Page 20 of Gideon's Gratitude

What I found with Thea had been comfortable. Two people working in tandem to build something. A monument to wealth.

What a load of crap.

All that money hadn’t brought happiness. Hadn’t given me a stable marriage. Hadn’t given me the good health and long life I expected.

And Gideon definitely didn’t resemble Chevy in any possible way—from the physical to the emotional. Polar opposites. Thank God.

I nodded to Riley as she entered the kitchen. “I’m going to head over to Gideon’s place.”

If she was surprised, she hid it well. “Of course. Come back when you’re ready to go into town. We usually quit about four-thirty this time of year. When we lose the light.”

Not far off from the longest night of the year. I didn’t get out enough during the day. Always another meeting to get to. Always another client needing to be tended to. Jean-Michel chastised me andencouraged me to take my lunch outside, but I rarely did. Always chained to my desk.

Something’s going to have to give.

“Thank you, Riley. And thank you for the work you’ve accomplished thus far. Quite impressive.”

A casual shrug. “My crew is the best.”

A crew that almost had gender parity. Women who worked as hard as their male counterparts. “We’ll return at quitting time. Thank you kindly.”

She smiled.

I departed.

As I crossed the property line, a sense of calm enveloped me. I hoped it always would when I came up here. About as far from the rat race as I could get, but still within a short distance of the city.

Underbrush disappeared as I neared Gideon’s home.

My phone vibrated.

Bloody hell.

I checked.

Cherish.

Oh, good Lord.

Again, the temptation to swipe overwhelmed.

Except in one phone call, I could silence the chatter. Or at least escape from the wrath.

I swiped Accept.

“Hello, Cherish.”

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Nice to hear from you. Been a while. How are Maris and the kids?” I scratched my nose.

“My wife is fine. Clarence and Carmen are fine. Which you’d know if you answered your goddamn phone.” Her words bit.

“My phone battery died.”

“You couldn’t find a charger for three days?”

I tried to calculate back when her first message had arrived. Nope, couldn’t come up with it. I’d been ignoring her for days. Not good. “Well, it’s charged now. Everyone okay?”

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