Page 8 of What Comes After

My lips twitched.

It was as though she knew I’d been thinking about her.

Hazel

This is just a note to let you know that I’ve got the flight crew on standby for whenever you’re ready to leave.

Theo

I might need a couple more days here. I have a few more properties I’m looking at today that seem promising.

Hazel

You’re considering staying now?

Theo

I haven’t quite made up my mind. I should know more later today. In the meantime, check your email. I’ve forwarded the two best listings to you.

Hazel

Can’t wait!

I exited out of the conversation with Hazel and was about to get back to my breakfast when I saw the last text I’d sent before the conversation with my assistant.

It was a text I’d sent last night to Devyn.

Devyn Jade, my best friend in the whole world. I’d known her all my life, and no matter the physical distance between us all these years, we’d remained great friends.

Of course, I hadn’t talked to her as often as I liked, especially when I was working on set over the last several years. I hadn’t even gone home to Tennessee in years.

At that thought, I went to my camera roll and opened the folder I’d made years ago and had transferred to my new phone every time I replaced it. The folder was labeled Home. Interestingly enough, the only photos in that folder were pictures of just Devyn or of Devyn and me. I hadn’t added a new photo to the folder in years. I hadn’t seen her in years.

I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d heard her voice; it had been so long since we last spoke on the phone, too.

And what really struck me as odd was that I hadn’t heard from her after I’d sent that text to her last night. Granted, she didn’t always immediately respond, but within a couple of hours, Devyn always said something.

She hadn’t said anything.

It took me almost no time to make an immediate decision.

I didn’t know where things were going to go today with the property listings or if I’d decide to purchase one as a permanent home for me to settle down in, but after my appointment with Charles today, I knew exactly where I was going to go.

It was a good thing Hazel had the flight crew on standby, because we were going to be in the air before the day was over. And with any luck, I’d be back in Iris, Tennessee before dinner. Maybe I’d be able to surprise my best friend and take her out, so we could catch up.

On that thought, I felt a wave of excitement I hadn’t felt in a long time move through me. Perhaps, especially now that I was considering taking an extended break from movies, I might be able to convince Devyn to take a trip and go house hunting with me. There was no question she’d be the best person to ask, not only because I valued her opinion, but because, with the exception of my parents, she was the one person I trusted to have my best interests at heart.

With my mind made up, I got back to my breakfast, eager to get this day started, so I could get on a plane and head back home.

But no sooner had I finished eating and gotten myself ready to leave, so I could meet Charles, when my phone rang.

It wasn’t a name I’d expected to see this morning, but it was one that made me smile all the same.

Lifting the phone to my ear, I said, “Good morning, Mom. How’s it going?”

There was a long stretch of silence before she spoke. With her voice just barely a touch over a whisper, she said, “Theo.”

My body froze. “Mom?”

---