Shadows and Light by Lindsay McKenna

Author:Lindsay McKenna [McKenna, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460338155
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1993-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Craig tossed restlessly in his cot. It was over an hour since they’d gone to bed and he couldn’t sleep. Assuring himself that Susan slept deeply and without nightmares, he quietly got up and left the room. He needed fresh air, so he unlocked the rear door to the clinic and walked out into the empty parking lot. As he stood there looking up at the night sky, which was blotted out by millions of lights reflected upward from the sprawling city, a dog came over, wagging its tail in a friendly fashion. Craig knew the gangs were active at this time of night, and he remained on guard as he absently petted the mangy black dog.

Studying the friendly but bedraggled mutt, Craig realized that Susan was in just as rough shape in an emotional sense as this dog was physically. He shook his head. His mind wouldn’t seem to shut off, nor would his heart stop feeling deeply for her. Steve had been his friend, too, though. Craig recalled all the good times the two of them had shared those first three years at Annapolis. They’d almost been inseparable—until Susan had come into their lives.

Rubbing his face tiredly, he stared up at the quarter moon high in the sky, the one celestial body visible over the barrio. Any anger he’d held against Susan was gone now. She had experienced enough anger as the unwitting victim of Steve’s uncontrolled rages. He could barely stand the pain of realizing that his old friend had broken her jaw and nose.

“Hell,” Craig muttered, wiping his mouth. He blamed himself for not remaining in Susan’s life regardless of whether she’d married Steve. Why had he abandoned her in a fit of what he’d thought was righ[chteous anger? If he had come back, what would have happened?

Looking up at the moon, Craig wished he had been more responsible and not so damned immature himself, stalking off like some ego-stung male. He was far from blameless in this situation. Between him and Steve, Susan had hung suspended—guilty only of being idealistic, young and naive. Craig watched the prog[chress of a small bat flitting across the night sky. If he hadn’t been so hurt about being stood up, he would have gone to see her the next morning. Instead, she had no idea that he loved her.

Rubbing his hands together slowly, lost in thought, he wondered if there was any hope of Susan loving him now. How could she after he’d abandoned her to Steve? He’d not proven he was worthy of her by going back and confronting her. If he had, he’d have found out the truth.

Innocent. Susan had been a pawn between the two of them. Bitterly, Craig realized that if he’d been a little more assertive, Susan would have married him instead. But all that was water under the bridge, his mother would tell him.

So what was left? Anything? Craig’s head sank down against his chest as he explored the alternatives. Marriage to Steve had left Susan badly scarred.

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