Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

bigger for the shock of bangs hanging messily across her brow.
Her wide-necked t-shirt fell off one shoulder revealing just a
hint of a fragile collarbone. Her long legs were bronzed and
smooth, her shorts sexier because they were worn with such
casual disregard. She looked young and vulnerable until one
looked closely and saw that age and experience were the
details that made her beautiful and substantive. She was an
Amazon without her shield and bow, and the arrows loosed by
the foe had pierced a skin Josie did not know was so thin. If
Stephen had been another kind of man he would have
swooped her up into his arms and into his bed with promises
that he could do the impossible; love away her pain. Pity he
was a righteous man.
“That little confession calls for a bit of a different
fortification.” He reached under the bar again. Josie joined him
as he poured two tumblers full of whiskey and slid one her
way.
“If I took Emily with me I’d never know if she wanted to be
with me. Maybe she was running away from me.”
He drained his glass, and while he poured again he said:
“You’re afraid, my girl. That’s the long and short of it.”
“I am,” she admitted and Stephen thought that was a
courageous thing. He put his hand over hers.
“Give it a bit more effort, Josie. She’s your mum.” His hand
slid away but Josie caught it and held it.
“And Hannah? What do I do about Hannah?”
“Your man’s got that covered.” Stephen lifted her hand and
kissed it. Then he gave it a nice pat and said: “Come on.
We’ve a lot of work to do.”
Josie was about to tell him that she was done with it all, that
she was tired of working on an unsolvable mystery, when
something flashed in her brain. It was quick and unclear like a
word on the tip of her tongue, so she scrambled after it before
she lost even that much.