Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

“It’s not you, it’s—”
    “I know.”
    CC set down her coffee mug and wrapped her arms around the woman she loved. She rested her head against Jamie’s. She released a terse sigh when she felt Jamie’s tension easing. CC had learned a long time ago sometimes the best thing to do was say nothing. She held her wife, enjoying the feel of her body pressed against her own. If they had been alone, things might have progressed further. Yet, with Emma sitting at the kitchen table, just holding Jamie was more than enough.
    “Need me to stay home?” she asked when Jamie stepped out of her embrace. She was filled with a sense of relief when Jamie smiled up at her.
    “No, I got my new kids starting today, but thank you.”
    “Ah, new doctors.” CC nodded. “Well, scaring the bejesus out of the residents always puts a spring in your step.” CC was joking, but she understood the added tension this day caused. Simon had been one of Jamie’s students. At first she handled him the same way she handled all of her residents during their rotation. When it became clear that Simon had what everyone assumed was a crush on her, she made it clear that she wasn’t interested. That’s when the stalking began, and bodies started showing up. The hardest part of everything that had happened all those years ago was the tragic events had reunited Jamie and CC and would always be remembered.
    “Maybe you should stay home.”
    “You need me to?”
    “No,” Jamie answered with a soft smile. “You just look beat.”
    “Nah. I’m okay. It’s not like I’m going to do anything at work. I swear ever since Max decided to put in his paperwork, my work is limited to counting paper clips and watching him read about boats.”
    “Boats?”
    “Yeah, he’s decided that since he’s moving to Florida, he needs a boat. Started out as a small motorboat, and now he’s looking at yachts.”
    “I know you’re bored,” Jamie carefully began to say. “But I’m
    not about to complain that you’re out of harm’s way for the next few months.”
    “Peace and quiet. You’d think I’d enjoy it.” CC kissed Jamie on her cheek and turned. She was horrified when she spied her precious niece. “What is she wearing?” She wasn’t at all pleased to hear her wife snickering behind her.
    “It’s my new baseball cap,” Emma boasted while sucking down her breakfast.
    “It’s an Orioles hat.”
    “Auntie Jamie gave it to me. Do you like it?”
    “Uh, sure.” CC was unable to believe what she was seeing. “James? It’s an Orioles hat.”
    “I know.”
    “But this is Boston.”
    “And the Orioles are my hometown team.”
    “I know. But, seriously, the other kids will pick on her.”
    “Oh, please. They don’t even pick on little Jorge, who wears a Yankees hat.”
    “That’s just wrong.”
    “Caitlin. Emma, likes her hat. I know you’re a die-hard Red Sox fan. If your season tickets hadn’t clued me in, your collection of fifty some odd T-shirts would have tipped me off. I on the other hand was raised in Maryland.”
    “We aren’t even married in Maryland.”
    “Not yet. Emma, do you like your new hat?”
    “Yes! It has orange and black.”
    “Fine.” CC reluctantly caved in. “Change is good, I guess.”
                    Jamie rolled her eyes.
    “What? I’m agreeing.” CC stole another cup of coffee. She knew Jamie didn’t believe her. CC was already formulating a plan to get rid of the hat.
    “Oh, before I forget, this came yesterday.” Jamie handed her a Ziploc bag with a greeting card sealed inside. “Probably nothing, but I thought you’d like to see it.”
    “Happy Father’s Day.” CC stared at it feeling completely confused. “Trying to tell me something?”
    “It came for Stevie yesterday. No return address and no signature,” Jamie said. “Just the card.”
    “I’ll have one of the lab guys take a look.” CC was still trying to understand the meaning behind the card. “Just in case