If Joshua hadn’t been holding her, Faith would’ve dropped to the floor. Instead, he lifted her up and laid her back on the examination table. When she awoke a moment later, both the doctor and Joshua were staring down at her.
“What happened?”
“You fainted,” Wainwright said. “I want you to stay down for a while. I’ll check on you in a few minutes. Josh, perhaps we should give her a few minutes to collect herself.”
“Of course. Faith, will you be all right?”
“I’ll manage.” She attempted a smile. As the men left the room, she closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm her rapid heartbeat.
In the waiting room, Joshua paced while Wainwright jotted down some notes. He glanced up, his brow furrowed. “Quite a night we’re having, isn’t it? First the bank robbery, now this.”
Joshua’s head snapped up. “You know about the robbery?”
“Hard not to, with all the commotion,” Wainwright replied. He hesitated, then added, “Actually, I saw something peculiar after the explosion. A man who looked remarkably like William Flock running down the alley behind my office, carrying a satchel.”
Joshua’s eyes widened. “William Flock? Are you certain?”
“Well, I can’t be entirely sure, but the resemblance was striking. I found it odd, given he’s employed by Artemus Graham. I’d have thought he’d be running toward the bank, not away from it. Of course, I’m not one hundred percent certain it was him.”
Who else could it be? Joshua thought. If Flock was involved, this could be bigger than they’d initially thought. He glanced toward the examination room, torn between his concern for Faith and the urgency of this new information.
“Doc,” Joshua said. “I appreciate you sharing this. It could be vital to the investigation.”
Wainwright nodded. “I hope it helps. Now, shall we check on our patient?”
Joshua’s mind whirred with possibilities as Dr. Wainwright pushed open the examination room door. The significance of Flock’s potential involvement weighed heavily on him, but his concern for Faith took precedence as he followed the doctor inside.
She sat on the edge of the examination table, her face pale but determined. The doctor approached her with a gentle smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, thank you.” Her voice didn’t waver, despite the lingering pain evident in her eyes.
Joshua watched as Wainwright slipped on a sling to keep her arm stable, then helped Faith off the table. His hands steadied her as she found her footing. The doctor’s movements were practiced and efficient, a testament to his years of training at Harvard Medical School.
“I’ll walk you out,” Wainwright offered, guiding her to the door where Joshua waited.
“Thank you, Doctor. I’m so glad you were available to fix my shoulder.”
He smiled. “It was my pleasure. For a few days, wear the sling when you walk. Be careful with your shoulder for at least a week.”
“All right.”
When Faith stopped beside him, Joshua saw the strength in her eyes, the unwavering spirit that had drawn him to her since childhood. “I’ll take you home,” he said softly.
“I want to go to the newspaper office.”
“But—”
“I’m fine, Joshua,” she interrupted. “If you don’t want to go, I’ll walk by myself.”
“You’re stubborn. I’ll give you that.” Joshua ushered her outside.
As they stepped out onto the boardwalk, Joshua’s mind returned to the pressing matter at hand.
“Faith,” he began, his voice low and urgent, “I need to speak with Sheriff Brodie. It’s about the robbery.”
Her journalistic instincts spiked. “What about it?”
He hesitated, torn between his desire to protect her and his respect for her independence. “Dr. Wainwright saw something… someone. It could be important.”
“I should come with you,” she insisted.
He shook his head. “No, you need to rest. I’ll fill you in later, I promise.”
As they reached the door of the Mystic Gazette, Joshua’s hand lingered on Faith’s arm. The touch sent a familiar warmth through him, a reminder of the unspoken connection they shared.
“I’ll be back in a while to walk you home,” he murmured, his eyes conveying more than words could express.
With a final glance at Faith, he turned and strode toward the sheriff’s office, his mind already formulating how to relay Dr. Wainwright’s crucial information to Sheriff Brodie.
Faith watched his retreating figure for a moment, her mind wrestling with possibilities. The pain in her shoulder had dulled to a persistent ache, but her curiosity burned even stronger. She pushed open the door to the Mystic Gazette and stepped inside.
“I can’t just sit idle,” Faith muttered to herself, making her way to her desk. Removing the sling, she slid a fresh sheet of paper into the typewriter, her fingers itching to put words to the page. The explosion, the robbery, and whatever Joshua hadn’t shared with her. It all needed to be told.
As she continued to type, the door creaked open. Joshua stepped inside, grabbed the only other chair in the office, and sat down.
“You must be exhausted. How about I walk you home?”
Faith’s chin rose. “I’m almost finished with the piece on the explosion and robbery. It would be nice to end with whatever you had to tell Brodie.”
Joshua leaned closer, his voice gentle but firm. “It would make a good ending to your story, but I promised Brodie not to say a word to anyone else. Including you. Think about what could happen if publishing this information jeopardizes Sheriff Brodie’s investigation.”
Faith’s brow furrowed. “But surely the townsfolk should know—”
“Timing is crucial,” he interrupted. “Why don’t you wait for Brodie? Get all the facts before you print anything. You don’t want to rush forward without all the facts.”
She leaned back in her chair, conflicted. Her instincts as a reporter warred with the logic of Joshua’s words. She studied his face, seeing the sincerity there.
“You’re right,” she conceded after a long moment. “I’ll wait to speak with Brodie. But I won’t sit on this story for long, Joshua.”
His shoulders relaxed. “That’s all I ask. We’ll go together to see Brodie as soon as he’s available. Which will be after you get some rest.”
“I am pretty tired.” She slid the sling on, adjusting it to accommodate her arm.
Standing, he held out his hand. “I’m walking you home.”
“Joshua?” He paused to look at her. “Thank you… for watching out for me.”
A small smile played on Joshua’s lips. “Always,” he replied before taking her hand.
Joshua’s hand hesitated on the doorknob, his heart pounding in his chest. The almost full moon streamed through the newspaper office windows, washing Faith in an ethereal glow. He swallowed hard, knowing if he didn’t speak now, he might never find the courage again.
“Faith.” He turned to face her. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
“What is it, Joshua?”
He took a deep breath. “I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time.”
Her eyebrows rose slightly. “Go on,” she encouraged softly.
Joshua’s usual quiet manner gave way to a storm of emotions. “Faith, I… I care for you. Deeply. More than just a friend. I think I always have.”
The room fell silent, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall. Her lips parted in surprise. She stood frozen as she processed his words.
He waited, his heart in his throat, the tension in the room palpable. He could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. The silence stretched on, becoming almost unbearable.
“We should go,” he finally said, his voice rough with emotion. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I just needed you to know.” Opening the door, he motioned for her to walk past him.
He walked beside her, the quiet almost painful. Faith’s unspoken response hung in the air like a phantom, creating a wall of unresolved emotions and possibilities.
The eerily quiet streets of Mystic seemed to echo with the weight of his confession as they made their way to her house. Walking up the steps, she opened the front door, not looking at him. He bid her goodnight, hesitated a moment, then hurried off.
She stood at the living room window, watching his figure disappear down the street. Her heart pounded against her ribs. She pressed her palm against the cool glass, her breath fogging the pane.
“Oh, Joshua,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.