on Carter when they found out he was dating Tara slammed into him. At the time, he’d been amused. Clearing his throat, he said, “You look like a man who has something on his mind besides ordering a drink.”
Rory nodded, his expression tight-lipped and grim. He told Torin that his brother Kyle, a Hope City police detective, had let him know that the police had picked up someone who had been caught attempting to roofie a woman nearby.
Just hearing that made Torin’s jaw tighten in anger. “If I could get my hands on that fucker, he wouldn’t have any part of his anatomy left to even think about assaulting a woman.”
Rory nodded, agreeing. “I told you this before, but it bears repeating. What happened was not on you.”
The two men stood and chatted for a few minutes before Rory said, “Well, I need to get out of here. I told Erin I’d check on her this evening since she’d had a rough day.”
All senses began to fire, and Torin worked to keep his voice steady. “What happened with Erin? Is she okay?”
“She had a patient die today. It was an older man and expected, but the way Erin’s been ever since she got out of the Army, we all just worry about her.”
Torin’s heart squeezed at the idea that Erin was upset, but he also wanted to assure Rory that she was not as fragile as the family thought she was. But that’s not my place. At least, not now. As Rory walked out of the pub, it hit Torin how much he’d like to have that place in her life. Hesitating for a moment, he finally muttered, “Fuck it,” and grabbed his phone, tapping out a message.
Heard you had a bad day. I’m truly sorry. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you.
Within a minute, his phone was vibrating. He’d barely answered when he heard her screech.
“Rory came and talked to you? Why on earth would he do that? As far as I know, he doesn’t even know we’re friends! Doesn’t he keep anything to himself?”
“Whoa, whoa, Erin. Rory was here to tell me that the police caught a man who tried to roofie another woman. Then he just happened to mention that you’d had a bad day. I was worried, so I asked him what happened.”
Her voice instantly lowered, filled with concern. “Oh, Torin, I’m so sorry. That was so self-centered of me. And I’m sorry you’re still having to deal with that situation, but I’m glad they caught the guy.”
“Hey, don’t worry about me. I’m more concerned with how you’re doing.”
He heard a gentle sigh. “It was one of my at-home patients. I was there with hospice and his death was expected. The patient passed very peacefully.”
“But?”
She was silent for another moment, and he wondered if he had pushed when he shouldn’t have. Finally, she replied. “Yeah, you’re right. It might have been expected, and it might’ve been peaceful, but it does bring up a lot of memories that I prefer to keep pushed down.”
“It’s not always good to push them down.”
“I know. I do see a counselor, and I’m learning to work through those memories.”
The airwaves were silent for a moment, and he realized that she had offered more information than she had in the past. He hoped she didn’t regret exposing more about herself when she grew silent. Just when he feared she might hang up, she sighed again.
In a soft voice, she admitted, “I’ve decided to open up to my family about some of my experiences. I think it’s time to get them out in the open, and then maybe I can let some of them go. Or at least learn to live with them a little easier.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You know, Erin, if you ever want to share anything with me, you can.”
“I think I’d like that, Torin. One step at a time.”
He chuckled. “And that’s how we’re going to get through the marathon together. One step at a time. But that works with life as well.”
A gentle laugh was her agreement, and with the delightful sound ringing in his ear, they said goodbye.
The door to the pub opened again, and he greeted the next person with a wide smile still plastered on his face. It wasn’t until the patron gave him a strange, questioning look that he settled his face back into his usual taciturn expression. Staring them in the eye, he asked, “What’ll it be?”
9
“I was engaged.”
Erin