Only Time Will Tell
Part 6
"Tom, I’m glad you’re here," Janet said gratefully, as she slid her body to the side of the bed, making room for him to sit next to her.
"That’s okay, I’ll sit over here," The detective moved towards the chair next to the bed.
"No, up here," she patted the bed. Tom started to sit in the chair anyway, but the look on Janet’s face was so hopeful, that he couldn’t stand offending her. He slid onto the bed. She placed her hand on his and squeezed it gently. "I really appreciate you taking the time to be with me. I know that this is probably uncomfortable for you."
"No problem. I don’t mind. Besides, you were there for me when Cassy and I were having problems." Tom tried to gently pull his hand away, but found she had a solid grip on it.
Her nose turned up at the mention of Cassy’s name. "I still can’t believe that you are partners again."
"It’s worked out well. We have always been friends. The divorce ruined that for awhile. This partnership has brought back the friendship." Tom smiled, wanting desperately to convince the woman that things were good between him and his ex-wife.
"I think you are too forgiving," she muttered.
Tom tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"
"The woman accused you of having an affair you didn’t have, she takes your car, not because she needed it, but just so that you couldn’t have it. Hell, she even took your dog for the same reason." Janet spit the words out between clinched teeth.
Tom shook his head, "That’s in the past. It’s over." He tried to change the subject, "So what happened to you after. . ." Tom suddenly regretted starting the sentence once he realized that it would have to end with reference to the days following the divorce.
"After your divorce?" Janet completed, releasing his hand and pulling the blanket up closer to her neck. Tom nodded silently. "When I realized that you were not over Cassy yet, I decided to move on. I met Mitch a couple of weeks after I last talked to you." She smiled and closed her eyes, lost in the memory.
"He was wonderful at first. He listened to me. He helped me to forget what had happened."
"Between us?" Tom asked.
She nodded, looked down at the blanket, twisting the ribbing between her fingers. "I don’t think you realize how much I loved you," she whispered.
Tom closed his eyes and dropped his head. "I knew. I just couldn’t do anything about it. I was too upset about losing Cass. I wasn’t ready to move past that."
She looked up at him and placed a hand on his arm, "Has that changed?"
Tom turned to her, giving a crooked smile, "Why are you asking?"
She returned his smile, a twinkle in her eye. "Vested self-interest," she answered simply.
Tom chuckled, but didn’t answer the question. Janet noticed his avoidance of the question and pushed again, "So?"
"Look Janet, I really don’t feel like talking about my relationship with Cassy. I would really like to find out what you’ve been doing these past couple of years," Tom avoided again.
"Part of the official investigation, huh," she smiled, her eyes turning cold.
"No. I’m just curious." Tom smiled, trying to keep her in a friendly mood.
"Well, Mitch and I married a month after we met. Mitch was transferring to a job in Jacksonville and so we moved. Last month, he was transferred back to Palm Beach and so we moved back." She shook her head sadly, "We should have never come back."
"Did Mitch always have a temper?"
"Not at first. After we were married, he started to show it more. I’m sure it was job stress." Her voice became quiet again. "It was the worst these last couple of months."
"You said earlier that he had been violent with you before." Tom felt himself easily slipping into investigator mode.
Janet nodded, "Ever since we found out we were transferring back. I don’t think he wanted to come back. Something about the move really bothered him."
"Did you ask him about it?"
She nodded, "Yes. But he never wanted to talk. All he wanted to do was fight." She touched Tom’s arm again. "He was a good man, Tommy. Don’t think that he wasn’t." Janet stifled a yawn and slid down further in the bed, "I think the medication is starting to kick it."
"Tired?"
Janet nodded. Tom reached down and took her hand, "Then I’ll let you get some sleep."
He stood and took a step from the bed. "Tommy? The doctor says she’s going to release me tomorrow morning. Would you be able to take me ho. . .," she stopped her words suddenly, "I don’t know where I should go?"
"I’ll take you to a hotel if you’d like. We can go back to your house and pick up a change of clothes for you."
Janet gave him a sly smile, "I couldn’t stay with you?"
Tom shook his head, matching her grin, "Nope. I don’t think the department would think much of that idea."
"Too bad. We could get to know each other again."
Tom took a step back, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, "That. . .that would be nice. But for now, while the investigation is still open, it’s just not possible."
Janet nodded her head. "I understand. Maybe when this is all over. . ."
Tom narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t believe that she was talking of rekindling a relationship with him only hours after her husband’s death. "I have to go, Janet. Call me at the station tomorrow and let me know when you will be released."
She nodded, the smile never leaving her face. "I’ll do that Tommy."
Tom exited the room, giving her a small wave as he left and hearing her final words, "Sleep tight. . .love you."
End Part 6
To Part 7