Page 117 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
“Hi.” He waved to me and then my mom. “Sorry to intrude. I’ll come back a different day.”
“No, it’s fine. Please, come in.” Standing from the couch, I introduced him to Mom and Dad.
“Stay for dinner?” Mom asked him.
Henry looked to me for an invitation and I nodded. “Stay, please.”
The week after Beau had left, Henry had checked in on me twice but I hadn’t seen him since. I had been so consumed with writing and he’d been busy with work that we’d resorted to the occasional text, but even then, our exchanges had been brief. It would be nice to catch up with him tonight and Mom was cooking a feast.
“Would you like wine?” Dad asked him.
“Sure. Thanks.”
Dad brought Henry a glass and refilled my own, then joined us in the living room.
“It seems like I haven’t seen you in ages,” I said. “I’m glad you stopped by.”
“I was in the area and thought I’d make sure you hadn’t been sucked into your computer.”
Dad laughed. “We got here just in the nick of time.”
“No teasing!” Mom yelled from the kitchen, coming to my defense. “I haven’t had anything good to read for weeks and I’m desperate for her next book.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, giving Dad and Henry my “so there” look.
Henry smiled and turned to my dad. “So how long are you visiting Seattle?”
I sank further into my chair and listened to Dad and Henry chat while Mom’s kitchen noises echoed in the background.
It was strange to see Henry so relaxed, off duty with a wine glass and not wearing his signature black suit. He looked so different, so casual, in jeans and an untucked white linen shirt. He was handsome in his suit but this look fit him better. It went with his dimple.
“Dinner!” Mom announced and we all retreated to the kitchen. Ever since that horrible night with Anton, I couldn’t bring myself to sit at the kitchen island, so with my plate loaded, I came back to the living room and sat on the floor by the coffee table.
I smiled to myself, thinking of how many nights I’d spent at the outpost in a similar position, using a cooler instead of a coffee table. Beau was so big that in order to be comfortable, he always had to have the cooler between his open legs.
My eyes closed as I tipped back my head. Whatever you’re eating, I hope you have a nice dinner tonight.
My parents and Henry joined me in the living room and we all ate Mom’s delicious meal. I volunteered to clean up but Dad insisted I relax and talk with Henry while he and Mom did the dishes.
“How are you?” Henry asked.
“I’m doing okay. There have been a couple of bad nights here and there, but for the most part, I’m good. Writing has helped keep my mind off things.”
He pushed out a slow breath. “I’m glad. I know I’ve said it a million times but I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s over now, Henry. You’re not to blame. How have you been?”
“Busy. Really busy.”
“Those darn criminals. Don’t they ever take vacations?”
He grinned. “The next case I pick up, I’ll be sure to find a bad guy with regularly scheduled holidays.”
I tapped my temple. “Now you’re thinking.”
My ringing phone interrupted our conversation. Felicity’s name flashed on the screen, requesting to FaceTime. My heart started to race as I bounced in my seat, waiting for the video feed to load.
Either she was stuck in a chair and was calling to bitch because she couldn’t get up, or she was in the hospital with my self-proclaimed niece.
