Page 258 of ClickBack

“And put it over the chair where I could see it.”

We smile at each other in the reflection. Then Rae lowers her eyes to the next button.

“She would have walked with you.”

The dress blurs before I can blink.

“You and Zi are walking with me,” I say.

“Yeah.” She closes the last button. “We are.”

I turn carefully and put my arms around her. She comes without protecting her hair or worrying about the dress. I hold my daughter until she is the one who reaches for the tissue box.

At twenty past five, Marguerite takes me down the stairs. She stays by the east door while I go around the corner, where Jarrett waits on the other side of the limestone wall.

“Don’t look,” I tell him.

“I’m looking at a tree.”

“Keep doing that.”

His hand appears around the corner. I put mine into it, and he closes his fingers firmly around mine.

For several seconds I can only stand there holding him.

“You good?” he asks.

“I was until you sent that note.”

He laughs softly. “You got it.”

“I’m keeping the picture.”

“You can have it. I’m getting you.”

I lean against the stone. Above us, guests are finding their seats. Somebody calls a name, and somebody else answers too loudly. I hear a few notes from a violin, then the musician beginning again.

“Any news on those buttons?” Jarrett asks.

“How did you hear about the buttons?”

“Di passed me in the hall and wished me luck.”

“Thirty-one.”

“Damn.”

“You have excellent hands.”

He turns mine over and kisses my palm. “Keep talking to me like that out here.”

I laugh and rest my forehead against the cool wall. His hand stays around mine.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you, too, Zel.”

Marguerite appears at the door, giving me the signal. I squeeze his fingers before letting go.