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Daniel let out a dry laugh. “Have you forgotten I was married once? That didn’t turn out to be any kind of fairy tale. Not everyone is meant for a lifelong commitment, Mom.”
“Ellie is not your ex-wife.”
“I know that.” Frustration edged his tone. “But I haven’t changed. I’m the same man I was all those years ago. My job still comes first, I struggle to communicate, and feelings…” He shook his head. “I’m terrible with feelings, always have been. If I made a list of my failings, it would be a mile long.”
He blew out a breath. “I can’t even bring myself to tell El about my divorce, let alone the miscarriage and all the things I did wrong. The conversation needs to happen. I need to explain myself, but every time I try…”
Daniel stared out into the night. He couldn’t tell her. Couldn’t expose the worst parts of himself and see the admiration in her eyes fade.
Marta was quiet for a long moment, her silence comforting. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and certain. “Your failingsdon’t make you unworthy of love, Daniel. They make you human. Marriage isn’t about pretending to be perfect. It’s about seeing each other’s flaws and loving anyway—working together to soften the rough edges through compromise and understanding.” She laid her hand over his, warm and reassuring. “But both people have to want that. They have to fight for it, every day. Your ex-wife didn’t want that. She didn’t see what a good man you are. But Ellie… I think she does.”
Daniel swallowed hard, her words hitting deeper than he expected. “I don’t know if I’m ready to try again.”
“You don’t have to decide that tonight,” Marta said softly. “Just… don’t close your heart because of one person’s blindness. Not everyone sees love the same way.” She patted his hand. “And pray about it. Ask for God’s guidance. He’ll show you the way.”
Daniel nodded. His mom kissed his forehead, like she had when he was a child, and then left him alone with his thoughts. They rattled and tumbled in his head, circling in a mix of confusion that gave him a headache. Finally, he sighed and closed his eyes.
God, I’m not sure what to do. I care about Ellie. Mom’s right, I’m falling in love with her. But can I be the man she and Owen need? Or will I screw this up just like I did before?
Whatever answer Daniel was hoping for, it didn’t come.
The front door opened, and Jonah entered. His expression was grim, and when he stepped to the side, James Callahan strode into the house. His arm was in a sling, his complexion pale, and his hair windblown. He met Daniel’s gaze. “Sorry to intrude, but I need to speak to Elizabeth. It’s urgent.”
TWENTY
Bestfriends422315730.
Ellie stared at the message she’d written over and over again in her notebook. She’d broken the numbers into twos and threes, added them, divided them, even run them through a decoding program. All to no avail. She knew they meant something but couldn’t figure out the message Lena had left for her. Maybe she was going about this all wrong.
Picking up her new cell phone, she flipped to a photograph of the letter Lena had sent to the FBI office. She read it again. Something niggled in the back of her brain, just out of reach, but no matter how much she tried to focus, it wouldn’t surface.
A small cough drew her attention to the portable crib in the corner. Owen lay there, his little brow furrowed in his sleep. Ellie’s stomach tightened as she set the notebook aside and crossed the room. She pressed her hand lightly to his forehead. He felt warm, but not dangerously so. Still, she couldn’t help the automatic surge of worry.
She slipped into the bathroom and returned with the digital forehead thermometer. Kneeling beside the crib, she brushed the device across his temple. It beeped quietly, and she read thenumber—99.3. A low-grade temperature, but nothing out of the ordinary for a baby who was teething.
Ellie let out a breath. She was being overprotective, a side effect of caring for a child with a heart condition. Every slight cough or runny nose put her on edge. Owen managed so well, especially since his surgery, but an infection could cause complications.
A quiet tap on the doorframe drew her attention. Daniel stood just inside the bedroom, his broad shoulders nearly filling the entrance. He started to say something, but his eyes flicked to the thermometer in her hand. His frown was immediate. “Everything okay?” he whispered.
“Fine.” Crossing the room, she set the thermometer on her nightstand and then gestured for Daniel to step into the hallway. She followed, pausing only to leave the bedroom door cracked. Owen was normally a good sleeper, but teething had made him restless. She wanted to be able to hear him if he stirred.
Daniel waited for her in the hallway, his concern obvious. “What’s up?” she asked softly.
“James is here,” Daniel said. “He needs to talk to you.”
Surprise rippled through her. It had to be nearly 10 o’clock, far too late for a casual visit. She held up a finger to indicate Daniel should wait, then slipped back inside the bedroom to grab the baby monitor. Device in hand, she followed Daniel down the hall to the living room.
James was pacing in front of the full-length balcony doors, the moonlight outlining his rigid form. He turned at the sound of their footsteps. Ellie’s eyes swept over him, taking in the sling on his arm, the dark circles beneath his eyes, and the tension in his shoulders. Despite her concern, it was a relief to see him alive and upright.
“James.” She hugged him carefully, mindful of his injury. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
His lips lifted in a tired smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry to drop by so late, but I got word that you spoke with Maddox.” His gaze shifted to Daniel. “Would you mind giving us a moment alone?”
“No, Daniel, stay.” She turned back to her former boss. “Whatever we discuss, he’ll find out about anyway when I tell him. Might as well let him hear it firsthand.”
James’s mouth tightened in disapproval, but Ellie ignored it. Daniel had more than proven he was trustworthy. She gestured to a chair. “Sit. Can I bring you some tea? Or coffee?”
“Nothing, thanks.” James eased onto the couch, wincing slightly as he adjusted his sling. Then his attention locked on Ellie. “You can’t trust Maddox. No matter what he says, he has ulterior motives.”