Chapter 742
Even Joseph couldn’t hide the complicated look on his face.
He clenched his fists in silence, the shock evident in his eyes.
Anyone who said they weren’t surprised would be lying. Jarrod’s feelings for Elodie were so obvious, you could almost feel the weight of them in the air.
So this was it—he really did love her, with a depth Joseph had never fully understood until now.
A cold suspicion crept up on Joseph, sending a chill down his spine.
If Jarrod cared for Elodie this much, then all those times before those subtle glances, those careful words-had Jarrod really not noticed his own feelings for her?
The thought made Joseph’s throat tighten. He felt a knot forming in his chest, so tight he could barely breathe.
He turned on his heel and walked away.
Maurice didn’t even realize at first, and called after him, “Hey, aren’t you coming in? Didn’t we say we’d grab lunch together?”
Joseph didn’t answer.
Suddenly, he found it impossible to face them. Shame gnawed at him.
And, truthfully, he couldn’t let go of Elodie-not yet.
He needed time to pull himself together.
When Watts arrived at the police station, Patricia had already been processed.
She looked up when he came in, her expression sour. “I want out of here today. I’m not staying another minute.”
Watts knew Patricia had always been spoiled and pampered-she was never one to handle this kind of situation well.
Still, he kept his tone cold and blunt. “You really think running into Jarrod today was just a coincidence? If he hadn’t set you up, you wouldn’t have slipped like this.”
Patricia’s face drained of color. This was exactly the reality she didn’t want to face.
Watts gave a sharp, humorless smile. “He’s probably known all about your little secrets for a while now. He just waited for the perfect moment to strike, and he did. Do you really think you’ll just walk out of here today? You should be praying he doesn’t have anything worse planned for you. Tonight is only the beginning.”
He’d already foreseen it.
Patricia shot to her feet. “If he wants to come after me, he’d better think about the consequences. If I go down, I’m taking him with me.”
Watts could tell she was teetering on the edge of another meltdown.
He fished a bottle of mood stabilizers from his pocket and handed them to her.
“You need to get your head on straight. This is Jarrod we’re talking about.”
Patricia clenched her jaw, her eyes bloodshot with anger and exhaustion.
Elodie ended up going back to her grandmother’s house.
Jarrod walked her to the door.
He watched her as she stepped out of the car.
Elodie noticed the red veins in his eyes-he clearly hadn’t slept. She knew, of course, she was the reason.
She hated this kind of situation.
Just as she turned to head inside, she looked back at him. “Things are what they are now. I’ve come to terms with it, and you don’t need to worry so much about my illness-“
She didn’t get to finish her sentence.
Jarrod stepped forward, bent down, and rested his forehead gently against her shoulder. He closed his eyes, as if this was the only way he could be sure she was really here, safe and sound.
His Adam’s apple bobbed with a silent swallow before he spoke, his voice low. “It actually makes me happy, you caring about me.”
Elodie was at a loss for words.
She wasn’t blind, after all-she couldn’t just pretend not to see the toll this was taking on him.
“Go home and get some rest. Don’t let your grandma worry,” she said quietly.
She tried to pull away, but his hand was still wrapped tightly around her wrist, almost as if he couldn’t let go.
She gave him a look. “Then let go of me, okay? You’re making this a habit.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve held your hand. Next time, maybe you should put a lock on it so I can’t get too attached,” Jarrod teased, his fingers tracing lazy circles over her wrist bone. His gaze was deep and intense-when he looked at her like that, there was a quiet storm in his eyes, something hot and relentless, impossible to ignore.
She rolled her eyes. He always knew how to leave her speechless.
What she really couldn’t stand was the way he’d sometimes just stare at her,
silent, that half-smile playing on his lips, as if he was drawing her in with his eyes alone.
Elodie turned away, deciding not to engage with him any further.
He didn’t seem to mind.
Feeling her warmth still lingering in his hands, Jarrod finally felt a little more at
ease.
He was just about to step back when Rosemary came out to the porch.
She looked at the two of them but didn’t say anything to Jarrod. She simply called out, “Come inside, Elodie.”
Elodie caught the tension in her grandmother’s voice.
Jarrod, of course, noticed too. He let go of Elodie and took a step back, watching as she followed Rosemary inside.
He understood completely why Rosemary was wary of him. Elodie’s illness, the child, the incident at the family celebration, and even his own mother’s attitude-there were s many reasons for her to be upset with him. He couldn’t blame her for any of it.