He Didn’t Look for Me Until I Was Dead (by Durrin) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The office fell dead silent.

Calvin frowned deeply, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Then he said firmly, “That’s impossible.

“The victim isn’t Whitney. I just spoke to her. And…”

His cold gaze swept over Robin’s curious face.

“Even though I’ve never loved her, I wouldn’t stoop so low as to cheat on her.”

The words “I’ve never loved her” hit me hard, leaving my ears ringing.

I felt like a broken doll, flooded with endless pain and bewilderment.

I looked deeply at him.

My voice was utterly broken as I said, “If you never loved me, why give me false hope?

“Why tell me ‘Sorry I got you worried‘ every time you came back from a mission?

“Why give me a birthday gift every year and say ‘Happy birthday“?

“Before we got married, I asked you if you really wanted to marry me. Why did you say yes?”

It was because of those small signs that, even knowing he loved Georgia, I’d still foolishly hoped he might change his heart one day.

The urge to laugh and cry warred inside me, threatening to tear my spirit apart.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I could only float there.

After a few seconds of silence, Robin said slowly, “Alright.

“If you’re sure Mrs. McMullen is fine, I’ll run the data again.

“Oh, and before I forget–don’t miss next month’s family gathering for officers‘ spouses.”

I stared blankly as Robin left.

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Chapter 5

A family gathering for officers‘ spouses? Calvin had never mentioned it.

Just as I looked back at Calvin, he pulled out his phone and called Georgia.

“There’s a family event for officers‘ spouses next month. Are you free?”

I understood everything in that instant.

Then his expression changed.

“What? Which hospital? Which room? I’ll be right there.”

The nervous look on his face sent a chill through me.

Anytime it was about Georgia, he dropped everything without a second thought.

I could only be dragged along with him to the hospital.

He pushed open the room door and saw Georgia with her leg in a cast.

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Hearing the sound, she turned, looking surprised. “Cal? I told you not to come. I can manage on my own.

Calvin walked to her bedside. The concern in his eyes burned my soul.

Last winter, during a deep freeze, the roads iced over. On my way home on my scooter, I slipped and fell, breaking my wrist.

As I lay in the snow, in so much pain I couldn’t get up, I called Calvin tentatively.

“I fell on the road. Could you come get me?”

And what did he say? “I’m busy with a case. Figure it out yourself.” His voice was so cold and

detached.

That day, I lay on the icy curb and watched the sky grow dark, struggling to call an ambulance.

Now that I recalled it, my eyes stung, my vision blurring.

“So, Calvin,” I whispered, “you do know how to care for someone.”

I didn’t want to watch anymore. As I started to drift back, his slow, gentle voice reached me.

“You’re still afraid of the dark, right? I’ll stay here with you. I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

I paused.

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13:13

Chapter 5

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Both Georgia and I had been neglected as kids, so we shared a lot of fears–the dark was one of them.

But Calvin had never seemed to care if I was scared while being home alone.

Only Georgia’s fears seemed to matter to him.

Georgia smiled and shook her head, “Go home, Cal. You won’t get any rest here.”

But he sat down in the chair by her bed.

“It’s fine. When I was badly injured last year, you took care of me in the hospital, remember?”

My eyes widened.

Calvin had been on countless missions, but the only time he’d been seriously hurt was about six months ago.

I still remembered how dangerous it had been.

He’d been stabbed in the abdomen, gone into shock from blood loss. He was unconscious for four whole days…

The soft look in his eyes as he watched Georgia made me speak up, my voice a hollow whisper only I could hear.

“Calvin… I was the one who took care of you back then…”

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