Page 31 of Critical Doubt

"From beauty queen to soldier, not the most common path."

"Well, I don't like to be common."

He smiled. "I don't think anyone could accuse you of that. It doesn't sound like you've kept in touch with your cousin or her family."

"I do email and text with my uncle, although I guess it's been a while. I had no idea he'd quit his job and opened a food truck, but he does make fantastic ribs." She paused. "You're probably thinking that since the chief, my dad and my cousin don't like me, that the problem is me, and not them. Right?"

"You do seem to generate some strong emotion," he admitted. "But it seems like they each have a different reason for disliking you, so I'm keeping an open mind."

"Well, you don't have to do that. You can think whatever you want."

"I know, and I don't need your permission to do that."

"True. Do you want to keep walking? The shoreline will be impassable soon."

"We might as well go back. Your cousin and boyfriend already covered this area."

As they reversed direction, she said, "What's your family like? We've been talking a lot about me. Tell me something about Ryker Stone. Was your dad in the service?"

"No. He's the chief financial officer for a venture capital firm that was started by his father. The Stone family business is all about money. But my mother's side is all about service. Her father, my grandfather, went to West Point, and after hearing all his stories, I wanted to go, too."

"Was your mom in the military?"

"No, she was a teacher and then a stay-at-home mom. She spent a lot of time taking care of my sister and me."

"You have a sister?"

"I do. She's married now, with a kid."

"Where does everyone live?"

"My sister and her family are in Connecticut, and my parents are in New York City."

"Do you see them often?"

"I haven't seen anyone since my last surgery seven months ago. They were hovering for a while when I first got back, but I finally got rid of them."

She gave him a speculative look. "Because they were too loud for you?"

"Yes. They were loud. They had a lot of opinions. And I didn't want to hear any of them. I also didn't need them to worry about me."

"Did they know about the problems you were having with the bells?"

"They didn't need to know."

"Your former team members didn't need to know, either. Is that why you stayed away from them, too?"

"We were all dealing with our own problems. They didn't need to carry mine."

"Does anyone help you carry your problems?"

"Like a doctor?"

"Or a friend?" she countered.

"No one can help me, Savannah. I have to solve this on my own."

"What if you can't do it by yourself?"