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grabbing a blanket from the closet, I decided it might be best just to curl up on the couch, positive that I wouldn’t be able to nod off after what had just happened.
It turned out that yet again, I was wrong.
     
The next thing I knew someone was banging on the front door, announcing himself as the window guy there to fix things up for me.
It appeared that I’d managed to fall asleep after all.
Half an hour later, the window was as good as new.  When I’d tried to pay the man for his work, he shook off my request.  “I appreciate the offer, but it’s already been taken care of.”
“Nonsense.  I can’t let the chief pay for my window,” I said.
“He didn’t,” the repairman answered with a smile.  “Your mother took care of it.  That’s why I was so late.  The two of them couldn’t stop arguing over who was going to pick up the tab.  I offered to let them both pay me, but my suggestion was blatantly ignored,” he said with a grin.  “Anyway, you’re as good as new.”
I thanked him and let him out.  As I did, my cell phone rang.
What a surprise.  It was Jake!
“Hey, I didn’t expect to hear from you until this afternoon,” I said as I locked the front door.
“I’ve got great news.  At least I hope it’s great news.”
“Tell me,” I said, not even trying to kill my smile.  His good mood was infectious, though I didn’t know how he could be so cheerful after being shot so recently.
“My doctor came by early, and he’s discharging me right now.  I know we agreed that you could come by and pick me up later, but is there any chance that you can leave the donut shop and come get me now?”
“I’m on my way, if you don’t mind that I smell like donuts.”
He laughed.  “Mind it?  Are you crazy?  That’s just an added bonus, if you ask me.”
“Then I’ll see you soon,” I said.  After splashing a little water on my face and running a comb through my hair, I was out the door.
It felt odd knowing that when I came back to the cottage, I’d have Jake with me.
A part of me was nervous, but mostly I just couldn’t wait to have him there.
     
I was surprised to find Officer Terry Hanlan with Jake when I went to his room at the hospital.  The state police inspectors were clearly conferring about something in earnest, and both men had serious expressions on their faces.  Jake was still on the bed, but he was sitting up, fully clothed and obviously ready to get out of there.
“Hey, guys.  Am I interrupting something?” I asked as I knocked on the door.
“No, I was just leaving,” Terry said.  On his way out, he paused beside me and added, “Take good care of him, Suzanne.”
“I’ll do the best that I can,” I said.
“I’m sure that you will.  I’ll see you soon,” Terry added, but he was gone before I had a chance to ask him what he’d meant by that.
Jake forced a smile when I looked at him.  “You’re a sight for sore eyes.  I’m really glad that you could make it, but I’m beginning to feel bad about making you abandon your donut shop in the middle of a workday.”
“I was already home,” I admitted.  “Sharon and Emma had things under control.  When I realized that they didn’t need me, I took off.  What did Terry mean when he said that he’d see me soon?”
“We can talk about that later.”  Jake stared at me a moment before he spoke again.  “What happened, Suzanne?  You’re not having second thoughts about having me come stay at the cottage, are you?”
“Of course not,” I said.  “It’s going to be wonderful having you there.”
“Then what is it?  I know you well enough to know that something’s not right.”
I shrugged.  “This is clearly one of the downsides of dating a police inspector,” I said.  “I can’t get away with anything.”
“Talk to me.”
“Only if you agree to tell me what you and Terry were discussing earlier,” I countered.  I didn’t want to bring up the break-in before we had a chance to get settled