Chapter Twenty-Five #2
Gus knew when the battle was lost. He reached for the door but paused as he tried to quell the feelings that had been let loose inside him.
He came to Fire Lake with zero expectations.
It was more than curiosity, but it’s not as if he pictured all the Boone kids celebrating Thanksgiving together. So why did he feel as if he’d failed?
He spoke quietly. “I’m glad I got to know you. Glad I got to see what a great father you are to your boy. That goodness had to come from somewhere so maybe it wasn’t all bad. Maybe we won’t be as fucked up as our parents.”
A heartbeat passed. Ford said nothing, and Gus left.
He walked through the foyer and out into the sunshine.
Ten minutes later, he drove past The Dock.
He knew that Faith had the day off, but before he saw her, Gus needed to see someone else.
He drove south through town and then took a right onto Crooked Lane.
The little yellow cottage beckoned from the end of the street.
Misha answered on the first knock. She invited him inside and brewed a fresh pot of tea while he sat at the small table in her kitchen. She offered him a cookie from the fresh batch on the counter, but he couldn’t eat.
“I’m leaving town.”
“When?” she sipped her cup and then set it down carefully.
“As soon as I leave here.”
Misha’s eyes softened, and he saw the worry on her face.
“It didn’t go well.”
“I wasn’t sure it would but I’m glad you made the attempt.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I don’t want this to be our end. Promise me you’ll come back from time to time and that you’ll stay in touch. I want to know Oliver, Harrison, and Iris.”
“I don’t know if that will happen. The wounds are too deep.” He glanced up. “Porter had a series of strokes. Apparently, he’ll be okay, but I thought you should know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Ford and Sunday have been through a lot and out of respect I’m going to step back. The ball’s in their court and they control the play.”
“You’re okay with that?”
He nodded. “They’ve been through a lot. I don’t want to add to that.”
“Do you regret coming home to Fire Lake?”
“No.” Gus thought of Faith.
Misha walked him to the door and then gave Gus the biggest hug her small body would allow. “Promise me something?”
“Anything,” he replied with a smile.
“Be happy. Find love. Make a family.”
“My work makes me happy.”
“What about the young lady who works at The Dock? The one you spent time with?”
“The young lady who works at The Dock is better off without me.”
“You don’t give yourself enough grace.”
Gus didn’t take the bait. “I’ll be in touch. I promise.”
He sat in his truck for a few moments and then put in calls to Walker and Iris. He wanted to give them a heads up. Walker would stay put until the weekend, but Iris decided to fly back to DC with Gus.
“No sense staying if no one wants us.” She didn’t bother to hide her hurt.
“I’ve arranged for a jet from Albany in three hours. I’ll pick you up in one.”
His next stop was Lawson House. He pulled into his parking spot and hopped out of the truck. Immediately, Taco’s excited barks caught his attention, and instead of heading inside, he walked around the house to the backyard.
The dog was chasing butterflies while his owner stood by the purple clematis-laden trellis near the fence.
What was it about this woman that snared him?
That made his heart triple its beats? Her beauty was only a part of it.
A small part, really, considering he could listen to her talk about pretty much anything for hours.
Just for the sake of hearing her voice. Her laughter. Of watching those expressive eyes.
She glanced over just then, and a slow smile spread across her face as she crossed the yard to stand in front of him.
Small freckles dotted her nose, and he bent down to run his mouth over the sun-kissed spots before claiming her mouth in a last kiss.
He pulled her in closely. Held her body tight while he said goodbye.
When they finally came up for air, there were tears on her cheeks. He kissed them away.
“You’re leaving,” she said softly, leaning her cheek into his hand.
“It’s time.”
“How did it go with Ford and Sunday?”
“They have a lot to process.”
Her smile was tremulous. “So, this is it.”
He nodded. Didn’t trust himself to speak.
“Give me your cell phone.”
He dug in his pocket and handed it over, unlocking it as he did so. She quickly typed something and then handed it back.
“In case you want to talk.”
His chest was tight. Full of things he didn’t understand, and the war inside him was making it hard to breathe.
“I’m okay, Gus. I’m where I need to be. You go and do the same and maybe someday if you find the need to come back to Fire Lake.” She gave a small shrug. “Look me up.”
He left her there in the backyard. Headed up to his place and grabbed his backpack, along with his other personal items. He locked up and left a home that had come to mean so much more than just a place to hang his hat.
Five minutes was all it took to leave a life behind.
He was his mother’s son, after all.