Page 89 of Final Approach

“It was just stuff. You didn’t need it and neither did Emily or Ethan. And it was just reminders.”

“What do you mean, she loved her job more than she loved us?”

“Nothing. I shouldn’t have said that.” He rubbed his head. “I’m tired.”

Drop it or push it? With him? It was better to wait if she wanted answers. As much as it pained her, she dropped the subject. “Yeah. Okay. I’m sorry I yelled.” She didn’t want to leave with angry words between them. She turned toward the kitchen.

“Hey, Krissy?”

“Yes?” She turned back to meet his gaze. His eyes were soft and filled with ... love? Maybe? She wasn’t sure. But wanted to believe it.

“Thank you for everything. I’m ... sorry about your mom’s stuff. I guess I should have asked if you guys wanted it.”

“Yeah, you should have, but it’s done and we’ll just move on.”

Right. Move on. She went to the kitchen to get some space and set her phone on the counter. The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it, Dad.”

She opened the door and gasped, placing a hand over her racing heart. “Jesslyn! What are you doing here?”

“Besides giving you a heart attack? Giving you a ride home. I’m guessing you didn’t see my texts that I was on the way?”

Kristine grabbed her phone from the counter and looked. Three texts and two calls. And her phone was on silent. She sighed. “No, I didn’t, but thanks. That helps so much. I appreciate it.”

“And I have another bit of news,” Jesslyn said, eyes on her screen.

“What?”

“Nathan just texted that Andrew’s parents’ store was robbed. He’s on the way to them now.”

She gaped, then snapped her mouth shut. “Oh no. Are they all right?”

“Yeah.” Jesslyn glanced at her phone again. “The guy was there when they got home and shoved Andrew’s dad. He hit his head but is okay. So, Andrew is going to be dealing with that for a while.”

“I’ll text him and let him know I’m here if he needs anything.” She stepped back, relieved that she could leave ASAP. “I’m more than ready to go. Come in a sec while I tell my dad I’m leaving.”

Jesslyn stepped inside and Kristine set her phone back on the counter to grab two water bottles from the fridge. She passed one to Jesslyn. “For the road.”

“Perfect.”

Kristine said a quick goodbye to her dad, who was dozing in the recliner, then grabbed her coat off the back of the kitchen chair. They headed toward Jesslyn’s car, and Kristine reached for her phone only to remember she’d left it on the counter. “Ugh. I left my phone. I’ll be right back.”

She hurried back to the porch, pulled out the hidden spare key, and let herself in.

And stopped. Her father stood in profile near the refrigerator, one of the cabinet drawers open while he read something on thepaper he held. At her entrance, he shoved the paper in the drawer, slammed it, then spun to face her.

“You think about knocking?” He glowered at her.

“Uh, sorry, Dad, left my phone.” She snagged it and stuck it into her back pocket.

“Right. Knock next time.”

“Sure thing. See you later. Call if you need anything.”

Kristine almost confronted him about whatever it was he was hiding but decided she didn’t want to know. She left again and this time made it to the car, slipping into the passenger seat. “Thanks again,” she said, pulling out her phone to text Andrew.

Jesslyn smiled. “I didn’t mind the drive. It gave me some time to think about things.”

“Like?”