Page 17 of Inevitable Dream

Kailyn picks this time to come in to feed us cake, while Falcon hands out several files for us to review. I peer through the top file and see it involves a corporate analyst who was working on a special research project and has gone missing. The second file contains information from a privately owned company that has a leak in their organization. Looks like an easy problem until you see that the company is handling a government contract, working with highly sensitive information.

As I leaf through the files, getting acquainted with the facts, my thoughts drift to Sadie and wondering what she might be doing right now.

Sadie

After Rebel left for work, I busied myself cleaning around the apartment. I made the bed, cleaned up the breakfast dishes, and made my daily call to Hubert. Of course, he asks, like he does every time, “When are you coming home?”

“Well, Rebel wants me to stay longer. He thinks it’s a good idea that I stay with him… Indefinitely,” I say, and wait for the disappointment in Hubert’s voice.

“He wants you to move in?” Hubert asks.

“Yeah, Hubert. He does.” My tone is soft and quiet.

“Well, hallelujah! I’ve been worried out of my mind with you in that apartment all alone. I lost sleep thinking of you up there, especially with those young punks creating chaos in the alley.”

“Wait! What?” I can’t keep the surprise out of my voice. “I thought you liked me living close to you?”

“That’s what I’ll miss, darlin,’ but your safety comes first, and I’m thrilled a good man knows better than to send you back here.”

“I’ll point out, Hue, that you live in the same building.”

“I would have retired a year ago, but then you moved in, and I couldn’t leave. You’re like one of my own. It eats at me what happened to you, and I wasn’t there to protect you,” Hubert states angrily.

“You’re moving?” Sadness overcomes me.

“Believe it or not, I’d be living closer to you than I am right now. There’s a retirement complex not far from Rebel’s place, and it’s also closer to my son. He’s been bothering me for years to retire and make time to enjoy myself. With you moving in with Rebel, this is perfect timing,” he explains. “You can’t get rid of me, my girl. I’ve adopted you as one of my own.”

“I’d love having you nearby. I was going to keep the apartment for another couple of months, just in case things didn’t work out between Rebel and me.”

When Hubert starts laughing, it takes him nearly a full minute before he’s able to speak. “That’s priceless. The man is besotted with you. Save yourself the rent money.”

“I want that to be true, but how can you be so sure?”

“I’m a man, darling. I had the same look on my face when my dear Donna walked in the room that Rebel has whenever you’re around. You can dance around what you both feel, but what for? When you get to my age, you start to think of all the wasted time that could have been spent with the ones you love. I worked long hours, and my Donna never complained because she knew I was looking out for my family, but in hindsight, I wish I’d spent it with her. It’s not something you think about when you’re young because we believe we have all the time in the world. Then one day, it all changes, and time is a precious commodity.” Hubert always has these little nuggets of wisdom he shares with me, and I hear the sadness in his voice. He misses his wife. I wish I got to meet her.

“I’m sorry, Hue. I didn’t mean to make you sad,” I tell him.

“There’s a little sadness, yes. And even more fantastic memories. That doesn’t mean that you can forget to pay bills or that work isn’t a necessity. Just want to make sure you understand that you can’t take a gift for granted. Good people, those new friends you’re making, they’re gifts,” he says.

“Then they’re your friends too, because we’re a package deal!” I kid, not really, though, because Hubert is like family to me.

He chuckles before answering. “Call me over for family dinner, and I’ll be there. Now, what’s it going to be? Am I going to rustle up moving boxes?”

It’s my turn to burst out laughing. I finish my call with Hubert and, in the end, tell him I’ll be coming by and packing up my stuff. Whatever I can’t bring with me, I can sell or put into storage. Hubert told me to get rid of the furniture. It’s not worth storing, and since he’s convinced I’ll be working at the hospital soon, I’ll be able to afford new stuff to spruce up Rebel’s and my apartment. I’ll speak to Rebel and see what he thinks before I decide either way.

My next call is to Mom and Dad. I’ve been calling them every day as promised. Dad is still on a tear about me coming home, but Mom has managed to calm him down, and instead, they’re arranging to come out for the weekend in another week. Mom’s excited to meet Rebel. Dad is taking the protective father stance, and I think it’s sweet, but I made it clear that Rebel means something to me.

Just as I’m hanging up the phone with Mom, the doorbell rings. Before I can even make it to the door, Gertie announces her presence.

“Sadie, honey, it’s me, Gertie.” I open the door and find Gertie with her purse in hand. “Time to get out of this apartment for a while.”

“Where are we going?” I ask, taking her outstretched hand and kissing her on the cheek.

“There’s a coffee shop close by, and Rebel has been hiding you away for the last week. It’s time to see the sun,” she says with a giggle.

“Sounds like fun.” I grab my bag, and I’m ready to leave when I notice that I don’t have a key to close up. “Darn, I don’t have a key.”

“Rebel must have an extra key somewhere. Give him a call.”

---