Page 15 of Healed Heart

“Ronny,” I answer dryly.“Ronny Burgundy.”

Lindsay rarely mentioned him, but the name was easy to remember.So similar to the character Will Ferrell played inAnchorman.I didn’t know much about the guy, but he apparently flew off the handle when Lindsay ended things between them.He stalked her and her family to the point where they all left New Jersey and came to Colorado.

“I haven’t thought about that awful boy in years,” Lisa says.“Though I suppose we all owe him for getting Lindsay and us out here to Colorado.She would never have met you otherwise.”

Fuck.

I nod slowly to mask the thoughts raging inside me.

Yeah, Lindsay fled New Jersey and came to Colorado, where she met me.And then she married me, had a kid with me.A kid who died in the car I was driving.

And then Lindsay was dead a year later.

Maybe they should have taken their chances in fucking Jersey.She’d still be alive.

“I know what you’re thinking, Jason.”Barry looks at me, his eyes crinkled with empathy.“But you have to know that neither Lisa nor I blame you for… For what happened.It was a terrible thing.Lisa actually dragged me to a shrink for a couple of sessions.”

My ears perk up at that.After Lindsay was failed by our psychiatrist, her own parents tried therapy?

I try to keep my face nonchalant as I ask, “You did?”

Barry nods.“I was in terrible denial.I kept thinking there was no way that Lindsay—our little spot of sunshine—would ever do something like what she ended up doing.I even took a second mortgage on the house to hire a private investigator to look into it.”He smiles toward his wife.“Luckily Lisa made me come to my senses before I threw all our retirement funds into an investigation.We paid the PI for his time—it had only been a few days at that point—and sent him on his way.Lisa had done a couple of therapy sessions and invited me to come along.I thought she was going to be a quack, but she actually did help us process the loss and move forward.”

Lisa’s lip trembles, but she maintains her composure.“We’ll always miss Lindsay and Julia, but at least we’ve learned to live with the grief.”She reaches across the table and places her hand on mine.“I hope you’ve been able to do the same, Jason.”

I take a deep breath in.“Good days and bad days.As I’m sure is the case for you two.”

We finish dinner in silence.Dessert comes and goes, a decadent tiramisu that would’ve had Lindsay asking for seconds.It is delicious, but I’m so ready to get out of here.I got what I came for.

And a lot that I didn’t.

Lindsay’s ghost lives here.

That’s a big part of the reason I sold our house after she died.I couldn’t bear to see her in every corner.

I rise abruptly after refusing Lisa’s offer of coffee.“I should go.”I gesture to the letters and journal.“Thank you for these.”

“Can’t you stay a bit longer?”Lisa asks.“You’re our only link…” Her voice fades off.

“Easy, Lis,” Barry says.

“I’m sorry.”I sigh.“It’s just difficult to be here.I’m sure you understand.”

“Of course.”Barry pats me on the back.“Take care, Jason.We’re here if you need us.”

Then everything blurs as I leave the house and get into my car.

ChapterFive

Angie

I’m about ready to call it a night and binge-watch some Netflix with Tillie while snuggled in bed when someone pounds on my door.

Already I know it’s Jason.Who else would it be?Security would have let me know if someone were coming to visit.

I go to the door with a sigh.“Jason, this had better be?—”

I stop mid-sentence as I open the door and see him standing there, looking for all the world like a man on the brink of emotional collapse.