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I pulled back.
"I've got to get going," I said.
He nodded, but as I started back, he pulled my hand.
"Wait," he said. "I want to give you this without a dozen eyes watching." He dug into his pocket and produced a small white box tied with a tiny pink ribbon.
"What is it?"
"Open it," he said, putting it into my palm. I did so slowly and plucked out a gold locket on a gold chain. The locket had a tiny ruby in the center circled with diamond chips. "Oh, Beau, it's beautiful! But it must be very expensive." He shrugged but smiled, indicating I was right.
"Now open the locket," he said, and I did so.
Inside was a picture of him, and across from it was a picture of me. I laughed and kissed him on the cheek quickly.
"Thank you, Beau. It's a wonderful gift. I'll put it on immediately," I said. "Help me with the clasp." I handed it to him and turned around. He draped the locket between my breasts and fastened the chain. Then he kissed me on the neck.
"Now if any other boy gets close to you, he'll have to get through me to reach your heart," he whispered.
"No one else will get that close, Beau," I promised.
"Ruby," we heard Daddy call. "It's time, honey."
"Coming, Daddy."
Beau and I started back. Daddy and Edgar were taking Gisselle off the galerie and transporting her to the rear seat of the Rolls-Royce. The wheelchair was folded and placed in the van.
"Beau, good morning," Daddy said.
"Morning, monsieur."
"How's everyone at home?"
"Fine," he said. Despite the passage of time and the healing of wounds, it was still hard for Daddy and Beau to speak to each other. Daphne had done so much to sensationalize and escalate the situation.
"Ready, Ruby?" Daddy asked, looking from Beau to me. Daddy knew what it meant to leave someone you love behind. His eyes were full of sympathy.
"Yes, Daddy."
Daddy got into the car, and I turned to Beau for our goodbye kiss. Gisselle had her face in the window.
"Come on, already. I can't stand sitting in here when we're not moving."
Beau smiled at her and then kissed me.
"I'll call as soon as I can," I whispered.
"And I'll come as soon as I can. I love you."
"Me too," I said quickly, and ran around the other side to get into the car.
"You could kiss me goodbye too, Beau Andreas. It wasn't so long ago that you couldn't wait to kiss me every chance you got," Gisselle said.
"I will never forget those kisses," Beau teased, and he leaned inside to kiss her quickly.
"That wasn't a kiss," she said "Maybe you forgot how. Maybe you need an expert to teach you again." She flashed a look at me then and added, "Maybe you'll practice while we're away." She laughed and sat back.
Daddy conferred with the driver of the van, reviewing the route to Baton Rouge and the school just in case we got separated.
