He stepped off the elevator and ran right into Alana. She must have been coming from Tami’s room. She stood, hands on her hips, and gave him an earful about why she was unhappy with him.

“That woman is not the right woman for you.”

“That woman? You mean Chief O’Rourke?”

She gave an exaggerated nod. “Pastor Mac, you need a woman dedicated to making you a good pastor. Chief O’Rourke needs to be a good police officer. The two don’t mix. Anna was perfect for you; you need to leave it at that. If you don’t, you’ll suffer for it, and so will the congregation.”

Oliver had no response for her.

Alana wagged her finger at him. “Mark my words—it will never work out with that woman.” Then she walked away.

He watched her go before continuing into Tami’s room. His attention was divided the entire time he was with Tami and her mother. This case had made him wonder if he and Tess could truly mesh. Alana echoed Don Cherry, and her words had stirred up a hornet’s nest in his soul. Was she right?

There was no change in Tami, but the doctors had told Rosita that was a good thing. She was holding her own. If she wasn’t getting any worse, there was a better chance that she’d recover.

Oliver was happy to hear that, but his thoughts were on Tess and the friction in their relationship. He admitted to himself that he was more concerned about how she jumped into things feetfirst than he’d let on. Running into the fire was bad enough, but then she put herself into the line of fire again searching for an armed and dangerous killer. He wondered at the irritation that had flared up inside. For a year he’d watched Tess work, seen her handle dangerous situations, and been completely amazed at her courage and dedication.

He stepped into a washroom on his way out of the hospital. He washed his hands and rinsed off his face. Drying off with a paper towel, Oliver studied himself in the mirror. “What is wrong with me?” he wondered out loud.

Her courage and dedication were a big part of what drew him to Tess. Why were they making him so angry now? Tess had not changed, yet Oliver found himself wondering if Alana was right. Yes, Anna had supported him completely and helped him to become the man and pastor he was today. But that was Anna—she loved being in the background, being his support.

Tess was not Anna—and Oliver didn’t want her to be—but she was no less supportive.

Then it struck him hard, in the center of his chest, like a punch. He didn’t love Tess because she was like Anna—because she wasn’t—but he feared that just like Anna, she’d be taken from him violently.