Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
CORRINE
It’s gonna be okay.
Roy’s lips were easy to read. He put an arm around her, drawing her to him. Did she love him? I’d only ever sensed friendship between them. The mutual respect of colleagues, but maybe I’d misread the situation. It wouldn’t surprise me.
From the kitchen window, I could see a blonde woman peer out from behind a blue checkered curtain. She frowned as she saw her husband embracing Mina on her own front porch. I could see what she couldn’t. His facial expression read pity. Doubt.
He rolled his eyes over Mina’s head and blew out an exasperated breath. It would have been a lot for him to take in. Mina had her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders quaked.
For someone like Dennison, this had to be a scene he was familiar with. He patted Mina’s back and nodded his head in clear patronization. She seemed hysterical, gesturing wildly. Dennison kept his lips pursed, nodding from time to time as Mina became more unglued.
Then she took off her watch. She thrust her wrist in Dennison’s face.
He caught it and held it up to the light.
Mina’s red silk ribbon slipped down. She stabbed her finger against it repeatedly.
Again, Dennison simply nodded. But Mina wasn’t looking at him.
She seemed oblivious to his obvious reaction.
Dennison’s eyes narrowed in clear confusion.
Finally, the two of them rose from the porch bench.
Dennison awkwardly held the envelope out.
Mina shook her head. With his shoulders rising and falling in a deep sigh, Dennison gave her another condescending smile and kept the envelope.
Mina ran down the sidewalk and got back in her car.
Dennison lifted his hand in a wave and waited for her to back out and drive off.
Mina drove right past me on the way out. She was sobbing and punched her own steering wheel before she rounded the corner.
Dennison’s wife came out. Plain as day, her lips read, “What was that?”
Dennison put his arm around his wife. He shook his head and said what clearly had to be, “I don’t know.”
It wasn’t what Mina expected. She probably thought Roy would be on her side without question. But his reaction didn’t surprise me one bit.
My hand went to my neck. I flipped my visor down and looked in the mirror. There was still some faint redness along my jawline where his stubble had rubbed me nearly raw. It was a good hurt though. The thought of it sent heat straight through me.
Dennison’s wife must have asked about the envelope he was holding. He shook his head as he opened the front door for her. He followed her inside, keeping the envelope behind his back.
I stayed there for a few minutes more. I could see the Dennison family through their living room window.
A boy and a girl sat on the couch watching television.
Roy walked in carrying a little girl, maybe six or seven.
She squealed as he tickled her belly. Whatever he’d done with the envelope, I couldn’t see it now.
His wife was back in the kitchen, washing dishes at the sink.
So normal. So wholesome. An older brother. A middle sister. Then the baby girl. Just like my own family.
“Enjoy it,” I found myself whispering. “Before it all goes away.”
I pulled away from the curb and started the hour drive home. I hope I hadn’t stayed away too long. I promised him I’d come straight back.
As each mile flew by, I grew more anxious. After all this time… when I saw him… my heart had soared. It would all be okay. He’d never let anyone hurt me. He was free.
I pulled into the alley behind the apartment. The bar was closed tonight. Two of the servers came down with COVID and PJ was running a fever. I, on the other hand, felt stronger than I’d felt in years.
I popped the trunk and pulled out the single bag of groceries I had picked up on the way. I’d make something special tonight. I bought a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I hoped that’s what he liked.
I came up the exterior stairs and stuffed my key in the lock. There was a moment of trepidation as I stepped inside.
“I’m sorry it took me so long,” I called out.
“Come here,” he said. His sleepy tone was downright sexy.
I put my grocery bag on the counter along with my keys. Peeling off my raincoat, I went to the bedroom.
He waited for me on the bed, one arm stretched over his head. He rolled to his side. He fixed those dreamy brown eyes on me as I came to him.
“I’m glad you waited for me,” I whispered. Then we kissed. “Just give me a second to change. I brought you a surprise.”
He gave me a sinfully drowsy smile and reached for me as I rose. “Now,” he whispered.
“One minute. I promise, baby.”
He rolled over onto his stomach. That beautiful, muscular back. I went to him and kissed his shoulder. He twitched with pleasure as I traced the lines of his tattoo. It was gorgeous too. Just like him. Two swirling fish entwined in a circle with a constellation above them.
“Please,” he whispered once more. “Come here.”
This time, I did as he commanded.