She pops open the top and picks up the key. She twirls it in her hand. “A key? You want me to move in with you?” she asks, confused. “I thought we were already moving into my place because you are going to sell yours?”
My smile widens. “What if I told you that we can?” Confusion flickers across her face, but beneath it, a little hope shimmers behind those eyes.
“What do you mean?” She pushes herself upright, eyes locked on mine, and waits for me to elaborate.
I lean forward, unable to hide my grin. “What if we could move back to your home? The one that was next to mine in Texas?”
Her lips part, disbelief painting her features as she stares down at the box in her hands. Her fingers wrap around the cool metal resting inside. “Vic,” her voice cracks, hopeful. “Did…Did you repurchase my house?”
My smile widens, matching hers as her tears spill over. “Yep. I sure did.”
The keys slip from her grasp as she launches herself into my arms.
“Yes. Yes!” she cries, her voice muffled against my shoulder. “Let’s move back.” Her joy soaks into me as I hold her tight and laugh. And I’ve never felt more at peace.
She hugs me tightly, and I laugh. “Okay, let’s move back.”
I’m sittingin Dani’s office on Monday afternoon, after we have both submitted our notices at work. The weight of our shared decisions is still fresh, but I know that it was the best plan for us moving forward. Both of us had submitted our notices this morning. I have a two-month notice bound by contract, and Dani has nearly the same, more so out of obligation. Hers was less rigid, but when she told them she was moving back home, they agreed she could stay until her replacement was found, or sooner, if needed.
Now with the hardest part done, I wanted to make today lighter. I’d brought her favorite lunch for the little café downstairs. It's a crisp apple salad with a scoop of curry chicken salad on top, with almond slices scattered across. A small vinaigrette packet rests next to the bag, exactly how she likes it. Her face lights up when she sees it. A huge grateful smile on her face—that is like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of me every time. I'm just glad that we got here again.
I decided to give it a shot and grabbed an extra side scoop of chicken salad curry to go with mine. Her iced matcha latte rests next to my drink on her desk —a healthy green smoothie that I pretend tastes much better than it does.
Just then, a slight knock sounds at her door, and Julia, Sonya’s sister, comes into view. I rise from my seat, pushing the lunch container aside. Dani is already on her feet, crossing the small space to gather Julia in her arms for a hug.
“Sorry to disturb your lunch,” Julia says as she steps inside the cramped office, offering a small smile. Her expression isn’tthe vacant one she wore when her sister died. “I just wanted to let you know some news.” Dani glances at me, and our eyes meet. And in the silent exchange, we both remember the scene of Sonya's husband bleeding out on the kitchen floor not too long ago.
“Oh?” Dani says carefully, voice neutral. “What is it, Julia?”
She exhales as she reveals this truth to us, as if it sheds years of weight off her shoulders. “Well…Sonya’s husband was found dead in his home.”
Dani draws in a sharp breath, feigning shock.
“What?” I say, my hand flying to my chest in a rehearsed gesture of sympathy, trying to follow her lead. Dani gives me a look that says too much.
She clears her throat, drawing the attention away from me. “What happened?”
“He was stabbed, I guess,” Julia says, her voice flat, as though she is still trying to make sense of it. “The weird thing was that someone called emergency services from his phone. When they arrived, they found an unconscious woman who’d been drugged. I asked if she was okay, and they told me she was okay physically, but,” she shakes her head, “I don’t know how that poor girl is doing mentally.”
The silence hangs heavy in the air until I change the subject. “How’s Rose handling all this?”
Julia’s eyes soften, her shoulders relaxing at the mention of her niece. “I told her her dad had died, and she looked…relieved,” she breathes out, with a slight tremor to her voice. “I will be taking care of her. Permanently.” Her gaze flicks back to me. “And do you know the weirdest part?”
I shrug, because honestly, it’s all pretty freaking weird if you ask me.
“He had taken a life insurance policy out on Sonya a year ago for one point five million dollars.” Julia shakes her head as ifshe can’t believe it at all, but I know it’s true because I saw the papers there. “It all goes to Rose now. I’m going to set it aside in a trust, make sure she has the kind of life my sister always wanted for her. One with love, and safety…and choices.” She sighs. “Friends. Even college, if she wants that, too.”
Dani’s eyes are glistening with tears as they slip freely down her cheeks. She doesn't bother hiding them. Her hand drags across her face, fingers splayed, catching more tears as they continue to fall.
“I’m so glad for Rose,” she whispers hoarsely. “She’ll never have to fear that man again. Maybe now…she can move forward.” Dani's throat bobs as she swallows down the emotions. “No one can ever take the place of her mom, but I am so damn grateful that she has someone like you, Julia.”
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Julia reaches into her bag and pulls a folded piece of paper. “She drew this picture and told me to give it to you.” I take it carefully, unfolding the crayon lines to reveal a picture of me, Rose, and the coffee shop where I treated her and her mom to breakfast. A stick version of her, rabbit in hand, standing beside a taller stick figure, which is undoubtedly me. A tiny heart floats above us, and my name is written in uneven block letters across my figure. She’s drawn herself smiling up at me, while my stick figure eyes look down at her. My throat tightens as tears blur the images on the paper before me. Dani takes it gently from my hands and pins it to the corkboard in her office, smoothing it flat with reverence.
“I’ll keep this here, for him, in my office,” she says softly, but she smiles through her tears, and there isn’t a dry eye in this place.
Julia hugs us both. “Thank you both for everything.” With that, she leaves, and Vic and I stare down at our uneaten food, appetites now lost.
“What do you think happens now?” Dani asks.
