Positive/Negativity (42 page)

I lay on the beach for a long time. I lay there until I no longer had another tear left to weep.

When not one ounce of energy was left inside of me, I turned my face to the sky and whispered my final words before I fell asleep…

“…please, help me.”

Carter stood at the door of Declan’s house. He’d just arrived there from his visit at the hospital. The previous day, he’d helped Aria gather her things for the move. His heart was troubled for both of them. They loved each other, anyone could see that. Although Declan harbored some anger about the accident, he had confided Aria would be better without him should the amputation be necessary. Carter disagreed, but Declan wouldn’t hear any argument. After discussing his brother’s behavior with his doctor, he learned that his behavior was normal. He was pushing away someone he loved under the guise of anger. In a misdirected way, he was protecting someone he loved, and he’d become a joyless man. He was cold and callous toward Aria when she visited, achieving his goal of alienating her. Her visits became less frequent. He could only hope that Declan would see how foolish his actions were, but for now, he’d help him to concentrate on his treatment and recovery.

What he witnessed just now on the beach broke his heart for Aria. He hadn’t been at the door long, but it was long enough to see her broken and crying on the beach. He knew that she cried for his brother. She was in love with him, and now she was shattered and grieving. She witnessed Declan’s accident and his cop instinct told him that she knew more than she had divulged. She was in shock and Declan shouldn’t be pushing her away, but he was also in shock, both physically and emotionally. If his brother wasn’t in such a precarious position, he’d knock some sense into his head!

His heart softened as he watched Paige make her way down the beach to Aria. His heart went out to her and he made a mental note that he’d keep an eye on Aria and check on her often. He and Cody were going to take up residence at the house for as long as they needed to. Declan was going to require help, and he was damned wrong about how he was pushing Aria away. Carter had to help him realize that the love of a good woman was something that should be treasured. Lacey had been a woman like Aria. Aria’s mom, Jeannie, was a good woman too and would be keeping a close eye on both of them. She and Carter had discussed it. She also believed that they belonged together. Carter had grown to love her like a sister, he hated to see her in pain.

As he watched them walk toward Paige’s car, he saw a dejected and wounded Aria. It gave him a quieting comfort to know that her friend would be with her tonight. Part of what disturbed him was that he still had no idea what caused the argument that led to the accident, and neither did Declan as his full memory hadn’t yet returned. There were too many things that didn’t add up. First things first—that argument was the first mystery Carter would attempt to solve. It was essential that he try to use his skills to unravel the mysteries of Declan’s accident. The argument puzzled everyone. As far as he knew, they rarely argued at all.

Once he saw Paige and Aria drive away, he left the house to return to the hospital. Descending the steps, he was intercepted.

“Excuse me. Aren’t you Declan Sinclair’s brother?”

Cautiously, Carter eyed the woman. “I am.”

“I don’t know if you remember me. I met you at your wife’s funeral. I’m a friend of Declan’s. He and I work together.” She smiled a lovely smile to put Carter at ease. “I heard about the terrible accident and wanted to see if I could help in any way. I was just stopping by to see if anyone was at his house.”

Carter thought the woman looked familiar but he was preoccupied.

“Declan’s still in the hospital and he won’t be released anytime soon. Everything’s under control, but thanks for stopping by.”

“Oh, of course, I don’t want to keep you. I would have spoken with Aria, but I thought I passed her on the road. Will she be back soon?”

The woman’s prying was causing him unease and he didn’t feel comfortable discussing family business.

“Aria will be staying with friends while she and Declan heal.”

Carter moved away from her, indicating that the conversation was over.

“Thanks for stopping by,” he said once again.

With that, Carter got into his car, leaving the woman to herself.

As he was pulling away, he looked in the rearview mirror to see if he could get a look at the woman. She was gone. He hit his hand on the steering wheel and mentally kicked himself for, once again, not getting that woman’s name. The first time, he was distracted by Lacey’s funeral. This time, he wanted to get back to the hospital. He wouldn’t let it happen a third time. His gut feeling wasn’t good about her…

–Western Maryland State Police Barracks–

Captain Jax was looking for Carter Sinclair.

“Has anyone seen Carter lately?!” he shouted through the office.

“No, Cap. His brother was in a bad accident.” Sergeant Henry came around the corner with a cup of coffee. “He took a leave of absence, so he’s not going to be back for a while. Is it something important? I think we can find a number for him if you need it.”

Captain Jax scratched his head debating the issue.

“I’m not sure, Henry. We’ve still been investigating the hit and run of Sinclair’s wife and we got a hit on some security footage at the rental car place. It’s a little grainy, but I wanted Sinclair to take a look at it.”

He walked over to his desk, looked at the e-mailed photo, and tossed it into his case files.

“I’ll hold on to it because the investigation is ongoing.”

Turning to Sergeant Henry, he shrugged. “If he calls, let me know. I’ll show this around, but I want to show it to him personally when he comes in.”

Sergeant Henry nodded as the captain left the office.

…and as Captain Jax left, Sergeant Henry walked over to his desk to take a look at the slightly grainy, e-mail photo of the attractive Latin woman…

T
Live On – Susannah Blinkoff

TT
World Falls Away – Seether

TTT
Dream a Little Dream of Me – Dala

Paige and Jeannie exchanged glances as they observed Aria from the Boardwalk.

“She’s always found serenity in being near the ocean, even when she was just a child.”

Jeannie reached over to place her hand on Paige’s. She was hoping to reassure her.
T

“I know, Jeannie. I watch her here. It’s almost as if she absorbs the force the ocean uses to crash the waves to the shore. She closes her eyes and lifts her chin as if she’s taking in their power.”

“She is, Paige. I don’t know how, but she is.”

They both sat quietly, holding hands, united in their concern for Aria. Over the past few months, her crying had become less frequent and her resolve had grown firm. Both knew that she had come to a decision, but neither was privy to what that decision was. She spoke very little, but she still went for her walks on the beach every day. She had moved to a different resort town up Coastal Highway in Delaware. Paige had helped her move her things into the renovated beach house, and Aimee didn’t live too far away. It wasn’t a great distance from Declan’s house in Maryland, but it was far enough away to allow her to regroup, heal, and make some decisions. She had been distraught over Declan and the accident, but he was pushing her away. Breaking her heart, he made an effort to harden his whenever he saw her, and it was killing the people who loved them both. They needed each other, but they wouldn’t let each other in.

As Jeannie marveled at her daughter sitting on the beach, it occurred to her that her husband was right; she
was
a strong girl. Aria never realized how strong she was because she opened her heart to everyone, believing it was her weakness. Jeannie disagreed for she saw her daughter’s heart as her biggest strength.

Paige interrupted her thoughts.

“Do you think she’ll survive this? I’m worried about her.”

Placing her arm around Paige, she kissed her on the head.

“She’s going to be just fine. She’s stronger than she knows.”