Shelter for Elizabeth (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Book 5) Read Online Free

tell me though? If there’s anything she needs?”
    “I’d tell you.”
    “Thanks. I…she means a lot to me.”
    Cade opened his mouth to say something, but the tones of dispatch rang loudly through the room and both men were moving before the dispatcher started reading off the address of the person needing assistance. All thoughts of Beth and Penelope dealing with the shit life had thrown their way were sidelined as the men headed to the locker room to put on their bunker gear and head out to the fire truck.
----
    “ H ey , Mom, I wanted to call and let you know that I screwed up your fried chicken recipe big time today.”
    “What happened?” Mary Parkins asked in a tone that never failed to soothe Beth. She missed her mom so much.
    “I think I let the oil sit on the burner too long.”
    “Ouch. Let me guess…you saw flames?”
    Beth shivered, remembering how fascinating the fire had been as it exploded upward, looking for something to feed it.
    “Yeah, that’s an understatement. I had to call the fire department.”
    “Bethy…and did you have an…episode?”
    “No, Mom. Luckily they arrived quickly and put it out so I didn’t have to leave the apartment.”
    “I worry about you.”
    “I know. And I appreciate it. But I’m working on it. I like my therapy group, and it’s great that they let me telecommute via computer. Oh! And one of the firefighters was Penelope from my group.”
    “The Army Princess?”
    Beth rolled her eyes in solidarity for her friend. Penelope hated that nickname and it didn’t fit the woman Beth had come to know at all. She might look like a princess…she was tiny and beautiful with her blonde hair and thin stature, but now that Beth knew her personally, she was about as far from a princess as a woman could get. “Yeah, Penelope is awesome. Remember that interview she gave Barbara Walters—where she didn’t cry? She’s tough as nails…even Barbara couldn’t break her.” They both laughed, and Beth continued. “She’s strong, but she’s hiding a lot of pain.”
    “Takes one to know one, doesn’t it, honey?”
    Beth bit her lip. “Yeah, Mom. It does. Are you guys going to be able to come out and visit anytime soon?” Beth wished all the time that she was able to function more normally, especially when it came to her family. She would’ve loved to have hopped on a plane to visit her parents or her brother, but instead she had to rely on them to take the time off and fit it into their schedules to come see her.
    “Unfortunately, your father just started a new project. They wanted him to be the foreman in charge on the site.”
    Beth knew her dad loved construction. He’d started off as a teenager working for a friend, and had worked his way up to being in charge of a team of men that numbered into the hundreds. She was extremely proud of him. “That’s great! I know he’s thrilled. And it’s okay. I understand. Give him my love.”
    “You know I will.”
    “Now, walk me through the fried chicken steps again. I’m determined to win this time.”
    Beth spent the next thirty minutes talking with her mom and relaxing from her stressful day.
    Hours later, she paced her small living room, all relaxed from her conversation with her mom gone. It was ten o’clock and she was expecting Penelope’s brother to knock on her door at any moment. Why in the hell she’d agreed to have him come back and help her clean up, she didn’t know.
    Well, she did…a moment of weakness.
    Penelope was her best friend, her only friend here in San Antonio, and she trusted her without reservation. The only reason she’d been able to have a somewhat normal life was because of Pen. Beth had made it to one group therapy session in person, incorrectly thinking that once she’d arrived, she’d be fine. Epic fail on that. She’d completely flipped out when she was supposed to leave and, at the advice of the psychologist who led the group sessions, Penelope had taken hold of her hand