Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons
Page 31

His shoulders relaxed. “Who’s Neely Kate?”
“I met her at jury duty. She didn’t get picked, but she works at the courthouse so we’ve been eating lunch together every day. She found me cryin’ on the courthouse steps yesterday.” I cringed. Why did I tell him that?
“You were crying?” His mouth dropped in horror. “Why?”
My mouth twisted.
“Me?” Joe groaned and covered his face with his hands. “Rose, I’m so sorry. It was nothing. I swear to you.”
“I know that now.”
He grabbed my hand again. “Thank goodness for Neely Kate.”
“Yeah, I think she and I are friends.”
His face softened. “Good. I’m glad you made a friend.”
“Me too.” I took a bite of my ravioli. “But we have to talk about our phone conversation later.”
Joe nodded with a worried look then broke out into an ornery grin. “But first we get dessert.”
After three days of my Joe famine, I wasn’t about to complain.
Chapter Ten
We didn’t talk much when we got home. We were too busy making up and then too exhausted to carry on a serious conversation.
In the morning, Joe and I crammed into my tiny bathroom. Since I had more time to get ready, I sat on the edge of the tub watching as he stood in front of the mirror, smearing shaving cream on his face.
“We still have to talk about my problem.”
Joe spun around and leaned down until his face hovered several inches over mine. His eyes twinkled. “Problem? Darlin’, as you’ve demonstrated over the last twelve hours, you are perfect.”
Giggling, I reached up to swipe a streak of shaving cream off his face, leaving a thin line of his skin exposed. “If you kiss me with that stuff all over your face, you will regret it.”
He lifted his eyebrows and laughed. “I’ve always had a hard time ignoring a challenge.” He lowered his mouth to mine.
I squealed and leaned back to escape, nearly falling into the empty tub.
Joe grabbed my arm and righted me with a chuckle. “No need hurtin’ yourself to get away from me.”
“Joe, seriously.”
He sighed and turned back to the mirror. “Okay.”
“Joe, I’m sure he’s innocent.”
“Rose, you could very well be right, but I’m at a loss of what to do.”
“The guy who killed poor Mr. Mitchell was hanging out at the hardware store after the murder.”
Joe stilled, his razor stopping mid-stroke. He watched me in the mirror as his eyes darkened. “Please tell me you know that because you had another vision.”
I pursed my lips. I had vowed to myself not to lie to him.
He closed his eyes as the muscles along his naked back tensed. “You went to the hardware store to buy paint yesterday.”
Since he already knew the answer, I saw no reason to say anything.
He put the razor on the counter with a loud whack and spun around to face me. “Rose, you know what you did was illegal, right?”
“I had to do something, Joe.”
Without a word, he grabbed a towel and stormed out of the bathroom, leaving me perched on the tub. Tears welled in my eyes. We’d been getting along so well and I’d ruined it. But my visions were part of who I was, whether I liked it or not. The good Lord knew I’d never have a vision again if I could help it, but what did Joe expect me to do? I knew Bruce Wayne was innocent, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
Several minutes passed and I wondered if he was going to leave for Little Rock without saying goodbye. Surely, he wouldn’t do that. Maybe I’d really blown it this time.
The phone rang, jolting me out of my brooding. I ran into the kitchen and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Rose? This is Marjorie Grace from down at the courthouse.”
“Oh, hi.” Standing on my tiptoes, I looked out the window over the sink, checking to see if Joe’s car was still there. He was leaning against the hood, talking on his cell phone, his face dark and gloomy. Obviously, he was still mad at me.
“Most of the jury is still sick with food poisoning so Judge McClary is postponing the trial until tomorrow. There’s a chance we’ll be out again, but for now, plan on comin’ in the morning.”
“Okay, thanks, Marjorie Grace.”
The side door opened after I hung up and Joe pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head.
“I thought you were mad at me.” My words were muffled as I buried my head into his chest.
Joe sighed, his arms tightening around my back. “I was, but then I put myself in your shoes.”
I looked up in surprise. “You did?”
“Yeah, I understand why you went to the hardware store. Believe me I do, Rose. But do you have any idea what could happen if you get caught?”
We both knew the answer. I nodded.
“Rose, listen to me.” He lifted my chin so he could look into my eyes. “Please, please don’t do anything crazy, okay? Let me do some behind-the-scenes checking and see if I can come up with something.”
I had no trouble relinquishing control to Joe. If anything, I was grateful I wouldn’t be the only person carrying the weight of Bruce Wayne Decker’s innocence. At least Joe had more resources and authority to do something. “Okay.”
“Good.” He kissed me lightly.
I clung to him, wishing it were Saturday.