Page 107 of Long Time Coming

“Thanks.” There’s a lightness to her steps. Happiness that I haven’t seen in her in years. It looks good on her. But I’m glad it’s not because it’s me. I wish her and Marcel the best. “We always made a good team like that.”

I hold up my bourbon. With that conversation out of the way, I’m finally able to take a sip. “Drinking and eating, and me paying the check?”

“You’re the best, Tagger. Toodle-oo.” Details need to be worked out, but the obstacles have been cleared from my path. I can work from anywhere or retire from asset management. But I also have more money than I can spend in a lifetime, so why not spend it with the two people I care about most?

One down.

My best friend to go . . .

* * *

Three days later. . .

I’ve been secretly tryingto wrap up some of my accounts. The others will shift to Keith for him to keep or reassign. Nothing too obvious until I’m ready to announce.

Coming to sit in front of me, no notepad or e-pad, pen, or phone in sight, Kendra says, “Deloitte has been processed and shifted to the accounting team. Baer needs signed paperwork that I had delivered earlier today. But Mastrioni said they are happy with the work you’re doing and look forward to continuing when they paid their invoice on Tuesday.”

“That’s great. I suspect there will be another hefty bonus for us at the end of the year.”

“But you won’t be here?”

“I’ll still be—fuck.” I release a heavy sigh, knowing I can’t hide it from her.

She gets up to close the door. When she returns, she asks, “So youareleaving?”

Sitting back, I steeple my fingers. “I’m not walking out the door tomorrow. But I plan on giving notice before the end of July. I’m hoping that’s enough time to wrap up what I can and reorganize the team for the clients.”

“It was the biscuits, wasn’t it?”

I chuckle. “The biscuits helped, but I was already in love.”

“Oh Tagger, that’s so romantic. You deserve this. You work hard, you’re a great father, but you also need a life. If that’s what she gives you, then I couldn’t be happier.”

“She makes me want to change my life. She makes me want to be a part of hers, to use my hands again, to work the land, and get back to my roots.” I’d already shared that Anna was moving to Paris, so she knows Beck will be with me.

“I forgot to mention you’re a great boss.”

“It’s been great to work with you. I’ve been thinking about consulting and working freelance. If that’s something you’d be interested in?—”

“I’m interested.”

I rest my hands on the desk. “I’ll keep you in the loop with what’s going on, then.”

She stands. “Remember to invite me to the wedding.”

Chuckling, I reply, “You’re on the list.”

I rush home to change into basketball shorts and a tee before racing out the door in my sneakers. It’s later than I intended, but there’s so much to do lately that time is lost if I’m not paying attention.

Walking onto the courts, I scan the players before finding Baylor playing on the back third. They’re short a player since it’s usually me, but I don’t jump in. That’s not how pickup games of basketball work around here. I lean against the fence and wait for someone to score.

Baylor sees me out of the corner of his eye but keeps playing. He’s not been responding to my texts or calls. I even sent him an email to see if he’d reply.He didn’t.

One team scores points, and they scatter to take a water break. Baylor walks by me and says, “Find another team, asshole.”

“Fuck you, Baylor.”

“Ohhhh,” the other players caught that and start to laugh.

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