Chapter 8

SARAH

“How has Gabe seemed to you recently?” Sarah asked Seth as she put his plate on the counter. He slid onto the top and reached for his food, groaning as the aroma of the lasagna floated to him.

She was worried about Gabe. They had become friends over the last few weeks, and though he never shared the demons that were chasing him, she knew they were there, but she respected his privacy. She had also not shared the darkest part of her past with him. The last time they spoke was three nights ago, but that had been over text during breaks in their shifts. As far as she could tell, everything had been fine, but then he had canceled their standing breakfast date with Indie and Seth the next morning.

He had barely responded to her texts since, and not answering her calls. Amelia had asked her when Uncle Gabe was going to read her a bedtime story, and Sarah nearly cried because she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to tell her daughter. He’d answered her call then but had gone quiet when she told him what Elli had said. He had cleared his throat before saying that he was sorry, but he was taking some training and won’t be around for a while.

And then she realized that Seth was dodging her question. It was something he did when the subject was too sensitive. ~What does he know?~

“Seth?” she drawled; her voice low with warning.

“This is really good, Sar. A new recipe?” He filled his mouth while looking down at his plate, avoiding her gaze. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at her brother.

Before he’d met Indie, he had been a loner, living his life in a shell. But with Indie in his life, he had started sleeping better, and he was excited about life again, especially with the baby on the way. And Sarah was looking forward to their wedding in the fall. And being twins, their lives ran so parallel, because Sarah realized that she had also lived her life in a shell. And that Gabe was her ~Indie~.

With a growl, she took the fork from Seth’s hand and confiscated his plate, ignoring his protest.

“Hey!”

“What do you know, Seth?”

“He came to me a week ago and asked about the special unit. So when the training started this week, he signed up for it. We need guys like Gabe on that unit, Sar.”

“Okay. So he just came out of a situation where he got shot at on an hourly basis to walk right into another unit where he will be shot at on an hourly basis?”

Seth took a deep breath before shrugging. “Suppose so. Can I get my food back now?”

Sarah gaped at Seth, not sure what to make of his stonewalling. They shared everything, and for Seth to hold something back said a lot more than his words. “What are you not telling me, Seth?”

“Gabe admitted that he was feeling disorientated, and though he enjoyed the patrol, he needed more. So I suggested he try the special unit.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “He’s just been busy, Sar. And he was assigned his solo vehicle yesterday, so we barely see each other on shift now.”

Sarah slowly licked her lips as she felt the tears burning her throat before she looked at Seth. “Then…” She choked on the words, then cleared her throat. “Then why did I have to find out from you and not him?”

“I genuinely thought he told you, Sarah. You guys have been so close since you met.” He gently brushed her blonde bang from her eyes and stroked her cheek.

She gave a wry smile. “I thought so too, Seth, but we’ve barely spoken this last week. I’m not even sure why I’m disappointed because we’re just ~friends~, but I felt that we might have had something deeper… But I guess it was just me.”

Seth held her close, and Sarah absorbed the comfort he offered. “No, Sar. It wasn’t just you. Gabe isn’t that brilliant at acting.”

She smiled against his T-shirt. “That’s what I thought, especially how fond he is of Elli.”

“Man, that girl could melt the Grinch’s heart.”

“Says the totally biased uncle,” Sarah teased as she pulled out of his embrace and handed him his plate. He kissed her temple as he took it, putting a healthy distance between them to safeguard his food.

***

“Come see this,” Grace said as soon as Sarah stepped into Silver Reflections, the shop that Grace and Indie owned.

“Okay,” she gasped as Grace pulled her through the door separating the shop from the office and workshop. A heavily pregnant Indie was busy hooking the final bell on a hook at the end of a mobile arm. The mobile was hung with stars and bells so finely crafted, that Sarah was sure they’d break if they were held too tightly. “Indie, this is gorgeous!”

Her friend blushed at the enthusiastic praise. Indie was a very talented silversmith, making the most intricate jewelry. Every time Sarah went into the shop, she ~always~ bought something because she couldn’t resist a newly designed earring or bracelet, or chain.

“Look closer,” Grace instructed, pushing Sarah toward the mobile.

Sarah gently took the last bell between her fingers, and gasped, her eyes flying up to Indie, the questions tripping from her tongue in quick succession. “You have the name? Do you know if Bump’s a boy or a girl? When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell—”

“Hold on!” Indie held up her hands as she laughed, then gasped as the baby jabbed her somewhere in its bubble. “We don’t know what Bump is yet! We just decided on the name though—Connor Dawson Marshall.”

“Ah, cute! Wasn’t Connor your dad’s name?” Sarah asked, hugging Indie.

“Yes. Seth thought I was asleep when he had his daily chat with Bump and was using the name. It fits, whether Bump is a he or she,” Indie explained, her hands gently stroking her stomach.

“It sure does,” Sarah whispered, wiping away the tears that were way too close lately.

“Sarah?” She looked up at Indie’s quiet tone. “Are you okay? You’ve been very quiet lately.”

“I’m fine.” She turned to look around the workshop, wiping away a tear before her friends saw it.

“Why are you lying to us?” Grace demanded, turning Sarah back to them by her arm.

“I’m not—” Her words stalled on her tongue at Grace’s glare. She sank onto the chair and pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. “I’m worried about Gabriel.”

“What do you mean?” Indie asked, a deep frown between her golden eyes.

“I know we say we’re just friends, but I can’t help but feel that I let something magical slip through my fingers. And maybe because I…” She looked at her friends, the tears running freely down her face. “I am being such a teenager about this! I mean, we haven’t even kissed!”

“Are you serious? The fool hasn’t kissed you yet?” Grace demanded, her black brows drawing together in a straight line.

“Hold on, Grace.” Indie put a calming hand on their feisty friend’s shoulder. “What are you saying, Sarah?”

“I think I just lost the man I love…” The last word came out in a hiccup as she broke into sobs.

“Why do you think you lost him, Sarah?” Indie squeezed the question in when Sarah’s crying subsided to sniffles.

“He’s…he’s not responding to…to my calls…or t-t-texts…”

“Sarah…” Grace commiserated, pulling Sarah tightly to her.