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“I don’t know.” He rubbed his cheek against mine. “But we’ll figure it out.”
Forty-Seven
Maximus
Hours had passedwhen an officer approached and asked for both our IDs. He collected Tina’s information, then mine, and questioned us about our activities throughout the day and when Tina had been there last.
Tina asked why they needed the information and the cop brushed it off, saying, “Just routine, ma’am.”
Normally, a vague answer like that would piss me off, and I would demand to know more. Right now, I just wanted people to leave heralone.
It didn’t happen.
The Red Cross showed up, a skinny guy with dreads in a loose ponytail at his nape, and wire-framed glasses. He spoke quietly to Tina as he explained the services available through the charity. She took his name and number, gripping a pamphlet with a hand that went bloodless at the knuckles from her grip.
Neighbors came and went. An older couple brought coffee, others brought bottles of cold water, the chill a welcome relief against throats irritated by the smoke.
The crowd thinned eventually until it was Dina, Ned, Tina, and me. Various emergency workers still milled around, but other than that, it relieved me things seemed to have died down.
But Tina didn’t look relieved at all. She looked stressed, and all I wanted to do was sweep her up in my arms and bundle her away from all of this.
I wanted to stand between her and everybody who came rushing up to ask stupid or irrelevant questions without considering how they might affect her. She held up with the dignity of a damn queen—and yet it triggered something inside me that made me want to tear her away, protect her.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Dina’s words earlier after she hugged me as we watched the fire burn.
“If Tina hadn’t been with you tonight…”
I’d almost rather she still hated my guts because I couldn’t get that statement out of my head.
I doubt Tina had noticed. She was caught up in watching the destruction of her home, but I’d noticed two different people approaching the officers and the reactions of those cops told me they had concerns.
Each time, the officer in question wrote down their information. Names and numbers, I would assume.
One of them was a neighbor named Randall Greer, who came over and introduced himself to me after checking on Tina. I watched as she hugged the older man affectionately, then continued to stare at the dismal scene, head pressed to Dina’s and her back to us.
She didn’t see the considerate look on the man’s face.
I cocked a brow at him. He hesitated, then said, “I’ll call her in a day or so. I need to speak with her about…today. But she’s got enough on her shoulders.”
“Can I ask what you need to talk to her about?”
A faint smile quirked his lips. “You seem nice enough, son, but I don’t know you. Take care of her.”
He ambled off with a limp, leaning on a carved wooden cane.
Glancing at Tina, I saw she’d missed the interaction.
Even though it was frustrating, it was for the best. I had a bad feeling in my gut and if Greer thought she needed a day or two to steady, then it was something that would hit hard.
Tina seemed fairly familiar with her neighbors. Anyone who knew her beyond a passing acquaintance would think she was anythingbuta strong, confident woman.
If she needed a day or two, it was going to be something bad.
“…stay with us…you know, that right?”
Dina’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts, and I focused on the conversation.
“I’ll let you know, okay?” Tina rubbed her sister’s back.