Page 37 of Haunted Eclipse
“Well, he was a dog shifter—a German shepherd. I assume his wife is probably a shifter as well, though I could be wrong. I’m about to send a man out to deliver the news. Do you want me to give her your name and card? That might be best.”
I thought about it, then nodded. “Yes, that will work. I leaned on the trunk of my car, writing a short note on the back of a blank sheet of paper. I wasn’t about to hand over my business card. The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was some demented form of ambulance chaser.You’re now single, come and see me for a new romance,and all that. I wrote thatI had been in the crash, and that I had some information that I would like to pass on to her. I added my name and number.
“Here,” I said, handing it to Stuart. “Please see she gets this.” I sighed, looking at my car. “I doubt if the insurance will do anything but total my car. I know I sound mercenary, given someone died but…”
“But it’s a pain in the ass, and you shouldn’t have to deal with this sort of thing?” he asked.
I nodded. “Just being practical.” A sudden thought hit me. “Crap, I need to call my aunt so she can come get me.”
“I can drop you off,” Stuart said.
“What about Brenda? She and I needed to have a conversation, but I think that might end up waiting for a day or two.”
“We can take her home, too. But first, you see the medic.” He pointed over to where the medic team was. Brenda was walking back over to us.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
She nodded. “I think so, but they’re suggesting I let them take me to the ER. My blood pressure’s a little high, but that’s probably the adrenaline rush. I have a bruise on my stomach from the seat belt—it was cinched a little tight, and they want me to get an ultrasound to make sure there’s no internal bleeding. So I’m taking a ride with them to the hospital. The other team will stay here to give you a look-over.”
“I’ll get you Wilson’s insurance info so you can contact them.” I sighed, turned back to Stuart. “I’ll go get checked before they head out. Can you get me his insurance info?”
“Of course,” he said. “Are you still at your aunt’s?”
“Yeah, I’ve decided to stay there for a while, instead of finding a new house. I’m comfortable there, and my aunt likes having me around. To be honest, it’s been lonely since Dan died. As much as I loved our home in Seattle, I have to admit it’s niceto be in a place where every little thing doesn’t remind me of Dan.”
I drifted off, staring at the ground. Stuart reached out, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“It’s hard,” he said. “I lost my fiancée five years ago. Shana had a seizure, and she hit her head when she fell. She broke her neck. She was epileptic, and no one was with her.”
I looked up, holding his gaze. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t know that.”
He nodded, his expression grim. “I found her the next morning, when I didn’t hear from her. If I’d gone over the night before, maybe…The doctors say there wasn’t anything I could have done, but I’ll always wonder.”
“I understand. I keep thinking that if I hadn’t asked Dan to go grocery shopping, he would still be alive.” I gasped, clapping my hand to my mouth. I’d had never uttered those words aloud before. I didn’t even realize that I’d been feeling guilty, until now when they came tumbling out. “I suppose I’d better go get checked out.”
Stuart gently turned me toward the medic. “Go on, I’ll wait here. If you need to go to the hospital, I’ll take you.”
He escorted me to the remaining medics, who took my blood pressure, checked me over, and pronounced me fit, but shaken up. I could have told them that.
“I’m fine,” I said. “I want to go home.”
The tow truck had arrived and was hauling my car to the garage for assessment. I’d call the insurance company when I got home. Wilson had been taken away, and his car was being prepared for towing. I slung my purse and tote over my shoulders and followed Stuart to his car.
“I never expected to have to look for cars this weekend,” I said, feeling all out of sorts. Now that the shock was wearing off, my grumpy side was rising.
“Used or new? If you’re looking for used, Kenner’s Car Lot is the best. Virgil Kenner is a good egg, and he’s honest. He’ll treat you right.” Stuart closed the passenger door as I fastened my seat belt.
“Thanks,” I said as he started the car. “And thank you for driving me home.”
“I’m sorry about what happened. I’ll get a truck out sanding the roads as soon as I get back to the office. Wilson’s tires were practically bald. He shouldn’t have been driving on them.” He paused, then asked, “So, how does it feel, being back in Midnight Point?”
“This incident notwithstanding, I’m glad, actually. I didn’t realize how much I missed it. Astra is thrilled to have me home, and I’m starting to pick up my life again. The past two years since Dan died, I think I’ve just been existing. In a way, losing my job was a blessing. I wish I hadn’t come home that night to find my house destroyed. But at least they saved Miss P.—she’s my Maine Coon.”
“That’s a lot to deal with in one day,” Stuart said. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you came home. It’s good to see you, Maisy. I mean that.” He parked in the driveway. “Say, if you need someone to go car shopping with…”
I hesitated. Talking to Stuart felt natural. Letting him drive me home after the accident was perfectly fine. But car shopping with him?
I knew he probably meant it as a friend, but he had a girlfriend, and I had no intention of stepping on her toes in any way. Stuart had been my high school sweetheart. We hadn’t ended on a fight or anything like it and I didn’t want Paula thinking that I was looking to win him back.
