“I like a little bit of fun.” She shrugs, ordering her ice-cream.
Stepping up to the window, I place my order. “I’ll get a small Oreo on a cone.” Looking at her, I continue, “with rainbow sprinkles.”
She winks at me and I’m hit with a huge sense of Deja vu. A vision of her, only an older version is smiling back at me as we eat ice-cream cones on the beach with rainbow sprinkles.
The memory, or the future, I’m not sure which, brings joy washing over me.
Taking our cones, we walk down to the beach with a huge smile on my face.
“Today was perfect.” She bumps me with her shoulder. “Thank you for getting me out of my head for a bit.”
“Anything you need, gorgeous. I’m here for you.” Sitting on the exact bench from my memory, I join her. “Do you really think it’s Jack’s dealers looking for you?”
“Do you really think it’s your boss?”
“I do. My last assignment with him was… not what I was told. He’d been on me for a year to do a political piece. I didn’t want to. I keep my political feelings separate from my work. And to be honest, I’m not a journalist nor do I ever want to be one. I want to share my photos and favorite places from around the world.”
“But he somehow got his way?” she guesses.
“You got it. It took a month for me to travel with a couple of families through safer countries to get on a flight home. When I got back he had no remorse. Just wanted my piece in a week. I quit right then and there. I was out in a dangerous area for Nolan’s own agenda and he couldn’t care less.”
She places her hand softly on my knee. “Cooper, I’m so sorry that happened. But it doesn’t explain how whoever this is has my number and knows where I live. You’re not getting photos or texts, just fake cease and desists.”
Sighing, I lean down to rest my head on the top of hers. “That’s the part of the puzzle I haven’t put together yet. But I’ll get it. I promise.”
But at the same time, I wonder. Is this a promise I can keep?
The ride back to Balsam Cliffs has been quieter than our usual banter. Both of us in our own heads about who is behind this mess. I know he's thinking about it like I am because he randomly gives me an idea to connect the two groups together. Only, one idea is more outlandish than the last. I don't know if I believe his boss is involved, that would be something truly next level, and who am I? A no-one that’s important enough for this level of extortion. But money makes people do things they never would have dreamed of.
“We're almost home.” His voice interrupts my own thoughts.
“Oh, I'll text Emma. Your mom was waiting to bring Lily home for us.”
He only nods, his eyes scanning along the road.
“Do you think someone is there now?”
“I'm not taking my chances, because they were last night. So it’s not something they won’t do. I want to know who they are and why they're causing problems for us. I'll be fine, but fuck me if I let them get to you.”
Looking over at him, I can see the worry in his eyes. They bounce back and forth from one side of the road to the other. Lines are etched in the dark circles under his eyes.
“I'm sorry, you shouldn't be dragged into this mess.” My tears threaten to spill over, giving away my own worry about it all.
“I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Besides, it could still be all my fault, then I'm dragging you into my mess. And Lily. And that's definitely not fair.”
He puts the truck in park. “You go in. I'm going to wait out here for Emma and Lily.”
I nod, leaning over the center console to kiss him. “You're a good man, Cooper Keaton. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.”
I tentatively approach my front porch, making sure everything looks okay. Unlocking the door, I swing it open wide. Hoping to catch anyone off guard if they made it inside. Those security cameras can't come soon enough.
Moving from room to room I scrutinize everything. Until I come to an open window in my bedroom, one I know I didn't leave open.
Immediately, I spin around looking all over the room but nothing truly seems out of place. But there is something I can’t place that has the hair on the back of my neck standing on edge.
Unknown:> You’re finding that I was in your house right about now.
Unknown:> Do you feel it? The invasion?