Chapter 7
Fin
Donning an old Cincinnati Reds baseball cap, I pulled the bill down over my eyes and made my way through the crowded first level of the Vine.
The same kid who had been on duty at the concierge desk the night I was given a reusable keycard was standing behind the desk.
The phone receiver was to his ear, and a solemn expression was on his face.
“He’s here, Ms. Hubbard. I have an idea if you don’t mind?”
I couldn’t hear Vee’s answer, but I took a step closer.
“I have a keycard,” he began, “that can get you from the garage to the seventh floor with no stops. It’s a bypass card usually used for medical emergencies. If you’d like…” His lips curled into a smile. “Yes, here he is.” The kid handed me the receiver.
“Fin?” Vee’s voice came through.
“I’m here. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I want to be home, and I want you to be with me.”
I nodded and read the kid’s name tag. “Ethan and I will do whatever it takes.”
“Thank you. I should be home in less than ten minutes. My security code for my condo is 0-4-2-6-1-1.” Before I could ask why she told me the code, she said, “Please give the phone back to Ethan.”
“I’ll see you soon.” I handed the receiver back to Ethan. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Ms. Hubbard?” he said. The rest of their conversation consisted of nods and the affirmative adverb—yes, I can do that.
Once he hung up the phone, Ethan asked me to wait. He again slid a keycard into the machine and pressed a few keys on the keyboard. When the key popped out, he handed it to me. “This replaces your other keycard and allows you entry into 706.”
That was why she shared the security code. A smile came to my lips. “Ms. Hubbard requested this?”
“Yes, sir, she did.”
Keeping my eyes down, I made my way through the people. Back outside, I reparked my truck in a long-term parking space, retrieved my duffel bag and a sack of groceries from the back seat. Again, I forged my way through the crowd to the elevator.
“Fin.”
I heard my name as I entered the elevator. While I didn’t answer, I lifted my chin in time to see someone take my picture. Gritting my teeth, I chose to continue my quest. I had just enough time to take my things up to Vee’s place and get back down to Ethan.
Thankfully, recalling numbers wasn’t a problem. After opening her door, I entered Vee’s security code.
With two minutes to spare, I made my way back to Ethan. Together, we took the back stairs to the garage.
My breath caught as Vee’s white Mercedes-Benz pulled into the garage and into her assigned parking space.
I didn’t wait for her to get out. Instead, I hurried to the driver’s door.
Vee’s swollen, tear-filled eyes looked up through the window, causing my chest to ache.
As soon as she opened the door, I offered her my hand.
Hers trembled as it landed in my grasp.
“Let’s get you upstairs.”
Vee nodded, reached for her leather bag, stood, and leaned against my chest. As she buried her face against my shirt, I led her toward the elevator.
“Wait there,” Ethan said. “I want to make sure there’s no one getting off.”
The doors opened to an empty compartment.
“We’re good to go,” he said, holding the doors. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Ms. Hubbard.”
“Thank you for helping me.” Despite her exhausted appearance, her words sounded strong.
We remained quiet as the doors closed and Ethan used his magic card. The elevator bypassed other floors, going straight up to the seventh floor. The doors opened with a ding.
“If you want a similar ride in the morning, please give us a call. I don’t get on duty until noon, but Jacob can help you earlier.”
“Thank you, Ethan,” I said.
He held the doors open as Vee and I exited. The seventh-floor hallway was clear of people as we made our way to her door. The new keycard I’d been given worked for the second time. Once again, I disarmed the security and locked the door behind us.
“Thank you,” Vee said, wrapping her arms around my midsection. Her words were muffled by her face pressed against my chest.
For a moment, I simply stroked her hair and gently caressed a circle on her back. In my arms, Vee’s body trembled. Sobs that I wanted to take away bubbled from her throat and tears dampened my shirt.
“Tell me what to do,” I pleaded, wanting nothing more than to make her world right.
“You’re doing it.” She looked up, meeting my gaze. “All day, I didn’t cry. I mean, I did, but I couldn’t let go. I had to stay strong.”
My lips kissed the top of her head. “You don’t have to be strong with me.
” I led her through the condo to the sofa and pulled her down to my lap.
The ache in my heart and the need to comfort Vee had been building throughout the day.
Now that she was here in my arms, I longed to make the world right if only for a few minutes.
“One of the reasons I fell in love with you all those years ago,” I said, “was because I didn’t have to pretend when I was with you.
” I stroked her cheek. “You don’t have to pretend, Vee.
I know you’re strong. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through today or what the future holds.
I just know that I love you for showing me the Maeve Hubbard the rest of the world doesn’t get to see. ”
She scoffed, wiping her eye and smearing her mascara. “Not exactly a pretty picture.”
I palmed her cheeks. “You’re real and real is the most beautiful picture.”
Vee laid her cheek against my shoulder.
“I’ll stand to your side and admire you, lie with you and make love to you, hold your hand to let you know you’re not alone, or carry you when you’re not ready to walk. Whatever you need.”
Her body convulsed with hiccups as she looked up and forced a smile. “I’m thankful you’re here.”
“I’m sorry this happened.”
She nodded. “It was an accident. A stupid accident. From what we were told, a semi-truck changed lanes too fast, didn’t see Dad’s car…” She returned her forehead to my shoulder. “I saw him—Dad.”
I splayed my fingers over the warm skin of her lower back. “I would have gone with you.”
She shook her head. “I needed to do it. Uncle Darin was there.” Vee looked back up, meeting my gaze. “If you’d been there, I wouldn’t have stayed strong. Reid Hubbard didn’t raise me to fall apart.”
“I would assume he raised you to be true to your feelings. You can do both.”
Her nose wrinkled as she sat up. “I want to shower.”
“Do you want help?”
Vee shook her head. “Sounds tempting, but I think I want to get my tears out and wash away the stench of the morgue.”
“What have you eaten today?”
“The eggs and vegetables you made this morning.”
“I’ll cook us dinner while you shower.”
Her cheeks rose, and her green eyes seemed to clear. “I don’t remember you being so domestic.”
I shrugged. “Living alone for most of my life can do that. My mom taught me how to cook and not starve. I stopped by the store and picked up steaks, potatoes, and salad.”
“I don’t eat meat.”
I made the connection. “Oh, that’s why you didn’t have bacon.”
“You’re right.”
“Okay, I’ll figure something out.”
“You can eat whatever you want,” Vee said. “My choice to stop eating meat was more about health than any high moral ground.” She stood.
I maintained my grasp of her hand and stood. “Did you tell him goodbye?”
More tears flooded her eyes. “I told him I loved him. I can’t remember the particulars.” She freed her hand and wiped her nose on her arm. “They’re doing an autopsy before sending him to the funeral home.”
“Why?”
“Some stupid state requirement for fatal accidents.”
“When should it be done?”
Vee turned toward the large clock over her fireplace. “I don’t know. The man at the coroner’s office said usually twenty-four to forty-eight hours. They’ll probably notify Daphne when it’s done. I couldn’t stay at her house another minute. I wanted to scream.”
I smiled. “You can do that too if you want.”
“I did in the car.”
“Shower and get comfortable.” I brushed my lips over hers.
Vee took a few steps and stopped, turning back to me. “How many reporters were downstairs?”
“I don’t know for sure. The first floor was more crowded than on a game-day Sunday.”
“There were reporters camped outside Dad’s property.”
“I guess that’s Daphne’s property now.”
Vee shook her head. “I’ll tell you about that after my shower.”
Watching her walk toward her bedroom, I recalled what I’d wanted to say to Simpson.
Maeve was more than pretty. She was intelligent and fun, kind and compassionate.
Her smile lit up a room or an entire football field.
Her loyalty and dedication were without bounds.
She was stunningly beautiful whether she was waking up or dressed for a social event.
Her purpose overtook her fears. She’d never met a challenge she couldn’t conquer.
Yet she could be confident and vulnerable at the same time.
“Vee,” I called.
“Hmm?” She turned my way.
“Whatever the future holds, you will not only survive but conquer.”