“I thought of calling Lacey, but I don’t want to intrude. Then I thought about driving to Baton Rouge and visiting some friends from that office, but I’m not sure if I want to deal with questions from what happened in Charleston, so I don’t know.” A dry laugh echoed over the table. “This trip was entirely impulsive. Up until Carrie telling me about you, I still didn’t know where I was headed, and even as I drove here, all I could think of was you.”
“I, for one, am glad you acted on that whim. Knowing you, if you thought too much about it, you would have changed your mind.” He squeezed her hand, then released it so they could eat, but only because he had to leave in minutes. “That’s why our impulsive natures work well for us.”
She breathed in deeply, then locked gazes with him. “No, this trip might have been an impulse. Coming to you, however, was coming home to where I always knew I was meant to be but was too stubborn to admit it. Maybe that’s why I never could decide where I wanted to go.”
Those words—he’d waited so long to hear them. Everything he wanted was within his grasp, but was it too good to be true? “We still have much to work out.”
Monica nodded in agreement. “I know, but we’ll do it. We will find a way to make us work.”
“Promise me you won’t change your mind and leave while I’m gone?” His question was in jest but reflected his trace of worry.
“Never.” She set down her fork. “I’ve done enough running. No more.”
“I’m glad.” Rex checked his watch, regretting he had to leave so soon. “You can hang out here this morning if you want or go wherever. Jenna’s having lunch with mom after church, then heading straight back to New Orleans so she won’t be stopping in again this trip.”
“We had a great talk last night. I like her.”
He grinned. “She said the same.”
“She invited me to church. I guess it’s too late to go now.”
His brow furrowed, surprised. “Were you considering it?”
“Maybe.” She nibbled on a piece of bacon, didn’t offer more information.
“I’ve gone a few times, lately.” When she looked up at him, he added, “Well, once. Last week.”
“We’ve never talked about God and spiritual matters.”
The truth hit him hard. “Perhaps that’s where we went wrong.”
She swallowed a bit of egg. “We can go together next week.”
“You’ll still be here?” He balled his hands into fists, waiting, hoping that’s what she meant.
“I told you I’m done running.”
“Does that mean…” He trailed off and left the sentence for her to finish.
“Last night I had the most wonderful dream. I quit my job and moved to Louisiana. When I woke up, I remembered every detail of that dream and knew that’s what I would do.” She laughed nervously. “It sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”
“Not to me.” He left his chair and went to her side, pulled her to his feet. “What will you do?”
Her lips twisted. “I don’t know. I’ve thought about going back to school for another degree.”
“For social work.”
She tilted her head and looked at him. “How’d you know?”
His hand found its way to her face, and he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I listen to you, and I know you well. You protect your clients and love your job, but you wish there was a world where your job wasn’t needed. You see the broken soul behind every criminal and wish there was something you could do. After seeing the worst in human behavior, you still believe there’s good in everyone and believe that if you can reach that good before evil overcomes then you’ll have made the world a better place.”
“I…I’ve never told anyone that.” She stared at him with wide eyes that tried to comprehend what he’d told her.
“You didn’t have to.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “When you care about someone, you pay attention to what’s important to them. The most important messages are often unspoken.”
His phone rang, breaking the spell and giving an untimely reminder he had to be at work.
Monica must have seen his hesitation. “Go. I’ll be here waiting when you’re off.”
