Page 45 of Keep

“Night, Curtis.”

As soon as Curtis and I parted ways I drove downtown and found Cami’s silver Camry in the parking garage adjacent to the Sun Republic building. I pulled into the spot beside it and called her cell.

“Where are you?” she asked anxiously. “I was worried.”

“There’s no need to worry. I’m in the parking garage leaning against the hood of your car.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Meet me in the lobby. I’ll be right down.”

The hatchet-faced security guard in the lobby kept eyeballing me even after I said I was waiting for my wife. Then the elevator doors opened and Cami shot out of them and straight into my arms. I lifted her off the ground and kissed her neck without caring that the security dude was ogling us.

“Tell me everything,” she murmured as she continued to hug me tight.

The lobby was positively cavernous so we retreated to a spot on the far end where the nosy security guard was out of earshot. I told my wife everything Andy had said and she interrupted me with reporter-type questions a dozen times but that was fine. When I got to the part of the story that included Maria, Cami was amazed over Hale’s heroics. Then at the end, when I shared Maria’s final words about how she felt about my brother, Cami’s eyes filled with tears.

She threaded her fingers through mine. “You must miss him terribly.”

“I do.” I turned her hand over and kissed the tender skin of her palm. “But I think I understand him better now.”

She touched my face. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”

“I think I can guess.” I stood and pulled her up with me. “Let’s go home.”

She groaned and glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to wrap up a few more paragraphs before I turn the piece in to the fact checker.” She kissed me. “You go on home. I’ll be out of here in half an hour.”

I sat back down. “I’ll wait.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m doing it anyway.” I pulled out my phone. “Maybe I’ll check out this Sugar Rush game everyone’s talking about.”

She laughed. “I’ll write as fast as I can.”

“You do that Mrs. Tremaine. I’ll be right here.”

Cami started backing up toward the elevators. She jerked her thumb toward the security guard. “Don’t let Bob scare you. He’s a teddy bear.”

Bob didn’t look like any kind of teddy bear that I’d be interested in cuddling with but he was obviously pleased by the praise.

Cami bounced back into the elevator and I settled into the chair to wait for her as long as it took. This had been a strange day. But the ending was as good as it could be.

Well, almost.

I could think of one loose end that still needed some attention. There was no reason to put it off or be nervous. He’d always been my friend. Now that I’d married Cami he was also my family and he was hurting over the possible fate of his beloved son. If there was anything I could say or do to ease that burden I would do it in a heartbeat. He answered right after the first ring.

“Hey there, teach,” I said. “Sorry, I guess I should have checked the time first. I hope it’s not too late to call.”

“Dalton,” Chase said and I could hear the pleased smile in his voice. “No, it’s not too late. It’s not too late at all.”

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