“He’s a lot like his dad.” Jimmy settled onto the couch.
“You’ve known Lee that long?” I asked, sitting in the recliner. I’d planned on leaving for school early and not staying here to overthink everything the detective had told me, but I’d always wondered what a young, before-grief-group Lee had been like.
“We moved in when Lee was thirteen, I think. His father was his hero. They were always together.” He let out a long sigh, shaking his head. “Then what happened to his wife.” Jimmy reached over to pat my hand. “You’re just what they both needed.”
“Thank you. That’s very sweet, Jimmy.” He really was a big teddy bear in a jogging suit.
“So how are you doing? Any trouble?”
“Good. And yes and no.”
I went into the highlights about Zach, still not sure exactly how much Lee had told him, even though he’d insisted it wasn’t a lot. If Lee was away and Zach was going to be a problem, I needed to tell someone who could look out for him.
“Again, the detective said he doubts he’ll make bail, but?—”
“But if he does, you tell me. I can put out word to be aware of anyone looking like him around here without details why. He won’t hurt you. None of us will let him. So don’t worry about it.”
“Just come see you at the shop, right?”
His grin widened when I smiled.
“For anything. We look out for our own, and if you’re Lee’s, you’re ours.” He rose from the couch. “I’ll let you get wherever you were about to go before I scared you and ruined the surprise.”
“I won’t tell. Thank you again. For the flowers, for the food, for being great neighbors. It’s been nice.”
“I’m sure I can speak for my wife when I say it’s our pleasure,” Jimmy said, ambling to the door. “Enjoy the roses.”
I picked up the card after Jimmy left. I’d recognize Lee’s scratchy handwriting anywhere.
I hate leaving you so soon after we finally figured it all out, but I wanted to give you something to remind you how good we are together while I’m away. I miss you. Love, Lee.
Warmth flooded my chest as I slipped thecard into the back pocket of my jeans. I let my hand drift over one of the petals and along the stems, waiting for the pinch of one of the thorns against the pad of my finger to confirm that this was all real, as well as sending up a silent prayer that nothing would make me have to give it back.
TWENTY-NINE
LEE
“Where are you taking Stella?” Bennie asked me as she sat on the edge of my bed, her legs swinging back and forth.
“I’m taking her on a date,” I said, slipping my feet into my sneakers.
“But a date is a thing, not a place, right? Can Taylor order pizza for us tonight?”
Rachel’s sister was coming to watch Bennie for the evening so I could finally take Stella out. As she’d said, we’d been out together millions of times, but not like this. We hadn’t been a couple past the inside of my house—or really, my bedroom and bathroom.
I’d come home from our road trip last night, but I’d had tonight planned days ago. I wouldn’t tell Stella where we were going, and I couldn’t tell my daughter since she didn’t keep secrets very well…or at all.
“Come downstairs with me,” I told her, holding out my arm and waving my hand for her to take it.
“Taylor is here!” Bennie rushed down the last ten steps when she spotted Taylor at the door.
“It’s great to see you too,” she said, chuckling as my daughter rammed herself at her long legs.
“Daddy said we could get pizza. Or he was going to, right, Daddy?”
“I already ordered it for you guys.” Stella came up to Bennie and crouched down. “Taylor knows what you eat and what you can watch, so all you have to do is follow her lead.”
Stella turned to meet my gaze, and I almost swallowed my tongue.
