Page 126 of In the Shadows
"I've thought about it."
"And?"
"Caleb and I have worked out a new arrangement. I’ll be working from home in an organizational capacity. No more field work, but still involved." He turned to look at her. "How do you feel about that?”
"You’ll be home every day?"
"I guess. Maybe a meeting or two.”
She nodded slowly. "Okay."
"That's it? Just okay?"
"What do you want me to say? I’m thrilled you won’t have to leave home and go to God knows where being shot at by Lord knows who?" She pulled the blanket higher.
"That's surprisingly reasonable."
"I have my moments." She looked at him. "Besides, I need someone to help me practice my Rotary speech, and you're the only person who'll tell me when I sound stupid."
"I can do that."
"I know. That's why I'm keeping you around."
The sun touched the water, spilling gold across the inlet. They watched it sink, slow and inevitable, until the last sliver disappeared and the sky began to darken.
Lila stood and gathered the blanket around her shoulders.
"I'm going inside. It's freezing."
"I'll be there in a minute."
"Don't stay out too long."
"I won't."
She went inside. The screen door creaked shut behind her.
Ronan sat alone on the porch, watching the stars appear one by one. The owl was calling again, somewhere in the darkness. The same owl, maybe, that he'd heard all those nights before.
He didn't know what came next. For the first time in twelve years, his job was changing, just like his life. He had a woman inside making coffee, a town that was starting to feel like home, and a future that was entirely unwritten.
The screen door creaked.
"I said don't stay out too long."
"It's been three minutes."
"Four. I counted." She was standing in the doorway, backlit by the warm glow from inside. "Coffee's ready. And it's actually good this time."
"You sound surprised."
"I am surprised. It's a miracle." She held the door open. "Come inside."
He stood. Took one last look at the dark water, the stars overhead, the quiet settling over everything.
Then he walked inside and closed the door behind him.
Chapter Twenty-Five
