“We both know those women were murdered. Stay away from their houses. Stay inside and lock your doors and windows.”

I snorted. “Like that does any good.”

He looked scared. “You’re right. I think you should go stay with Violet.”

I shook my head. “Why would anyone be after me? Whoever did this went after two old women. I’m fine. Anyway, I’ve got Muffy, my guard dog.”

Joe bent down and rubbed Muffy’s head. “Take good care of her for me—will you, girl?” His voice broke and he stood, pulling me to his chest. His arms tightened around me.

I committed this moment to memory as I clung to the only man I’d ever loved. We’d get through this and be stronger than ever. I had to believe that. “You better get goin’. You don’t want to be late.”

He nodded.

My truck was parked behind his car. I half-expected him to check it out, but he didn’t seem interested as he watched me back out onto the street. I gave him another hug and kiss next to his car door.

He handed me a business card. “I’m not readily available to you right now, and I don’t trust the Henryetta Police Department at all. If you need help with anything, call this number. It’s my friend, Brian. He’s another state police detective, and he’ll help you.”

I had serious doubts a detective in Little Rock could help me if I needed it, but it seemed important to Joe. “Okay. Thanks.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“I know. Go already.”

He reluctantly climbed in his car and drove away, waving as he left.

When I went back inside, the expected wave of profound loneliness washed over me. How was I going to make it through another few days without him, wondering if he was safe? Wondering if Hilary was trying to get back with him. I shook my head. Thinking like that wouldn’t do any good.

My phone rang. I dug it out of my purse, thinking it might be Joe, but the caller ID told me it was Mason.

I sat down on the sofa and took a deep breath before answering. “Hey, Mason,” I said. “Did your mother head back to Little Rock?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

After hearing about his secret, my heart ached for him. Within a few short months, he’d lost everything—his sister, his job, the future of his career. “Joe came to see me.” The heaviness in my words surely told him everything he needed to know.

“Is he still there?”

“He left a few minutes ago too.”

He was silent for a moment. “Can I come over? I know it seems presumptuous but—”

“Yes.” My voice broke. “Please.”

“I’ll be right there.”

I hung up and went into the kitchen, our lunch dishes still on the table. Tears blurred my eyes as I washed the plates and silverware and put them in the dish drainer. Now that Joe had left, everything he’d told me played in my head like a movie. Joe hadn’t meant for anything to happen to Savannah, and I knew with all my heart that he’d change everything in an instant if he could. But the fact remained that she was dead.

But even more disturbing to me was the way Hilary had manipulated Joe, and how he’d let her do it. She’d made no secret that she wanted him back now. Even though Joe insisted he wanted to be with me, could I be sure he’d stay? He and Hilary had known each other since childhood, and his family expected him to marry her. Was it safe to bet on our future?

The knock at the front door shook me out of my pity party and shame burned my face. Feeling sorry for myself was not only selfish but a wasted effort. I had no right to feel sorry for myself. I was the least affected person in this whole mess.

When I opened the door, Mason stood on the other side, his face expressionless. He came inside, and I closed the door behind him, suddenly unsure of what to do. I wasn’t used to entertaining guests. “Do you want anything to drink? I have some lemonade.”

Mason spun around to face me. “He told you?”

I nodded, my chin quivering.

“Can we sit down?”

I nodded again and sat on the sofa, while Mason sat in the very chair where Joe had been sitting when he made his confession.

We stayed like that for several seconds, me staring at my hands in my lap, both of us quiet.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he finally asked.

His life was the one in ruins, yet he was asking me if I wanted to talk about it. I looked up, searching his face. “I’m so, so sorry, Mason.”

His eyes widened, and he swallowed.

“I’m shocked by what Joe told me, and if I’m honest, I’m hurt and scared for lots of reasons. But when I start to feel sorry for myself, all I can think about is how selfish I am.”

He leaned forward and grabbed my hand. “How can you say that? What on earth have you done that makes you feel selfish?”

“Joe’s ashamed of what he did, and I can see it’s eating him alive. I noticed that months before I knew. And Savannah…” My voice broke, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. I looked up into his face. “But you. You lost everything.”

He closed his eyes and sank back into the chair, letting go of my hand.

“I think about how awful I was to you after we first met—”

He sat up, his eyes flying open. “Stop right there. Don’t.”

“But…I didn’t know, Mason. I had no idea.”

“I know. I didn’t want you to.” He let out a huff and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I wish you didn’t know now.”