AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jolene let out a laugh. “Right. So, let’s start with Graham. You had a feeling this was the case, and it’s the reason you went to the police to begin with. At least you know there’s something happening there, and you’re going to get answers. There’s nothing that I can say that’s evergoing to make losing Graham okay. No matter how he died, it’s devastating. He was supposed to be your husband. All you can do now is hope that they can figure out what happened to him, the people responsible are brought to justice, and you get the closure you deserve.”
She wasn’t wrong about any of that. To some degree, I’d done a lot of grieving for the loss of Graham prior to finding his phone with that video. Sure, watching that and understanding things were not as they seemed was sort of like losing him all over again, but it was different. I’d already been living for months without Graham. Learning the truth about what happened to him was where my life with him had taken me, sadly.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I replied.
“Of course, I am. Now, on the dinner with your boss front,” she started.
As soon as she said the words, I felt a shudder run down my body and had to stop her. “Don’t say that!”
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
Dinner with my boss.
Technically, that’s what Banks was, but it never really felt like that to me. Maybe it was because I was in his home, looking after his son, and tidying up around the house. It felt less formal. It certainly never felt like work.
“I know. But it sounds awful.”
“I think it sounds wonderful,” she sighed.
Judging by the sound of her voice, I was convinced I would have seen hearts in her eyes if she had been standing in front of me.
“You do?”
“Yes, I do. Lamise, this is wonderful news. I don’t know what his ultimate goal is, or what his intentions are, but Ithink the two of you should have dinner together. You both deserve it.”
“But… but I’m worried,” I stammered.
“I don’t think you need to be. I imagine he’s going to be feeling a lot of the same things you will be feeling, all the way down to the guilt. And the thing is, while I understand why that’s the case, I don’t think either one of you needs to feel that way. You’re both allowed to find happiness. I mean, isn’t that what Graham said he wanted for you anyway?”
He had said that.
And it was obvious I was going to need to keep that in mind as I moved forward, if I didn’t want to constantly feel guilty for still wanting to be happy.
“It is,” I confirmed quietly.
“Enjoy yourself, Lamise. Nothing will make me happier than to know you’re not alone all the time when you’re not working.”
I smiled, feeling better about everything, even if I didn’t know where things would lead in either situation. For now, I had a lot going on, and I just needed to take it all as it came.
“Thanks for talking with me, Jolene.”
“Anything for you. You know that.”
It wasn’t long after I got off the phone with my sister when Rhys woke up. For the rest of the day, I spent my time focusing on him, considering my sister’s words about everything, and trying not to allow myself to get too distracted by all thewhat ifs.
After Rhys was up from his late afternoon nap, we got back to playing. He talked up a storm, and though nothing came out coherently, it didn’t stop me from talking withhim as though we were having a full-blown conversation about something important.
We were so caught up in what we were doing that I hadn’t taken notice of the time. Before I knew it, Banks walked through the door, and when he stepped into the living room, I could see the look of concern written all over his face.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I just looked at your car.”
My brows pulled together. “Is something wrong with my car?”
“Not if it’s dry outside. But considering how slow I had to go on the way home, I don’t think you can leave here tonight,” he answered.
“What?”
