I came up behind her, snaking my right arm around her front, gathering her close, my lips resting on the crown of her head. But I didn’t quiet her.
“Then I got used to the quiet. Running on my own, living on my own, cooking for one. All of it. This is an adjustment, and I’m afraid to like it too much. I don’t mean the sex. Obviously, it’s incredible, but sex can be found. Friendship, companionship can’t be found so easily.”
The last part was a whisper.
“I’m not going anywhere. I bought a house here. Sort of feels like I’m putting down roots.”
“What happens when you find your mom? Or you don’t and you get frustrated?” She turned in my arms. “Or someone more suited for you catches your eye?”
Face-to-face, nose-to-nose, I bent my head to meet her eyes. “Don’t be like that. I much prefer the confident woman to this version. I want you to listen to what I’m about to say. I’m falling for you, Claire, and I’m not going anywhere. I want to see where this is going, and I want you to see that too. The next few weeks will be hard, I’m sure, but I’ll be here. We can take a trip. How ’bout that?”
“I haven’t gone anywhere in three years. To be honest, it sounds a bit frightening. I was always afraid they’d make some discovery on the case while I was gone. Not that it would make a difference. Abby’s gone.”
“That’s why there are cell phones. And now the gauntlet has been thrown down. You can’t be afraid of a small trip, so we’re going. Now, come on, let’s go put your feet up and have a drink and talk about where we should go.”
