Page 112 of The Art of Dying

A week before I had to report for duty, Mack showed me a rental in Pueblo, forty minutes south of the Springs. It was close enough to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in case of an emergency, and far enough not to chance any run-ins with the team. She’d refused to see anyone after I was released from the hospital. Not Gina. Not her extended family. I recounted every detail of Alecia and Vazquez’s positive reactions to hearing she and the kids were alive, but still she refused to reunite with them.

“It’s safer for them not to know for sure,” she’d say.

It didn’t matter that it didn’t make sense, that most of Jenks and Tulsa Police Departments, agents of the OSBI and FBI had seen her and the kids. After Grant’s death, she was afraid of anyone else getting hurt because they’d gotten too close. Especially after I told her about what happened with Alecia. Even the thought of telling my team the truth was too upsetting for her. When she finally agreed to move to Colorado, it was with one condition: that I’d wait to tell them until she was ready.

As predicted, the sun touched Mack’s eyelids and after just a few seconds, she covered her eyes, turned onto her back, and then stretched.

I waited for her to turn to me with that sleepy smile I used to dream about, but when she opened her eyes, she frowned.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said, sitting up on my elbow. “Surely, I couldn’t have pissed you off already.”

“You tossed and turned all night,” she grumbled. “I don’t think I slept a full hour at a time.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I guess even subconsciously I’m a little nervous.”

Her eyes popped open. “Oh! It’s your first day!” She jumped out of bed and wrapped her robe around her, cinching the belt and sliding her feet into her matching purple, fluffy house shoes.

“Hey!” I called after her.

“I have to make your lunch! I have to…”

“Karen!” I yelled.

She was quiet then, and I heard her pad to the bedroom doorway. Her arms were crossed. She was unamused.

“The kids aren’t awake. I know we agreed to keep calling me…that… not to confuse them, but please, Kitsch.Pleasefeel free not to use it when they’re not around.”

I chuckled as I sat up and then held up my arms. “They have a state-of-the-art cafeteria there and we eat for free. Get your ass over here and kiss me good morning.”

“Oh,” she said, giggling and trotting over to the bed. She sat next to me and leaned over, squealing when I pulled her across my body to her side.

“Has Trex told you any details at all about this job?” she asked.

“Just that it’s a government security gig, that it pays well, I get to take my gun to work, and I’m home by dinner every evening. I don’t give a shit if the government wants me to babysit aliens in that mountain. This is perfect for us.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Hey,” I said, waiting for her to meet my gaze. “Thank you. For letting us do this and letting me work with my team again. I know it’s not easy and you have a lot going on up there,” I said, gently kissing her forehead, “so thank you.”

“Just… remember what you promised me, okay?”

“I’ve never lied to them, and I’m not gonna start now. But I won’ttell themtell them until you give the green light.”

Mack pouted out her lip. “Thank you. I know you don’t understand it.”

I sat up again. “Just because you’re wasting time. I miss our dinners and laughing with everyone. They miss you. They’re still grieving you, babe. We managed to keep what happened out of the media, but enough people know that we should be worried they’ll find out from someone else. We should tell them. They won’t be mad, just like Alecia and Vaz weren’t. If they’re mad at anyone, it’ll be me.”

“Naomi… is different,” she said with a sigh.

“Why’s that?”

“Because… I don’t know.”

“Mack. I’ve tried not to push it, but… it’s time you told me.”

“Matt died, Kitsch. I’m sure everyone will forgive me, but… I don’t know that Naomi will. She lost two people almost one right after the other. It was cruel.”

“She’ll understand. It won’t be lost on her for a damn minute that it’s better than you actually being dead.”

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