Page 56 of The Flame of Carson
Evelyn sniffled,“Oh Grant.Sean made me happy too.He treated me like a princess.Hell, you both did.”
“My mom told me that your party planning business is taking off.She was just going on and on about the job you did for dad’s birthday party.”
“I’m so glad she was happy with it.I honestly didn’t think I would be as successful as I am when I started this after I came home.”
“Why on earth did you think that?Evelyn, you were always planning all those family days for the unit.I know all the wives were wanting you to plan their stuff too.How could you think you wouldn’t be successful in Mississippi?Especially in Tupelo?”
Evelyn sighed,“I guess it’s because...well...Sean, and you, were always my shots of confidence back then.After he died, I...Grant, I’ll admit, I was lost.You and he were my entire world.I knew I could do anything as long as I had you both at my back.It wasn’t until a year after I came home that I started to feel that maybe I could do this.Then when I called you and told you what I wanted to do, you told me to do it.That Sean would have wanted me to and that’s just what I needed to hear.”
Grant sighed, replaying that call nearly eight years ago.“It’s true, he would have wanted you to.I know he would have also wanted you to use the money the Marines paid for it.That way, he was still a part of it.”He paused, took a swallow of beer, and cleared his throat before talking again, “Evelyn, I promise, from now on I won’t wait so long between calls.And remember if you need anything, and I do mean anything, you call me.All right?”
“I will.I promise.It was...it was good talking to you Grant.Have a good night.Okay?”
“You too Evelyn.Good night.”
When Grant hung up, he felt a single tear slide down his cheek.How could he forget that today was Evelyn and Sean’s anniversary?In fact, he had forgotten the previous year too now that he thought about it.Hell, he had been Sean’s Best Man for fuck’s sake.He left the kitchen, beer in hand, and made a beeline for his home office.Walking to his desk, he took a swallow from his beer and looked down at one of only three pictures on his desk.It was of him, Sean, and Evelyn on their wedding day.Evelyn looking radiant in her white Cinderella wedding dress.She stood between him, and Sean dressed in their Dress Blues.The picture was taken just as he and Sean had leaned down and kissed her cheek.Sean on her left and Grant on her right.
“I miss you, Sean.”Grant whispered to his silent house.
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Gage stood near thestage waiting for the speaker to come out.It had been four days since his panic attack and now here he was standing in front of the capitol building.This assignment was going a long way in helping him deal, or rather not deal, with what was happening in Stacey’s case.This kind of work was keeping his mind too occupied to worry about anything else.Too many ways things could go sideways in a hurry.
In front of him, maybe a hundred yards, was a member of every major news outlet in not just Texas, but a few from across the country.The Governor’s race was important this election.After the mess of the outgoing Governor, people across the state and across the country were waiting to see what was going to happen.The outgoing governor had been linked to not just prostitution, but it was uncovered during the Malconi case earlier this year, that the governor was a client of the Malconi’s and had also helped in keeping them from jail.The DEA and FBI were both building a case against him.At present, he was under house arrest and the lieutenant governor was also being investigated.To say it was a mess would be an understatement.
“So, think we’re going to hear Ethan’s father-in-law’s name?”Helix asked.
“My money is on it.”Gage grinned.
After the case with Ingram, Helix had been moved up to Bravo team from Charlie team.The man was good at finding out information on people.He had been instrumental in providing the feds and the DA’s office with the information on Ingram, which put the man away for life.Helix was about to say something, when he and Gage saw the capitol press secretary step out onto the stage to begin the press conference.Gage and Helix went into work mode, keeping their eyes peeled for anything suspicious.
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Stacey sighed, walkingback into her office.The morning meeting had been a bit monotonous.The manager of the publishing house that took over for Jerry last year was a young man fresh out of college.Okay, so he was two years out of college.While she could appreciate his enthusiasm for the business, he was still wet behind the ears when it came to leadership skills.On the other side though, she could see that in a few years he would have the experience he was currently lacking.
Sitting behind her desk, she was about to reach for her phone to call Walt about it, when the phone rang.“Stacey Carlin.”
“Why hello Stacey.”
A bolt of shock shot through her.“Who is this?”
The man on the other end laughed.“You know who this is.”
His laugh was gravely and sinister.Reaching for her cell on the desk, she calmly texted Ethan.“So now you decide you have the balls to reach out.”
Ethan!He called me.On the phone with him now!
“My, my, such rudeness.”The man said, his voice dropping.“Perhaps I should teach you some manners.”
“Bring it on asshat.It will be your biggest mistake.”
Stacey stated as her phone buzzed.Ethan.
Keep him talking.Tony is working his magic.He’s also recording it.
