Page 119 of His Last Shot
But then pride replaces anger as she tells me about her schooling and graduation, even though I was there. Next is her job, and the excitement on her face is something I hope she never loses. I saw how good she was at her job that day in the hospital, but to hear her talk about it is just plain incredible. Then relief fills my soul as she tells me about her health. About how well she is doing with her new doctors and treatment.
“I saw the news report. The one about the rehab facility.” Tears fill her eyes. “You did all of that?”
“Yes.” No hesitation.
“Why?”
The lump in my throat feels like a fist. I swallow it down. “You have to know I did it all for you.” She chokes out a sob, barely audible above the chirping of crickets. “The fact that it was a need in the community is important, obviously, but”—I pause to compose myself—“yes, it was all for you. I wanted you to know that even though we couldn’t be together, I still loved you and would always fight for you. Do you use it?” I lean forward, expecting her answer, hope rising like flood waters.
“Every two weeks.”
Overcome with relief, I gently grasp her hand. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.”
“Me too.” A grin crests on her mouth, so bright it put the flame on the candle to shame. “Johnny, it’s true that I was scared these last three months, but there was another reason that I took so long to contact you.”
I tilt my head, my mind racing. With everything we have been through, nothing is off the table with us.
She reaches into the top of her sundress and pulls out a business card.
I don’t know much, but I know I will not make it through this reunion unscathed if she does more stuff likethat.
I’m toast.
With a low groan, I roll my head back. “Okay, you’re not playing fair. You can’t expect me to be interested in anything you have to say now.”
She shrugs and laughs. What a little tease she is being. I love it.
Holding the card in place with her finger, she slides it over to me. I lift it and examine it.
The logo is of an eight ball with a fork and spoon criss-crossed behind it. The letters J-O-H-N-N-Y-S curve over the top in big, bold black letters. Taunting me.
My name.
My chest tightens. Across the bottom, it reads: Under new ownership. My eyes snap to hers, and she shrugs one shoulder while taking a sip of her wine as if to say,What’s the big deal?
I flip it over to find the address, hours of operation, a phone number, and one more sentence. It reads: Pool lessons offered every Monday and Wednesday evenings. By appointment only.
I lift the card, holding it between my pointer and middle finger. “Rachel, what is this?”
“After Dexter died, we found out he left us the bar. The government seized everything after his death. Except the bar. He was smart enough to put it in a trust for Micah and me. I never knew. Neither did Micah. We were at least grateful to him for that. Maybe he loved us after all.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “I mean,great, but is that what you want? To run the bar? What about nursing?”
“I want nothing to do with the bar. I mean, it will always hold special meaning for me. It brought me you.” She smiles.
My body is doing its own thing at this point because I’m propelled out of my seat, rounding the table, Rachel in my sights.
After that declaration, I need this woman in my arms.
Her eyes widen as she tracks my every movement. “What are you doing?” she asks as I scoop her out of her chair before she registers what’s happening. She squeals. “Johnny!”
I sit in the chair she was once occupying and gently place her in my lap. Immediately, her fingers find my hair, stroking the stands as she attempts to adjust the hem of her dress, tugging it down. My hand playfully slaps hers because … not happening. “Don’t you dare.” She laughs as my palm splays over the smooth skin of her thigh. “I like this better. You can continue.”
“So dramatic.” I tilt my mouth and smack my lips to hers in the smackiest of kisses. But I love it.
She grins and rolls her lips as she continues. “Anyway, Slick bought out forty percent. He and Micah run it now, with them being majority owners. I wanted to sell my whole share to Slick, but he refused, so ten percent of it is mine.”
This doesn’t surprise me one bit.
