The Wolf Code

Chapter 19

Mabel answered the door, stepping aside so Senora could come in.

“You don’t look surprised to see me,” Senora said.

“This is a small town.  Do you think that many State Troopers and Texas Rangers show up and people don’t talk?”  She smiled.  “Is it over?  Did the Sheriff kill my Addie?”

“He did,” Senora said.

She waited for Mabel to crumple and almost wished she’d brought Ty with her, but Mabel looked relieved. 

“I knew that man was nothing but trouble.  He hated Addie something fierce, and always had.  But I never believed that he would kill her.”

“Of course, you didn’t think for a minute that the Sheriff would do something so awful.  No rational person would.  I just wish we had more answers.  I know that he killed her; I just don’t know why.”

“I think I can answer that,” Mabel said.  “Or more accurately, Addie can answer that.”

Mabel stood, leaving Senora sitting in the living room in the same spot she’d sat with Ty just two short days ago.  She couldn’t believe how much had happened in that time, and she didn’t think it would sink in until long after she was back home in D.C.

Senora was so deep in thought that she didn’t even hear Mabel come back into the room.  When the woman sat down beside her, Senora was startled by the closeness. 

“I feel like there’s a lot more on your mind than this case,” Mabel said as she placed something at her side, out of Senora’s line of sight.  “I bet I can guess what has you off in the clouds.  Or should I say, who?”

Senora blushed almost instantly, looking at Mabel then turning away.  How did this woman know so much?

“I saw it yesterday, but not until you left.  There was something about the way you both were together when you got into the car.  I wasn’t sure if you knew, but I’m not surprised that he got under your skin.  He’s a handsome man with a good heart.”

“He’s a pain in the ass,” Senora said, laughing.

“Aren’t they all, dear?  Aren’t they all?” 

Mabel patted her hand, then gave her a squeeze.  It was so weird for Senora to be on the receiving end of comfort in her line of work, but it felt good to let the older woman be motherly.  At twenty-seven, it had been so long since anyone had sat beside her like Mabel was doing and just shared their thoughts.  She didn’t always like it when it happened, but Senora always walked away with something she didn’t have before.  Sometimes, it was years before the advice clicked.  Other times, it only took a few minutes.  She didn’t know which it would be this time, but she knew as surely as she knew her own name that Mabel was about to give her advice.  She could feel it.

 “A word of advice?”

“Sure,” Senora said, bracing herself.

“I know you’re leaving, but there are certain things you learn as you grow older, and I’ve had a lot of time to learn a lot of things.  One big lesson I’ve learned that I’m hoping you’ll take to heart is about missed opportunities.  I’ve found that I regret the things I didn’t do much more than the things I did.  So much more.  I don’t want you to leave Glen Rose tonight and grieve that missed opportunity.”

“I’m not leaving until tomorrow afternoon.”

“Even better,” Mabel said.  “I think that will give you plenty of time to get your fill.”

Doubtful, Senora thought.

“I’m not really a one-night stand kind of girl.”

“Then, it’s a good thing it’s not a one-night stand.  This man saved your life and helped you bring down a long-time s*x trafficker that was operating right under everyone’s noses.  This man isn’t a stranger, and I think you’re using that as an excuse.”

“I am,” Senora admitted.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to fall in love with him,” Senora said, and Mabel snorted.

“Don’t you think if there was a way to keep ourselves from falling in love with men that are bad for us that we women would have figured it out a long time ago?  Sleep with him, don’t sleep with him; it won’t matter.  If you’re going to fall in love with him, it’s going to happen whether you’re okay with it or not.  There’s nothing you can do to change that.  But I can say with absolute certainty that if you get on that plane tomorrow and you let this moment slip through your hands because you were afraid of getting hurt, you will regret it for a long time.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Senora groaned.

“That makes two of us.  I thought today’s women were more liberated.  It’s only one night, and then you can walk away forever and guard your heart again.  It’s not how I would choose to live, but I can understand why you do it.  Think about it.  Or better yet, don’t think; just go for it.”

Senora shook her head and laughed. 

“I’m going to miss this place.”

“I don’t doubt it, but you’ll always be welcome here.”

Mabel held her arms wide.  Surprised, Senora stepped into her embrace and leaned in.  Mabel squeezed her tight, then kissed her cheek and sighed before letting her go.

“My Addie would have loved you to pieces.  She always wanted to be strong like some of the women she saw on television, but she never quite managed to find her calling.”

“Addie was stronger than she realized, and she put up one hell of a fight.”

“That’s good to know.  Somehow, that makes things a little better.”  Mabel grabbed a book off the couch and handed it to Senora.  “This was hard to read, but I think this will help you put some of the pieces together and get all the answers you couldn’t get from that nasty Sheriff.”

Senora held it close and nodded.

“I’ll bring it back before I leave.”

Mabel was already shaking her head.

“You keep it.  I have all the beautiful memories of my Addie and the happiness she found within these walls.  The last thing I want to do is wallow in her misery.  I have a lifetime of birthday cards and Mother’s Day gifts with her handwritten notes on them, and that’s how I want to remember our time together.  I can’t change what happened to my sweet girl, but I can choose to hold onto the good times, and that’s what I’m doing.”