Page 19 of Hunting Justice
He blinked. When had he given her that idea? He hadn’t told her the details about the night of the accident. “Yes. That’s Cara.”
Noelle raised a brow, waiting for him to continue, but he refused to go there. If he admitted his guilt in her death, the truth of his failure would come out.
When he didn’t elaborate, she placed the photo back on the mantel and turned to face him. The softness in her features had vanished, replaced by something akin to a mask that hid her emotions. “I’ll let you get some rest. I’ll pick you up in the morning and drop you off at work. Matt said he’d take care of your SUV. That’ll give you time to get a rental.” She paused and pinned him with her gaze. “But remember, you have a mild concussion. Don’t drive before you’re ready. You have friends to help you.”
He’d hurt her by not responding to her previous comment, but he couldn’t go there. Not yet. So he nodded.
She walked out the front door without another word.
He wanted to call her back. Explain how he’d messed up so badly with his wife’s accident. About the guilt that ate at him every day.
“I messed up big time, didn’t I, Samson?”
The cat meowed.
Jonah sighed. More than anything, he wanted Noelle to see him as a competent doctor and not the failure he was.
* * *
Noelle hated leaving Jonah at work. The bodyguard in her wanted to hover. But she’d lost the battle before it had even begun. Now she got the privilege of worrying about him all day long.
She leaned against the wall of Bitty and Beau’s coffee shop, waiting for her order. Remembering her argument with Jonah about him staying home and resting, she shook her head. The stubborn man had threatened to Uber to work. So, after insisting that he promise to take it easy and call if his headache got worse, she’d dropped him off at his office. And since she’d called her friends and coworkers at EGA Savannah for an early meeting to discuss yesterday’s happenings, she owed them a jolt of caffeine.
She, Alana, and Juliette loved Bitty and Beau’s. All the employees except the managers had Down syndrome, and their sweetness started the patrons’ mornings off with a smile. But if she chose a favorite, it would have to be Emma Grace. The young girl could coax a smile out of the grumpiest person.
“Noelle.”
When Emma Grace called her name, she pushed off the wall and strode to the small counter to collect the four coffees she’d ordered. “Thanks, Emmy.”
The girl smiled. “I wrote something special on your cup, Miss Noelle.”
“You did?” Noelle lifted her cup and read what Emmy had written. “You are awesome. Aw, thanks. I needed that today.”
Emmy beamed. “See you tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan.” Noelle grabbed the drink carrier and headed for the door. On the way out, she gave the store manager, Brendan, a chin lift. He acknowledged her with a wave before she left the shop.
She strode to her car and balanced the tray on one hand while extracting her keys from her front jeans pocket with the other. Once inside her vehicle, she checked the time. Ugh. Late again. No doubt Raven would give her grief. She sighed and headed toward the office.
The three-story historical home owned by her coworker Juliette Montgomery housed the new branch office that Noelle managed. Juliette lived in the ground floor apartment and rented out the top two floors to EGA. The main office and general meeting room for clients occupied the second floor, and the third held their personal offices and the company conference room.
Noelle loved the Montgomery family stories behind the old home, but her favorite part of the new office was the historical architecture. Two white columns greeted clients. The beige exterior trimmed in white with black shutters gave the overall appearance a stunning effect. But the best part: the balconies with hanging ferns on the second and third levels provided a nice getaway when things got tough.
She pulled into the courtyard parking lot behind the building and made her way to the main office.
“You’re late.” Raven sat behind her desk with pursed lips and a raised eyebrow.
“Good morning to you too, Raven.” She placed the admin’s cup on her desk. “Here’s your cotton candy frappé.” Noelle mock shuddered.
Raven snatched the cup and spun it to see the message from Emmy. “You’re special.” The smile that graced Raven’s face made the trip to the coffee shop worth it.
Noelle bit her lip to keep from laughing. Raven was definitely special. “Emmy knows you.” Raven embraced her goth side, but she was the happiest, if not snarkiest, person Noelle knew, and she loved the young woman dearly.
Raven pinned her with a playful glare. “Are you insinuating something?”
“Would I do that?” Noelle smiled and headed for the stairs to the conference room. “By the way, I like your outfit.” The black jeans paired with a tasteful and modest black corset-style top along with the new color in the admin’s black hair looked fantastic. “And the hot pink hair extensions are great.”
“The coffee and compliments do not negate you being late. But thanks, and you’re forgiven.”