Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 02 - A Deadly Bargain, Plan C (19 page)

Tom Willis dug some quarters out of his pocket.  “Here you go.”

“Thanks.  Be right back.”

I dialed the number and counted the rings.  “Please be there,” I whispered to myself.  He answered on the fourth ring.

“Hey.  It’s me.”

“Dev?
  Where are you?  I went by your boat.  I went by your Uncle’s place.  I’ve called a dozen times.”

I could hear the concern in Craig’s voice.  I felt terrible for neglecting the man who means more to me than anything else in the world.  “I know.  I’m sorry.  It’s a really long story, and I want to tell it to you.”

“Are you okay?  Where are you?  I was ready to call out the National Guard to find you.”

“I’m in San Diego
—having dinner with some friends.  I was thinking we could go sailing tomorrow.  I could tell you all about where I’ve been and what’s happened.”

There was a brief silence. 
“Saili
ng?
  Okay, Dev.  But what about
—“

“
Cabo
would be nice.  What do you think about
Cabo
?” I suggested.

“
Cabo
?
 
Tomorrow?
  I’ll have to see if I can get some time off.”

“Oh, that’s right.  I forgot.  You can’t just up and set sail any time you feel like it.”

“Well, I’m not exactly a prisoner, but I do have
some
obligations.”

“Obligations.
  Those aren’t necessarily bad things.  I suppose they’re right up there with compromises and commitments.”  I watched through the glass window as an old man helped his wife out of their car.  He took her hand and they
strolled
arm-in-arm into the restaurant.  “Do you think it’s possible to be too free?” I asked.

Craig was silent for a moment.  “Are you okay, Dev?”

I thought about the question.  Was I okay?  Deception never worked when I used it on myself.  I searche
d my soul for the honest truth—
the truth that would set me free.  “I’m great.  You know, I can wait to go to
Cabo
until you have the time.  We can just putter around the harbor tomorrow and get reacquainted.”

“That would be great.  I’ve missed you so much,” Craig said, his voice soothing my nerves like a stroll along a quiet secluded beach.

I watched the old couple from the parking lot find their way to a table.  The man helped his wife into her chair, then leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.  I smiled. 
“Me too.
  One other thing, Craig
—
if your offer still stands, then my answer is yes.” 

I could hear a deep sigh through the phone.  I held my breath waiting for his response.  “My offer stands for eternity,
Devonie
Lace.  You name the place and date, and I’m there in a second.”

A tiny tear rolled down my face and dropped on my hand.  The weight of the world suddenly lifted off my shoulders and I felt freer than I’ve ever felt in my whole life. 

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