Chapter 9 Last Hope #4
Butterflies fluttered in April’s stomach as she drove back to the hotel.
The last time she’d seen Bear was early this morning.
He always rolled out of bed before dawn.
They’d gotten into a habit of hanging out on the rooftop terrace to watch the sunrises and sunsets together.
It wasn’t the same as being handed a promise ring, but it was the most romantic thing any man had ever done for her.
Please, Lord, let there be a thousand more sunrises in our future.
Actually, twenty thousand sunrises would be more accurate. Her analytical mind couldn’t resist doing the math. She mentally divided twenty thousand days by three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, which yielded just shy of fifty-five years. It would bring her to the ripe old age of ninety-nine.
Yes, please! It would be an honor to spend that long loving Bear.
She wasn’t sure if new Christians were supposed to ask for favors like that, but it felt so right — a heaven on earth with a Heaven to follow.
She reached the parking garage and waited impatiently for the arm of the gate to rise. To pass the time, she recited the scripture she’d read in her new Bible this morning. It was another one Bear had underlined for her:
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other.
Bear’s “love letter” was entrancing. She would be exploring the beauty and complexity of it for years to come. His brand of romance was rich and deep, exciting and challenging, the kind of romance she could lean into and trust. It was exactly her style.
The arm of the gate finished rising to its upright position, allowing her to roll forward. She pulled into the first parking spot she came to. As she stepped out of her car, she received a call from Gil.
Hoping to hear that Verity Haywood was in custody, she lifted her phone to her ear. “Good news, I hope?” They could use more good news. The best news would be hearing that Verity was in handcuffs, but it was too soon for that. Subpoenas, interrogations, and arrest warrants took time.
“I wish.” He sounded grim. “We just received word that Benjie and Verity Haywood have left town, but their son has agreed to come to the station for questioning. Oh, and get this. He’s bringing their housekeeper, Martha Masterson, with him.”
That was news, indeed. “What about Verity Haywood?”
“Subpoenas still forthcoming for her and Callie both. In an interesting twist, Callie’s all lawyered up and back in bed at the nursing home.”
Seriously? “This case has been chock-full of setbacks.” Why had she expected the last stretch of it to be any different? “Is there anything else I can do, Gil?”
“Wait and pray.” His voice was matter-of-fact. “I had a feeling things weren’t over yet. Wish I was wrong.”
“Thanks for the update.” As she ended their call, a heavy feeling settled beneath her rib cage. He was right. It wasn’t over yet.
When she reached her suite, she found Bear waiting at the door.
“Ben called Kaya on his way to the station.” He jammed a thumb at the door. “She’s talking to him now.”
April could hear the faint murmur of Kaya’s voice on the other side of the door. She remained in the hallway with him to give his niece a few moments of privacy. “I know this isn’t easy.” It sounded like he’d already heard the worst and best of her news.
He tipped her chin up with a single finger. “Hitting the pause button to tell you that I love you. I should’ve led with that.” The look he gave her was as potent as a kiss.
“I love you, too.” They were in a public place, so she didn’t follow her heartfelt declaration with a kiss, silently promising him she would save it for later.
He caressed the underside of her chin before dropping his hand. “Thanks to you, we finally have answers.”
She stepped closer to tangle her fingers through his. “Not quite the one I was hoping to give you.” Her exhaustion bled through her words, bringing a rush of tears to her eyes.
“Whoa!” He straightened, reaching out to cradle her face between his hands. “Why the tears?”
“I wanted to give you good news, Bear,” she wept. “I wanted it so badly.”
He brushed his thumbs gently beneath her eyes, catching her tears as they fell. “You did your best. No one could ask for more.”
“My best wasn’t good enough.” Maybe instead of asking the Lord for more sunrises for her and Bear, she should’ve been praying for Tiana’s safe return. Not that it would’ve done any good. Apparently, the chances of that happening were gone before Gil had summoned her to town.
“I don’t believe that for a second,” he scolded in a rough voice.
She wearily closed her eyes. “I wanted to give you hope.”
“You have.” His voice was firm.
What? She fluttered her eyes open. “How can you say that? I mean…the tooth…”
“...isn’t a body,” he reminded quietly.
She gave a sobbing chuckle. “Bear!”
“I haven’t given up hope,” he informed her soberly. “I won’t. Not until you or someone else I trust gives me a reason to.”
A few more tears slid down her cheeks, which he just as gently wiped away. “It’s a foolish hope,” she whispered.
“But not a false one,” he pointed out. “Even you can’t argue the science behind it, Dr. Chandrakanta. Pardon the use of your title, but it felt warranted in this case.” He gave her a tender look. “A person can easily live without a tooth.”
“Yes, they can.” She smiled through her tears at him. “It would be a miracle to survive a traumatic brain injury like that, but—”
He pressed a thumb over her lips to shush her. “Do you believe in miracles, April?”
She made a face at him. “I know the dictionary definition of the word,” she said carefully.
“Then I’ll just have to believe for both of us.” He didn’t seem too bothered about it.
She chuckled as he drew her into his arms. If he didn’t mind hugging her in public, why should she? “Are all Christians this...?” She gestured helplessly at him.
“Steadfast?” He raised his eyebrows in challenge at her, as if knowing she’d almost called him crazy. “Fair warning. There’s a lot of science mentioned in the Bible. No spoilers today, but I think your brilliant mind is in for a few surprises.”
“Then I’ll keep reading.” She wasn’t sure what to make of his prediction, but she’d always been a sucker for a challenge.
“Game on.” He swooped in to plant a tender kiss on her before letting her go.