One Plus One (The Millionth Trilogy Book 3)
Page 31
She’d called Trudy the minute she’d gotten up off the floor in the foyer, after Kyle had transported her home, and she’d never heard anything more sweet than her babies on the other end of the line, stepping over Trudy’s voice to talk with her. Less than an hour later, Trudy showed up in a police cruiser, the three of them sitting in the back like bandits. Another car came, unmarked, with a detective inside. Arias was his name. Taller and more athletic than Napoleon Villa, he’d watched their reunion, waited briefly and then stepped back to give them time to quit crying and catch their breath.
His interview with her was brief, at her request, with her promise that she would come to the station to give the unabridged version tomorrow, when she wasn’t quite so exhausted.
Trudy was in the guest bedroom now, with the door closed. When Tamara checked on her earlier she was snoring gently, just like back in college, which made Tamara smile. She was probably dreaming of the young detective, Parker, who she couldn’t stop talking about. She was smitten, it was obvious, but in a way that Tamara had never seen before. It was as if her friend had decided, at long last, maybe in spite of herself, to believe that someone could actually be that special without them having to prove it to her.
It was a good place to be, that ledge right before you step off and fall directly into love. Tamara smiled. Trudy deserved that. Especially after what she’d just been through.
Tamara felt worry and tension begin to creep back into her a bit, despite her faith. What was it her dad used to say? “Odd thing about faith—it’s thin as an egg shell if it ain’t hard boiled.” Yeah, Dad. It is. God knows, I just want some hope back, Dad. Can you tell God that for me? Just a little hope.
She reminded herself to hold the line. To focus on her joys: her little ones were safe, her best friend was safe. Evil was gone. These were not small things.
She splashed more cold water on her face and brushed her teeth again, something she’d already done twice before, as if she couldn’t get clean enough.
A knock came at the front door as she was dabbing her face dry with a towel, and she jumped. It was a solitary sound amid the peace and quiet of the house, and it seemed to echo around awhile. She wondered who it could be at this hour. Most likely a neighbor come to check in, or someone from church with a meal to drop off, second guessing their decision to come by so late. Maybe even the cops again, not willing to wait until tomorrow for more details. A second knock came, softer than the first, almost tentative now. Definitely not the police.
She walked across the carpet of the hallway and onto the floor of the foyer, blissfully aware and appreciative of the feeling on her feet, from the squishy cotton fibers of the carpet to the firm, cool tile. It was so good to be home, to be alive.
When she flipped on the porch light, opened the door and saw him, she caught her breath. He’d lost a lot of weight too, making him look younger, but his shoulders were still broad, and the rugged face and black hair spilling over his eyes called to a part of her she’d been guarding safely since this whole nightmare had begun.
He said nothing, but his chin was dropped and his eyes swam with nervousness.
Her hands came up to her mouth in shock, seemingly of their own free will, as relief awoke inside her and stretched out like a lazy cat. At first she couldn’t believe this was happening. Something in her was afraid that the last time she would ever see him would be as she saw him in that cave: something not entirely human anymore, something destined for another place already, a place that meant leaving her far behind.
But now, here he was: a portrait in repentance, framed by the doorway, and waiting.
Tamara was so stunned she couldn’t speak, so the two of them stood there in silence for a few awkward seconds, forgiveness hovering in their midst, waiting to be given and received. She felt it, and yet still hesitation gripped her heart. He’d hurt her so badly. They had a lot of ground between them. A long journey back to being right again. She wondered if she could do it, make that journey. It wouldn’t be easy.
Then it happened: she smelled a scent, faint, barely there, maybe not really there at all except in her mind, but there nonetheless, as it came and filled the entryway.
It was the scent of fresh plumerias. Like the ones in the forest along the trail that led to The Blessing Pool. Hadn’t she just asked for a little hope?
That’s when Kyle finally spoke. “One?” he said softly.
She smiled. “Plus one.”
Then she opened her arms as wide as she could.
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See what Tony Faggioli is planning next! Check out his website at: https://tonyfaggioli.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TONY FAGGIOLI BEGAN WRITING stories in the 5th grade and continued doing so until college, when he gave up writing to pursue a very short career in politics and a much longer career in business. One day, he finally realized that neither brought him anywhere near the amount of joy as writing. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was raised in Los Angeles, California and graduated from the University of Southern California. He is a happily married father of two kids, two dogs and a pretty awesome goldfish.
For more information, connect with Tony on:
@steelertony
tfaggioli
https://tonyfaggioli.com
ALSO BY TONY FAGGIOLI
One In A Million (Book 1 of "The Millionth Trilogy”)
A Million to One (Book 2 of "The Millionth Trilogy”)
One Plus One (Book 3 of "The Millionth Trilogy”)
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Coming in 2017, "The Snow Globe", a psychological thriller.