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have
    nowhere to go.
    “Yep,” she said. “But it"s almost empty.”
    He pulled her to a stop and knelt on one knee beside her, his skin growing cold
    under his jeans. “Did you tell your mom?”
    “Uh-huh. I have to go to the doctor for more.”
    Doctors. Prescriptions. He had to get this job.
    Jessica stared at him. “Your wolf might be running again. Your arms are all
    twitchy.” She touched her hand to his leather jacket over the spot where the eagle
    feather and wolf tattoo decorated his biceps.
    “He"ll calm down.”
    “Probably just wants to run around now that he"s free. I bet he didn"t like the
    jail.”
    Lincoln chuckled. “Yeah, kid. He didn"t.” He stood and took her hand in his.

    * * *
Jay tilted his head back. He didn"t want to see where he was anymore. Didn"t
    want to see his family there with him.
    A sparrow flew low and landed in the branches of the tree overhead. What had
    he heard about sparrows? Something about symbolizing true love and finding your
    way home. He watched the bird until it flew away, not missing the cosmic joke as
    the sparrow faded in the distance.
    A sharp breeze shook the ice-covered branches of the oak tree above them. The
    creaking gave the impression that all the branches were headed for the gatherers

    24
    Sloan Parker

    below. Mourning family impaled by icy tree limbs . How often did someone die
    standing over another"s grave?
    The thought of Katie buried beneath all that earth, alone in her casket,
    sickened him. He wanted to remember her as she deserved him to. Remember the
    first time he"d met her. Their high school prom. Their wedding day. The last time
    he"d seen her… No. He never let himself think of that day. Not for any reason.
    Stuart Shaw"s words cut through the silence. “If they had charged him with
    vehicular homicide, he"d have done more time.”
    Here we go again.
    “That"s usually when the person"s been drinking,” Todd said.
    Stuart threw him an incredulous look. “He murdered my daughter.”
    Emily Shaw let out a gasp. Jay"s mom went to her, and the women hugged.
    Was the mutual comforting because of the reason they stood in the cemetery? Or
    the justice and vengeance the courts had robbed them of one year ago?
    Jay focused on the tree branches, trying desperately to cling to something,
    anything other than the voices that surrounded him.
    A half hour later, when the group finally separated, returning to their cars, he
    stayed behind and uttered the words, “I love you.” A sweet, flowery scent filled the
    air. The only flowers nearby weren"t growing in the ground. They were the attempts
    of the bereaved to bring life to the cemetery.
    Jay turned away before a complete emotional meltdown kept him from leaving.
    He lingered during the solitary walk to his parents" car.
    It was identical to every other time. No matter who spoke, not matter what
    was said, no one mentioned his wife"s name.
    “Ready?” his dad asked from where he leaned against the side of the car, his
    dress shoes covered in snow, his breath visible in the air. “The Shaws aren"t coming
    to dinner this time, so it"ll just be the four of us.”
    Perhaps the Shaws had grown tired of spending time with Jay"s family. Too
    bad he"d missed their departure. Maybe he could"ve caught a ride.
    Todd opened the door for Jay and whispered, “They really hate that man.”
    “Don"t we all?”
    Would they hate Jay as much if they knew the truth of that day? If they knew
    Jay"s part in it?

    Breathe

    25

    Chapter Five

    Jay parked his Jeep and got out. The door rattled as he slammed it shut. One
    of these days it was going to fall off the hinges, and he"d end up driving around with
    plastic sheeting and duct tape for a door.
    The neon signs from the Late Night Paradise Plaza carryout nearly blinded
    him as he crossed the parking lot. He"d entered Sonny"s Tavern a few times over the
    past year. A lot over the last six months. That"s when the drinking had gone from a
    way to dull the pain to a