Chapter 6 #2
Keeping busy was all I knew. It was how I survived blow after blow throughout the course of my life. I swam from project to project.
It was the only way to stay afloat.
“I get it.” Daphne’s features softened as she regarded me. “I’m proud of you, you know?”
“Thanks.” My smile resurfaced. “So…model?”
“Duh.” She fluffed her hair and popped her hip. “But, unless you’re going for ‘hot mess and eternally single,’ I should probably shower and change first.”
“No rush.” I giggled, watching as Daphne escaped into the hall bathroom.
Making my way into the guest bedroom, I began digging out my camera equipment. It had been over a month since I’d used it. A wistful smile crossed my face while I stared down at the camera body. The last gift my parents had given to me was my very first camera.
It had solidified my passion for photography.
An hour later, we were in the front yard, chatting and laughing as we enjoyed the impromptu photoshoot. Daphne had dressed up in her usual pinup style with a polka-dotted dress and crimson-red lipstick.
“You can Photoshop me to be skinnier, right? And with bigger boobs?” Daphne inquired as she struck a pose.
I fiddled with the manual settings, then instructed her toward a shaded tree, snickering at the request. “I promise you’ll love them. You look amazing.”
A car pulled up behind James’ cruiser, momentarily distracting me.
“Abs! You missed that thing I did with my lips.”
“Oh, sorry. Is that Cooper?” I squinted through the hazy daylight, surprised to see him. I thought James was the officer on duty for the day.
I was even more surprised to see that Cooper was in his regular car, not wearing his uniform. He looked like the man I’d met at The Crow Bar.
Before everything got complicated.
Cooper nodded at me in greeting from the edge of the lawn before approaching James and leaning into the open window.
“Earth to Abigail.” Daphne snapped her fingers and tapped her pointed stiletto against the grass. “If I suck in my stomach any longer, I’m going to pass out from oxygen deprivation.”
I shook my head, returning my attention to Daphne. “Again with the dramatic.”
“Charm, my friend. We’ve been over this.”
Smirking, I tinkered with my camera settings. I found great satisfaction in the way my fingertips grazed over the familiar buttons as a feeling of peace washed over me.
Something like healing.
A sharp breeze sailed through, making my skin come alive with goosebumps. I relished in the innate beauty of it. It was so easy to take for granted such marvelous little things.
A warm breeze, a camera in my hands, lush grass tickling my bare feet.
If any good came out of my ordeal, it was a new appreciation for all the small, precious things in life.
I would never, ever take them for granted again.
Cooper
“You’re off the hook, Walker.”
James looked up from his half-eaten bagel. “I just started this riveting audiobook, McAllister. Don’t you sleep?”
I chuckled. “You sound like my sister.” My arms draped over the hood of the car as I leaned forward. “Listen…Ashland County is starting to come down on me. I’ve got too much manpower on this security detail. I honestly thought we’d catch the bastard by now.”
James sighed, reclining against the back of his seat. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Had a feeling Reynolds would pull the plug soon.”
“Yeah.”
I knew it was coming and that it was just a matter of time.
But I wasn’t ready to cut Abby’s protection just yet—her safety was more important than budget issues and department politics.
And until I had her kidnapper in handcuffs, or, at the very least, I had an inkling she was out of harm’s way, I would take it upon myself to watch over her.
I slapped my hand against the patrol car and took a step back. “Why don’t you head into Ashland and talk to the employees who were on duty at Kristoff’s the day the van was stolen? I know we interviewed them already, but let’s do another sweep. There’s got to be something there we missed.”
“You sure, man? You look like hell,” James replied, assessing me with worry. “I know it’s a strange concept, but you should consider utilizing your days off as actual days off.”
“I will,” I told him. “When we catch him.”
“Suit yourself.” James started up the engine and tossed his bagel onto the passenger’s seat. “I’ll be in touch.”
As James drove away, I lifted my head and my eyes settled on Abby. She had her camera out and was taking photos of Daphne beneath a drooping willow tree. I could hear her laughter mingling with the summer breeze, and for a moment, I couldn’t differentiate between the two.
She crouched down in her salmon sundress, capturing a different angle.
I was temporarily mesmerized. Abby looked better; color had returned to her cheeks and there was a new lightness about her. She didn’t appear scarred or haunted, nor did she look shackled to her demons. She didn’t carry the weight of her insurmountable tragedies.
For just one fleeting moment, she looked…free.
I’d intended on approaching her to say hello, to fill her in on the new developments in the case.
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t taint the moment for her, because right now, she was an untouchable woman.
Glowing and bright, skipping along the blades of grass with her camera clutched tightly in her hands.
If I interrupted, she would forget. She’d forget that for right now, for a few more glorious seconds, everything was okay. My presence would only remind her of her grim reality and that her ghosts were waiting on the sidelines, eager to swallow her back up. To reclaim her.
I couldn’t risk that.
Instead, I leaned back against the hood of my car and folded my arms, watching from the side of the street. The breeze picked up, billowing the branches of the willow, persuading them to move and sway like a magnificent dance. Abby’s long ashy hair scattered across her face in a similar fashion.
And when a new gust of wind blew through, she stilled, turning to look at me.
Maybe there was something in the breeze that gave her pause, that drew her to me.
Maybe whatever was calling to me, was calling to her, too.
Our eyes met across the yard and my heart kicked up speed. I feared her light would dim when she looked my way. I thought her ghosts would sink their teeth into her and pull her back under.
But she didn’t fade away. She didn’t forget.
She only smiled.
And in that moment, a new dance had begun.