeting is tomorrow night at MPD HQ. I have no idea if the group will be any help at all, but I’d really like to invite you to come if you’re able to. I have to believe it’ll do some good, you know?”
“Maybe. I’m back to work, and some days are busier than others. I’ll have to see how I am tomorrow, but I do appreciate the invite.”
“Of course.”
“It’s really nice of you to come by to check on me. Darren has told me you’ve asked about me, and that’s just such a huge honor with all the people you must deal with.” Roni wrote obituaries for the Washington Star, where Darren worked.
“I’ve thought of you so often.”
“It means a lot.”
“Listen, I’m going to be honest with you. Maybe too honest.”
“Um, okay…”
Sam was gratified to see a hint of amusement in the younger woman’s eyes. “I’m a shit friend. I’m busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. I’ve got no time for anything. I have no idea what I’m even doing here, but I like you. I’d like to be your friend if you could use an extra one. And I’d totally understand if seeing me is too much of a painful reminder of the worst day of your life. Wait… Are you laughing?”
Roni waved a hand in front of her face. “Sorry, but that was funny. I’m a shit friend, but I’d really like to be friends with you. Way to sell yourself, Lieutenant.”
“My friends call me Sam.”
“Sam,” she said with a small smile. “And I’d be honored to be friends with a woman I admire so much.”
“Oh jeez. Don’t do that. I’m a red-hot mess.”
“Well, you’d never know it from the outside looking in.”
“If I let you into the inside, you have to promise to not look too hard at the messy parts.”
“I promise. Can I tell you something?”
“You can tell me anything. We’re friends now.”
“Some of my closest friends from before Patrick died have disappeared off the face of the earth. I never hear from them or see them.”
“People don’t know what to do with other people’s grief. I’ve seen that in my own life.”
“It’s just that I want you to know, as my new friend, it means a lot to me that you went out of your way at the end of what was probably a hideously long day to come by and see me. You’re already doing way better than most of my longtime friends, which is admirable for a shit friend.”
“I like you,” Sam said, laughing.
“So you said.”
“If I pick you up tomorrow night around six forty-five, would you be more or less likely to attend our meeting?”
“Slightly more likely.”
“Then I’ll be outside tomorrow at six forty-five. Come if you want. Don’t come if you’re not up to it. I’ll come every Tuesday until you decide you might be ready.”
“That’s a lot to ask of a new friend.”
“Maybe you can help me change my track record for being a shit friend.”
“Maybe so. Tell me this, girlfriend, what’s up with your husband deciding not to run for president?”
“Heard about that, huh?”
“Safe to say the whole world has heard. It’s the only story cable news is covering.”
“Oh joy.”
“Is that why you’ve got a couple of big dudes following you around?”
“Yep. Nick asked me nicely.”
“Just so we’re straight—I’m devastated he’s not running. I think he’d be a remarkable, inspirational leader.”
“Thank you. I think so too, but between us friends, I’m thrilled he’s going to be a remarkable, inspirational father to our kids instead.”
“I get that, and I respect it, but damn… Other people are losing it.”
“So I’ve heard. I try to stay away from that crap so I can act like