Page 33 of Counterpoint and Harmony

She doesn’t say anything to that, and I wait. But when she still doesn’t respond I open my eyes and pull my phone away from my ear to make sure the call hasn’t dropped. We’re still connected. “Charlie?”

I hear her take a deep, shuddery breath. “I’m here. Sorry. I just … I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“Uh, you’re welcome?”

She lets out a huff of watery laughter. “Thanks.” Then she clears her throat. “Anyway, back to my plane. I’ll talk to Lauren, but you like the idea? I’ll come get you, and we’ll fly down together?”

“Sure. I mean, how can I say no?”

She laughs. “Exactly. You can’t. It’s all part of my master plan.”

I pitch my voice low again. “Your master plan, huh? I kind of like the sound of that.”

“Do you?” That breathless quality is back. “Then I’ll have to keep working on it.”

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