AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I can't check," Beau said. "I'm just going to have to call her and see what it said."
"No!" Hope said quickly. "Then she'll know I told you. I mean, what if it's not even you? She'll know I told you if you call without the note. Please don't. I don't even know what it says."
Beau breathed a sigh. "I'm not waiting until I get back home to take care of this. I need to call her right now. I need to wish her happy birthday. What time is it there?"
"It's nine. What about there?"
"It's eleven in the morning. We were up late last night, so I'm just getting up."
"Is there anyone you can call in Chicago? Just so you can make sure there's a note?"
"Yeah, I'll figure it out," he said. "Thanks, Hope."
"You're welcome. How's Japan?"
"It's great," Beau answered, feeling completely preoccupied."
"Okay, well, have fun and hug your brother for us. We love y'all."
He gave her a quick, "Love you, too," and they hung up the phone.
***
Rose had been at the lake house, but she had just gotten back home to Chicago. She was the logical choice to help Beau with this matter. He texted his sister, and within thirty minutes, she called him back from his new apartment.
"I'm here," Rose said. "I had a hard time with the key. I had to fight with it."
"Thank you. Are you in my apartment?"
"Yes. It's clean in here."
"I barely moved in, but thank you. Okay. There's a small piece of luggage in my closet. It's black—one of those carry-ons. Go to the back bedroom and into the closet."
"Okay, I'm headed to the back," she said, walking as she spoke.
"The suitcase is on the floor, all the way against the backside of the wall. Do you see it?"
"I'm not in there yet. Hang on."
He could hear her breathing as she walked. "I can't believe I'm driving over here this late at night."
"I’m sorry. And thank you. I'll buy you something when I get back."
"You don't have to buy me anything. I’m in here. I see a suitcase. A black one. What am I looking for?"
"Wait, hang on, don't open anything. There might be a note inside, and if there is, I don't want you to read it."
He heard her laughing on the other end.
"What? What are you laughing at?"
"You. How am I supposed to tell you what it says if I don't read it? What are you so torn up about?"
"I'm not torn up, I just wanted to see if—"
"There's a pair of jeans. Oh, here's a card. Yep. There's a little envelope under the jeans."
"Don't open it yet."
