Part 36 (2/2)
His breathing shallowed. The warmth of her hand sank into his arm.
”Everything, even that day, was my choice.”
”You were a kid.”
”I knew what I was doing.”
He raised an eyebrow, and she pinched him. ”Don't sidetrack me.”
He slid his hand under hers, flopping the fingers as Enola did, then closed it tight. ”I thought you were coming here to dump me for good.”
She looked into his face. ”I don't seem to have it in me.”
”So where does that leave us?”
”I don't know.”
”You want to come in?”
She shook her head.
”You don't have to worry.”
”Yeah, Jonah. I do.”
”It's been nine years. We have talking to do.”
She looked from him to the door behind him, as tentative as Enola.
He tugged her arm like a bellpull. ”Where's that pirate kid?”
Her eyes flashed up.
”Oh yeah. There she is.”
Tia paused at the door. She had never been inside Jonah's house. Going in felt irretrievable. She tipped a glance at him, then stepped through the threshold.
”Not so bad, was it?”
She gave him the point of her elbow-but gently-in the ribs and took in the log walls, the stone in the kitchen and fireplace, the gathering of candles along his mantel. ”How did you get those?”
He followed her gaze. ”Ruth.”
”I never suspected.”
”She's my undercover go-to gal.”
She surveyed the rest of the room, the hall that led to more rooms, furniture that looked well made, comfortable seating. A smile formed on her lips. ”I can see you here, Jonah.”
”Sarge is back that way. He's not doing great today.”
”I'm sure there's a story there.”
”Lots of stories there. You hungry?”
”I ate on the road.”
”Something to drink?”
”I'm fine.”
He motioned her to a recliner angled toward another.
She shook her head. ”I shouldn't stay.”
”You came inside to tell me you have to leave?”
She wrapped herself in her arms. ”I don't know how to be.”
He reached out and clasped her elbows. ”You always know how to be.”
”I've imagined this too many times, too many ways.”
”Pick one.”
”No, that would not be good.”
He slid his hands up her arms with a smile in the corners of his mouth. ”Then take a seat before my imagination kicks in.”
She crossed to the recliner and, once seated, drew her knees up and fit herself sideways in it.
”So tell me how bad it was. In Phoenix.”
”You really want to hear?”
”Every heartless word.”
Her mouth crooked up. ”The refrain was 'Hit the Road Jack,' with verses of 'You're No Good.'”
”I could have saved you the trip.”
”You tried to. And the funny thing? Reba thought we'd been together this whole time.”
”You're surprised?”
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