“Yeah, but think about it. After you got the offer, you had a couple local news crews around.”
“Slow news week,” she muttered.
“Rayna Jo’s mind has fallen back on that memory. It’s a safe answer to what her mind isn’t able to process right now.”
Oz stared at Devon, gut tight at the frustrating news. “She’ll be okay, Dev.”
“She’s not okay,” she said, sliding him a glare. “None of this is okay. How can we have a funeral o-or anything when she doesn’t even remember that Dad’s—”
Devon’s voice broke, the word choked, and Oz stepped forward to pull her stiff body into his arms to hold. She leaned on him for a moment, just a moment, head down, nose buried against his chest, before she inhaled and shoved him away. He reluctantly released her and watched as she crossed her arms across her chest and walked several steps away from them to the kitchen sink to gather her emotions.
“Devon, I’m not sure what to tell you about the arrangements for Uncle Richard,” Logan said. “But due to the accident and police-ordered autopsy, it will take several days for his body to be released. That buys some time. Hopefully she’ll come around by then.”
“And if she hasn’t?” she asked softly.
“We’ll have to play it by ear. I took some blood samples and am heading to the hospital to get them processed, just to rule out something I might’ve missed. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.”
Logan paused on his way to the kitchen door and brushed a kiss over Devon’s head. “Love you, kid. Hang in there.”
Logan murmured goodbye and left quietly, and silence descended on the room.
Oz watched as Devon slowly turned to face him. His chest squeezed at the sight of her, and all he wanted to do was grab her up and take her away from the pain. Go back to the days when a music-blasted ride to the south end of the island could cure most things. At least for a while. “What do you need me to do? Name it.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered, the words sounding raw.
A long silence followed the statement but he waited patiently.
“Um… you’re a writer,” she said finally. “Have you ever written a eulogy about a cheating husband and father?”