Page 94 of Tango
And I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for putting my trust in Ramiro when Logan was the one who deserved it.
“You ready to go?” Dad asks.
“I am. I could use an entire pizza in fuel too. I’m exhausted.” I retrieve my purse, and Dad laughs while he hauls the garbage bag out of the apartment, leaving it beside the door for the trash pickup in the morning. After locking the door behind me, we make our way down the steps. His Subaru is parked in the spot right beside my apartment, and as I climb inside, I breathe in the familiar scent of his cologne.
After everything we went through, I knew I couldn’t come back to this apartment. A fresh start is exactly what I’m looking for, and that can’t be found when everything around me reminds me of the past.
“Hey, can we swing by the cemetery before heading home?”
“Sure thing, honey.” Dad reaches over and closes his hand over mine, squeezing it gently.
My phone dings, so I withdraw it and smile when I see a text from Lani.
Lani: Everything is ready for your arrival!
There’s a photograph of an empty living room right beneath the text.
Nerves twist in my gut, but more than that is excitement. Joy. Because my fresh start is coming as soon as noon tomorrow when my flight lands in Dallas.
Me: I can’t wait. Does he suspect anything?
Lani: He’s a guy…so no.
I laugh.
“What’s funny?” Dad asks, casting me a smile.
“Lani. My apartment is ready to go. I asked her if Tucker knew, and she said no because he’s a guy.”
My dad barks out a laugh. “Us guys do tend to be rather obtuse at times.”
“At times,” I reply with a smile.
“Speaking of Tucker—how is he doing?”
“Better. Lani cleared him to start walking up to two miles a day and some bodyweight exercises, so he’s happy about that.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. I thought so. Dylan is picking me up at the airport tomorrow so I can surprise him.”
Dad is quiet for a moment. “You know, your mother and I are so proud of you, Alice.”
“Why? Because I’m moving away?”
He laughs. “No. Well, not just that, anyway. You’re following where you feel God calling you, and that, my dear child, is wonderful.”
“Did I tell you that the CEO of Web Safe offered me the director position?”
“What? Seriously?”
I nod. “I wanted to know what I was going to do before I told you guys.”
“Alice, that is amazing.”
“It would have been—a few months ago. Even if I set aside my feelings for Tucker, I wouldn’t ever want to go back to that place. It just wouldn’t be the same. Everything would be a reminder of what I lost.”
“Something I understand quite well. You should know that your mother and I have been talking, and—well—we don’t think Texas would be a bad place to live for two old folks on the verge of retirement.”
