Hidden Shadows (The Shadow Series Book 1)

TWENTY-FOUR

Molly tilted her head, shuffled closer beside Taryn. "Hey, Jenna. Bad night, huh?"

Jenna nodded slowly, felt words she hadn't consciously thought of come from her mouth. "Yeah. Looks like a big storm's coming . . . or is already here."

She tried to smile, but it wouldn't come, didn't feel natural. "Why are you standing in the rain?"

Molly laughed softly, encouraged Taryn onto the porch. As they edged closer, crowded under the cover, Jenna found herself stepping back. "Sorry about that," Molly said, pushing her drenched hair away from her face, "but I didn't want to scare you. We are coming unannounced."

"You are," Jenna agreed.

Molly scrunched her face up guiltily. "Sorry about that, too. But I, we . . . she," Molly inclined her head to Taryn who still hadn't moved a muscle, "wanted to talk to you."

"I'm all for talking, Molly. You know that." Jenna hesitated, looked right into Taryn's eyes, though it didn't seem like anyone was home behind that deep, dark brown. "I am willing to talk, Taryn. You just need to call, come to the office." Jenna turned back to Molly, tried to convey the uncomfortableness and inappropriateness she felt with a look. "This is quite unorthodox. . . ."

"I know. I know that, of course. And I really do apologize, Jen, but you also know how I feel about Taryn." Molly edged closer now so her shoulder touched Taryn's, and she turned her face, smiled sadly at the unresponsive woman. "I feel for, hurt for her. She's tried calling the office, tried coming by, but you haven't been there. She's suicidal, Jenna. Threatened to do it today. I just couldn't leave her hanging there anymore. It's wrong."

Molly hung her head now, kicked at Jenna's navy Welcome mat. "It is unorthodox. But it's also what we signed up for—helping people, being there in their time of need. She needs us."

Taryn startled as a branch snapped, sailed across the yard. Molly reached, patted her shoulder, then looked up, out at the sky with narrowed eyes. "Mind if we come in, get out of this mess?"

Jenna's heart could've kept time with the pitter-patter of rain on her sidewalk. A warmth spread across her chest, up her neck. Why did she feel so shaky? This was Molly, her friend. Her co-worker. Her trusted assistant.

Something in her belly rolled, jumped, and she wished, very suddenly and fiercely that Ben were here. But what was she supposed to do? Leave her friend out in the raging storm? Bring her friend in and let a sick woman stay out there?

No, last time her anxiety and unwarranted fear of someone had led her to almost disastrous conclusions.

She had to reign in the nerves, stamp down the unease and realize that while the situation may not be ideal, it could be worked around. With Molly and Jenna there, Taryn wouldn't try anything, would she?

And it was herself she wanted to hurt after all, not Jenna. Right?

"Jenna?" Molly said curiously.

"Oh, yes . . ." She fixed on a smile, opened the door wider, though again, she found herself stepping back, retreating further into the entryway as they came across the threshold.

She nabbed a blanket on a nearby bench, tossed it to Molly. "Why don't you both dry off, get warm. I'll contact Doctor Vick, see if we can get Taryn's new physician on the phone. Maybe she can help, recommend somewhere Taryn can go for care."

She stole a glance at Taryn, who stood saddled up so close to Molly, and she had to admit, part of her heart did ache for the numbness and detachment she saw in the woman's face.