Page 31 of This Memory (Moose Village #3)

Gavin

New Year’s Eve was always all hands on deck, even in Moose Village.

It was one of the holidays that you knew you were working.

And with the small police force that we had, we were all okay with it.

Mayor Browning always brought in dinner for us at city hall.

We swung by when we got the chance, each of us rotating in shifts to eat.

Someone was always there to chat and get us anything we needed.

Most of the time it was the mayor himself.

He even had Batter Up Bakery make special desserts for each of us as a thank you, just for doing our jobs.

We never expected it, but it was nice, nonetheless.

“How’s Brystol feeling?” Declan asked as we stood back and watched the crowds gathering at The Green for the fireworks display.

“She’s doing good. Her morning sickness has settled down a lot, which is awesome. She’s craving the oddest foods, though. The other night, she wished we had a Thai restaurant in town. Then said no when I asked if she’s ever even had Thai food.”

Declan laughed .

“I bought a plant for her counter at the toy store, and she walked by it yesterday and said the dirt smelled good enough to eat. I had to call Mom on that one, asked her if that was normal. She just laughed. Come to think of it, she never answered me.”

Clapping me on the back, Declan said, “It’s normal. It must be about something they’re lacking while pregnant, because one of the guys I served with said his wife craved dirt. Like, legit, she wanted to eat dirt.”

I slowly shook my head. “Jesus, what do the babies do to them?”

Declan shrugged. “Don’t know. What I do know is, a man could never, ever be pregnant. We wouldn’t be able to handle it all.”

“I’ll agree with you on that one. She has the cutest baby bump, though. We’ve talked about heading to Boston and meeting up with Lauryn, Cadie’s friend. She told Brystol she would take her to some maternity shops.”

“When do you find out the sex?”

“I think they scheduled it for when she’s almost twenty-one weeks.

It was Evelyn and Denny’s only free time, what with court cases and such.

I tell ya, I don’t know how they’re going to do it when the baby comes.

They go to Boston every other week, I swear.

Sometimes they’re up there for a few weeks at a time, depending on the case that’s being tried. ”

“Maybe they’ll cut back once the baby arrives.”

I nodded. “Maybe.”

Declan glanced around. “I didn’t see Brystol with the girls. Is she skipping the fireworks?”

“Yeah,” I said, as I homed in on a few kids who looked like they could be up to something. Their parents must have thought the same thing because whatever they were about to do, several adults interrupted.

“What was going on over there?” Declan asked as we started to make our way around the perimeter of The Green.

“Looked like some kids were about to have their own fireworks show, but their parents put a stop to it.”

“Glad to see some parents are watching their kids,” a familiar voice said from behind us.

We both turned to see my brother James approaching. He wore a deep scowl, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “What happened?”

He shook his head. “Little bastards were trying to break into the vet’s office. They wanted to see the kittens that were born the other day. Too bad for them, Dr. Wilson lives above the clinic, so they were met with the very angry vet and his wife—both of whom were holding baseball bats.”

Declan and I both laughed.

“Did you hear what happened to Remey?” James asked, a sudden smile on his face.

“No,” Declan and I said at the same time.

“Out-of-towner, drunk out of her mind, thought her friends hired him for her and she tried to undress him. When that didn’t work, she grabbed his dick so hard, he said he’s pretty sure he’ll never be able to have kids or hit the high notes in church ever again.”

Now Declan and I lost it, doubled over with laughter.

“Better him than me!” I said with a wink in James’s direction .

He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve had any kind of action, I’d take a good dick-grabbing right about now.”

At that moment, we saw Remey walking toward us—or at least, he was trying to walk.

“Never mind,” James quickly added.

As we laughed again, my name came through my shoulder mic. “Gavin—I mean, Officer Quinn?”

It was Jane, our communications center manager. She wasn’t at the 9-1-1 center tonight, and when I realized she was reaching out to me personally, an instant pit formed in my stomach.

“Brystol,” I whispered as I fumbled with my mic. “This is Officer Quinn. Jane, what’s wrong?”

“Gavin, a call came through the nonemergency number from NYPD. You were listed as an emergency contact, and they tried your cell, then called the station looking for you.”

I looked at James and Declan. “Brystol’s okay, then?”

Jane didn’t answer for a moment. “Yes. Yes, I’m sorry. She’s fine.”

It hit me then what she’d said. NYPD .

“Oh God—Denny and Evelyn.”

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Is there any way you can get to the station, Gavin?”

The pit in my stomach now felt like a brick of lead. “I’m on my way.”

I stood and stared straight ahead out the window, watching the large groups of people making their way back to their cars, houses, and vacation rentals.

“Gavin, is there anything I can get you?” Mayor Browning asked softly .

I shook my head.

The door to my boss’s office opened and quietly closed. “Thanks for staying with him,” Chief Ryan said to Mayor Browning.

Tommy Ryan was our chief of police.

Mayor Browning gave me a light squeeze on the shoulder. “I’m here if you need anything, Gavin. I want you to take as much time as you need.”

All I could do was nod. My entire body felt numb and cold. It hurt my chest to simply breathe.

The door opened, then clicked shut once again.

“What happened?” Chief Ryan asked.

I closed my eyes and drew in a slow breath. “Car accident. A drunk driver hit them going over a hundred miles per hour. They were returning to the city from New Jersey we think.”

“DOA?” he asked.

“Yes. They both died instantly.”

I closed my eyes and silently thanked God for that. When I opened them, I drew in a breath and turned to face him.

“It was my idea.”

Confused, he asked, “What do you mean?”

With a shake of my head, I looked down at the floor. “I told Denny he should take Evelyn to New York City to get away. She loved it there. They were going to go baby shopping for the room…and whatever else you buy when you go shopping for a baby. It was my idea.”

The chief walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing. “This is not your fault, Gavin.”

I lifted my gaze and met his. My eyes stung from holding back tears. “If I hadn’t suggested they go to New York, they’d still be here. ”

He slowly shook his head. “Don’t play the what-if game.”

I felt my tears fall. “What about the baby? She’s never going to know who her parents are.”

“The baby will know because you and Brystol will tell her or him all about their mother and father.”

Squeezing my eyes closed, I clutched my stomach and bent over. I felt sick. “How am I going to tell Brystol?”

“You’ll know once you get to her. You’ll know.”

After drawing in a few deep breaths, I straightened.

“Gavin, you’re gonna have to be there for Brystol. The shock of losing your best friend is bad enough, but she’ll have to decide what the future looks like for this child. Did they have a will?”

My head was swirling. “I don’t know. I’m sure they did; they were both lawyers. I don’t know if they would have updated it since the pregnancy. I would hope so.”

“Do you need me to drive you to Brystol’s house?” Chief asked.

I glanced past him to see my brother and Declan through the window in the door, waiting outside his office. “No, James and Declan are here. I’ll catch a ride with one of them.”

“Take a few days, don’t worry about work. Now that New Year’s is over, things will quiet down in town.”

I felt so numb. I could hear everything the chief said, but it sounded like he was talking through a long tunnel.

I started toward the door without saying so much as a “thank you for understanding.” I opened it and spotted my mother when my brother stepped to the side. I walked straight toward her and into her arms, and let the tears fall freely.

“Do you want me to come in with you?” James asked.

We sat in his car, parked in front of Brystol’s house. A small light was on in the front window, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was still up. I told her I wasn’t sure how late I’d be. I had offered to go back to my place so I didn’t wake her, but she’d insisted I come back here.

With a slow shake of my head, I replied, “No. It’s okay. Can you do me a favor tomorrow morning?”

“Of course, anything you need.”

“Can you call and make arrangements for their bodies to be brought back to Moose Village?”

“Is there family to call? I didn’t know Denny or Evelyn like you did.”

I closed my eyes. “Evelyn’s parents are both gone, and she doesn’t have any close living relatives. Denny’s mother passed away when he was a senior in high school, and he doesn’t know where his father is. He left them when Denny was young.”

“No other close relatives?”

Shrugging, I said, “He’s got a few cousins, but they’re not close. I don’t even know when he last spoke to any of them.”

James let out a sigh. “Damn, I didn’t realize they didn’t have any parents around.”

I knew what he was thinking. The same thing I was.

Who was going to raise the baby?

I let out a long breath and reached for the door. “Thanks for driving and taking care of that for me. ”

He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “We’re all here for you both. I want you to know that, Gavin.”

Looking at my brother, I tried my best to smile. “I know. I love you, bro.”

“I love you too, Gav.”

I forced myself to get out of the car and approach the front door. Typing in the code, I prayed that I would have the right words to say…and that Brystol and the baby would be okay.

The door opened, and I could hear the TV on in the living room.

I softly shut the door and locked it. Making my way into the room, I stopped when I saw Brystol lying on the sofa, sleeping.

She looked so peaceful, and a part of me wanted to just bring her to bed and hold her all night. I could tell her in the morning.

It would be so easy to do. Ignore it all for one more night, before our worlds were turned upside down.

I ran my hand down my face and forced the tears back before I started over toward her. I knelt down and gently placed a hand on her arm.

“Brystol,” I whispered. “Baby, I’m home.”

She stirred and then opened her eyes. A sleepy smile appeared when she saw me. “Hey, how were the fireworks?”

“Good,” I said automatically. I hadn’t even been there to see them.

Sitting up, Brystol stretched her arms over her head as she yawned, then reached for her phone on the coffee table and smiled. “I watched the ball drop in New York. I texted Evelyn, but they must have been too busy enjoying it because I haven’t heard back from her. ”

I took her phone, set it back on the coffee table, and sat beside it, facing her. I reached for her hands and looked into her eyes. “Brystol, I got some news tonight.”

She frowned. “Okay. From your expression, I guess it was bad news?”

I nodded and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Yeah…it was bad news.”

Her breathing started to increase. “Your parents? Declan? James?”

“They’re all okay. Everything is fine here in town. The, um, the NYPD called the station, looking for me.”

The color drained from her face, and she squeezed my hands as she slowly shook her head.

“Evelyn and Denny…they were hit by a drunk driver.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Are they okay?”

My mouth opened but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

“Gavin?” Brystol shook my hands. “Gavin, are they okay?”

Her words had grown louder, and I knew I had to be strong. I straightened my shoulders, drew in a breath, and replied. “No, baby. They were both killed instantly.”

Brystol stared at me, her eyes blinking rapidly. “What? No. No . They can’t be gone. No, Gavin! No!” Tears started to trail down her cheeks.

“I know. I didn’t want to believe it either. But they’re gone, Bry. They’re gone.”

She dropped my hands and covered her mouth. When she abruptly stood, I did as well.

“I’m going to be sick! ”

Following her into the bathroom, I bent with her as she threw up.

My hand moved in slow circles around her back as I tried to silently comfort her.

I didn’t have any words because I was still in shock myself.

My mother had told me to just be there for Brystol.

To hold her, tell her I’d be by her side always, that I didn’t need to have all the right words.

It was a good thing because I didn’t have a single one. Nothing. I felt empty.

When she finally sat back, I got up and held a washcloth under the hot water for her.

She took it and buried her face, and I knew she was crying, and it killed me.

I wanted to take all of her hurt and pain away.

I sat down and wrapped my arm around her.

She leaned her head against my shoulder and drew in a shaky breath.

“The baby.”

I swallowed hard. “I know.”

She put her hand on her stomach.

“It’s my fault,” I whispered the words.

Her head jerked up, and I could see her staring at me from the corner of my eye.

“What?”

“I was the one who told Denny to take Evelyn to New York City.”

Brystol took my free hand in hers. “Don’t you dare do that, Gavin! This is not your fault. You didn’t pour alcohol down that driver’s throat or put Evelyn and Denny in a car at the wrong time and place. This isn’t your fault. The only one to blame is the person who killed them.”

I dropped my head back against the wall. “Why did this happen? They were both so happy, and Evelyn was back to her normal self. Why? ”

Brystol sniffled and wiped her tears away. “I don’t know. But what I do know is this baby no longer has any parents. Our job moving forward is to protect her…or him…to make sure they know who their parents were, and to…”

Her voice trailed off. When I lifted my head to look at her, she was staring at me.

“Did they have a will?”

“I’m sure they did. I just don’t know if they updated it.”

Brystol’s breathing had increased slightly, and she looked away. With a long exhale, she said, “We need to call their office on Friday morning.”

I nodded as I stood. “Let’s get you off this cold floor and into bed.”

Brystol stood, and we walked hand in hand to her bedroom. We both got ready in silence. When we finally climbed into bed, Brystol rolled onto her side, and I drew her to me. When she started to cry again, I held her a bit tighter, and let my own tears fall as well.