There was a scene like this at the middle school. Tears began to flow as the shock reached unbearable levels. Cole's hands shook as he cupped her face. "No." She braced herself for the words coming. "It's his friend, Tim. He was shot once in the chest. We found him in the boys locker room." "Adam's best friend? Greg's brother?" Rachel struggled to get her thoughts around the information. How was she going to tell Clare the news that both her brothers were dead? That precious little girl with a smile that beamed and who had so adored her older brother. And the boys' parents, this news was going to further tear apart their lives already damaged by the divorce. Rachel leaned against Cole, feeling sick. She rubbed numb hands on her jeans, trying to get sensation back. "What about Adam? Was he hurt?" Cole slid his hand around the back of her neck and tenderly cradled her against him. She could feel him trying to absorb the pain she was in, and she didn't know how to release it to him.
