Free Protecting the Dream by Michelle Sharp Page B

her car just disappeared.”
    “Who was the guy, the one who moved in with her?”
    Liz shook her head. “Gosh, it’s been several years. I don’t remember his last name. But people in town called him J.J.” She pushed off the boulder. “I’m sorry I interrupted your walk. I should go. I try to feed the ducks and get back before Bill comes home from the shop and scolds me.”
    Jordan slid to her feet. “Don’t be sorry. And thanks for the answers. Probably the cop in me, but I hate loose ends. Guess I have the annoying habit of asking more questions than I should. But I have one more if you don’t mind. What happened to the guy?”
    “They found him dead several months later.” One corner of Liz’s lip turned upward, almost as if she wanted to smile. “Got drunk as a skunk and passed out in his car. The temperatures got well below freezing that night. Found him frozen to death in an empty parking lot behind the local bar.”
    “Bummer,” Jordan said.
    “Big bummer.” Liz did smile now. “I’m sorry. I can’t say I was broken up about it. Except that I knew we’d never figure out where Ellie was after that.”
    Jordan tortured the neighbor long enough. “I’m sorry I brought the subject up. It’s just hard for me to live here and not know what happened.”
    “I really wish I had more answers.” Liz gazed out over the lake. “Ellie loved this spot. If you only knew how many hours we spent out here gossiping. It was shameful, really.” The older woman stood motionless for a few seconds, then seemed to realize she’d been drifting in a memory. “I’m so sorry. This wasn’t a very nice way to welcome you to your new home, was it?”
    “Are you kidding? You saved me.” She gestured at the ducks. “I’m certain they were trying to decide how to take me down.”
    Liz laughed. “Just keep reminding them who’s the boss. And if that doesn’t work, bring some bread next time. It doesn’t take much to make them happy.”
    “Liz.” Jordan called out to the other woman. “Don’t stop feeding the ducks or hanging out around the lake just because we may buy the place. I don’t want that. Ty wouldn’t want it, either.”
    Liz nodded with a warm smile.
    “And Ellie sure wouldn’t want it.” Jordan added. “You’re welcome here any time.”
    ***
    The next morning, Ty insisted on going back to Jordan’s condo in Saint Louis to help her pack up a few things.
    In other words, to make sure she didn’t drive Molly.
    So she worked his butt off, made him pack up a ton more junk than she’d originally planned to take. Her ploy seemed only fair. Plus now they were well-stocked.
    They’d even stopped at a store and bought a mini fridge, a new coffee maker, and just about every cleaning product on the market. Logic told her that purchasing a few hundred dollars’ worth of cleaning supplies shouldn’t have been enjoyable.
    Strangely, it had been.
    She’d have wagered everything she owned against being that woman. The one who, of all stupid things, held hands with a man and teased and laughed while shopping. Yet picking out necessities with Ty had felt like the most natural activity in the world.
    Until they hit the condom aisle.
    Heat on par with the seventh circle of hell had scorched her face when Ty snatched two boxes of rubbers, juggled them, and said, “Pick your poison, baby. Ribbed or glow in the dark?”
    She was ridiculously head over heels in love with a bonehead.
    On the way back to the house, it hit her how invested she’d become in the idea of starting a life with Ty. The reality of taking the giant step made panic and doubt root themselves around her heart like rapidly growing weeds.
    What if I can’t do this? What if I can’t be normal enough? Maybe the visions and spirits won’t allow me to be normal.
    She rationalized while scouring the kitchen—the house was huge, so maybe she could sleep in another room if she was working a case and the dreams got out of hand. Plus, if Ty