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“What’s that?”
“That’s Bun. Short for Bunny. Selfishly, I wanted to keep him, but Charlie was never without him, so, at the last minute, I put him in the casket.”
They shared a look, then Calder returned to the picture. “He got your hair.”
“Yes. But his eyes were like melted dark chocolate. Nothing like mine.”
Hers had been tear-washed and were reflecting the wavering light from the candle on the table. “Yours would be hard to replicate.” They held him spellbound for a moment, then he passed the phone back to her. “Thank you for showing me.”
“When you asked, I was taken aback. Most people are so uncomfortable talking to me about him, they’re hesitant even to say his name. No one has asked to see his picture. So thankyou.”
She replaced her phone in her purse. Calder asked if she wanted a refill of coffee, but to his disappointment, she declined. He said, “In hindsight, maybe we should have ordered the old-fashioneds and just gotten skunked.”
She laughed as she scooted out of the booth. He left a twenty on the table and waved a thanks to the bartender as they walked toward the door. The two buddies turned on their stools and wished them a good evening. They probably assumed they were a couple.
As they walked to their cars, Calder kept his hand hovering above the small of her back. He told himself it was a precaution in case she lost her footing where the sidewalk was buckled by tree roots.
But who the hell was he kidding?
When they reached their cars, which were parked side by side, she nodded toward his Jag and said, “Snazzy.”
“Snazzy? You need to put that word in one of your stories.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” she said, smiling up at him.
He stepped around her and opened the driver’s door of her compact SUV. He noticed the child seat was still belted into the back seat. Attached to it was a toy steering wheel.
She didn’t get in immediately but stood facing him in the wedge of the open door. “Will you be at the next group session?”
He winced. “I don’t think so. I felt conspicuous.”
“You were a bit.”
“I shouldn’t have come in late.”
“It wasn’t that. People are in awe of you.”
“In awe?”
“You’re attributed with saving lives.”
“They’re giving me a lot more credit than I deserve. In any case, I’ll never talk about it publicly. I appreciate what some people get out of those meetings, but I just can’t see myself—”
“You don’t have to explain. No judgment.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded, then said, “Well…” She looked beyond him, toward the building, before coming back to him. “I liked the place. Thank you for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you with all the tears.”
“You didn’t.”
She gave him a faint smile. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too. Be careful driving home.”
