Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela (48 page)

―I wasn‘t going to say that!‖

―Oh, you were thinking it.‖

Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela

299

Though she shook her head in a silent rebuke, Trudy said, ―I‘m

not going to argue about this with you, but I
am
glad you finally

learned the truth.‖

―Yeah, me too. There‘s still a part of me that can hardly believe it.

I never would have thought she had it in her to—well, you know.‖

―It‘s a hazard of our business, I think. We learn so much about

reading people and about patterns of behavior that we sometimes forget

that people can still surprise us.‖

A sheepish smile crept across Nick‘s face as he offered,

―Meaning we can‘t know
everything
—about anyone.‖

―Exactly. You didn‘t know the truth about your mother, I couldn‘t

hear the truth about Logan… and neither of us will ever really know

what happened to Norah.‖

Though seven months had passed, that memory was still too raw

and bitter for Nick to accept any comfort on that score. ―Oh, come on! I

think we know
exactly
what happened to Norah.‖

―Some. We know she met up with Alex, we know he killed her.

But we sure don‘t know what went on between those two events. Like

why she met him—was she attempting to re-kindle the relationship, or

was she perhaps seeking closure?‖ When Nick shook his head in

vigorous disagreement, Trudy raised a placating hand. ―Think about it.

The most dangerous time for any victim is when they try to leave. It

was true for your mom; maybe it was true for Norah.‖

Nick forced himself to consider Trudy‘s words and once again

found himself unable to argue the point. ―Maybe. At the very least, I

guess you‘re right. We‘ll never know for sure.‖ Seeing Trudy‘s

triumphant smile, he joked, ―If you‘re done spreading your irrefutable

wisdom, I really do have work to catch up on.‖

Rather than budging, Trudy leaned back, insinuating herself more

comfortably into his guest chair. She regarded him silently with a

raised eyebrow for a second before saying in her more familiar,

commanding tone, ―Actually, since you‘re so ready to get back to

work—‖

―I don‘t like the sound of this already.‖

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Trudy completely ignored his interruption as she continued

smoothly, ―I have an assignment I‘d like you to take on.‖

Nick found it impossible to keep the wince off his face as he

protested, ―Not
another
client?‖

―Nope. A summer intern. A green kid from the pysch program at

Pitt.‖

―Sounds familiar,‖ Nick answered with a smirk. ―Also sounds

like a major pain in the ass.‖

―They usually are,‖ Trudy agreed. ―You‘ll do it?‖

―Ummm….‖

While Nick was still furiously attempting to come up with a

deflection, Trudy rose gracefully to her feet, saying, ―Good. She starts

Monday.‖

―Monday!‖

―What? That gives you three days, plus the weekend if you need

it, to prepare.‖

Nick laughed resignedly. ―Plenty of time.‖

―I knew you‘d see it my way.‖

As his boss reached the doorway, Nick called, ―Trudy?‖ When

she turned back towards him, he asked, ―Some of these interns—they

work out, don‘t they?‖

Her smile softened as Trudy answered firmly, ―Yeah, one in

particular did. He worked out pretty damn well.‖

THAT Friday afternoon found Logan humming tunelessly as he

searched for a spot in the downtown parking lot located on

Commonwealth Place. Fully aware that it was after six p.m. and Nick

was probably cooling his heels at their appointed meeting spot, Logan

quickly pulled into the first vacant slot he found. He remembered to

snag the heavy brown paper bag off the passenger‘s seat before

hopping out of the truck and making a beeline for his destination: the

main entrance of Pittsburgh‘s famous Point State Park.

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301

Logan‘s general contentment was slowly building to elation at the

thought of the evening he had planned for Nick, though a slight sense

of foolishness marred his happiness. He couldn‘t quite shake the feeling

that this was a lot of trouble for one guy to go to for another—not only

closing up the shop early but spending thirteen dollars for parking and

twenty-five more for the food and drinks lurking in his bag. Especially

since Nick always seemed perfectly content with their usual Friday

night plans: delivery pizza and Iron City beer wolfed down in front of

ESPN.

Sure never went to this kind of trouble for Linda
, Logan mused.

As quickly as that reflection had come, Logan attempted to discard it.

In their last few weeks of counseling, Trudy had told him several times

that unless it was possible to channel his remorse into some positive

action, feeling guilty about what he‘d been unable to give Linda during

their marriage didn‘t do her any good.

’Sides, Linda sure seems to be movin’ on with her life, taking up

with that Bill fellow an’ that.
With that thought, Logan managed to

dodge the negativity trying to weigh him down as he darted around yet

another construction barrier. He‘d been warned that most of the park

was still under renovation as part of a massive multi-year project to

spruce the place up. The news hadn‘t deterred him, since Point State

Park was a place that Nick had spoken of with wistful fondness several

times. Logan hoped a visit to the park might do his uncharacteristically

somber boyfriend some good.

The park was located at the very tip of Pittsburgh‘s so-called

"Golden Triangle" and marked the spot where the Allegheny River

joined with the Monongahela to form the Ohio River. In sight of this

confluence, there was an iconic fountain, and Logan had initially

suggested it as an obvious place to rendezvous. However, Nick had

assured him that there would be an inevitable crush of people around

that desirable spot on a balmy Friday night in May, and he‘d proposed

the reflecting pool as a better option.

There was still a decent-sized group of people in evidence when

Logan arrived at the pool, but he quickly spotted Nick‘s dark head bent

over his cell phone. He crept up on his man as quietly as possible

before startling him from behind with a booming, ―Can‘t leave that

damn thing alone for a second, can you?‖

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Nick whirled around and bestowed a sparkling laugh and brilliant

smile on Logan while retorting, ―Just reading a text from Adam. What

else have I got to do since my date was so damn late?‖

―Twelve minutes ain‘t so late,‖ Logan mumbled as Nick offered

him a super-quick hug. When they broke apart, he heroically quelled

the desperate urge to glance around at the neighboring strangers, but it

turned out to be a wasted effort. As usual, his man read his mind when

Logan least wanted him to.

―No one noticed.‖

―Who cares if they did?‖

―You do.‖ Before Logan could turn away, Nick continued, his

voice warm and firm, ―And it‘s okay.‖

Logan bit his lip as he looked into Nick‘s guileless eyes. ―You

know, I don‘t
wanna
care.‖

―I know. And someday, you won‘t—but these things take time.‖

Dredging up a mock scowl, Logan growled, ―This ain‘t workin‘

out at all.‖ He could barely disguise the need to smile at Nick‘s sudden

consternation.

―What the hell does that mean?‖

―I‘m supposed to be comforting you.‖

Nick shook his head as he landed a soft, retaliatory punch on

Logan‘s arm. ―Is that what this is all about?‖ When Logan merely

shrugged in reply, Nick demanded, ―What‘s in the bag?‖

―You‘ll find out,‖ Logan demurred. ―Come on, show me around.‖

Without waiting for Nick‘s response, he started for the interior of the

park.

As Nick caught up with him, Logan proved he, too, could read his

lover‘s mind; he adroitly lifted the bag away just as Nick made a

sudden lunge for it. ―Stop bein‘ so impatient,‖ he chided. Using an

obvious distraction technique, he asked, ―What‘d Adam want?‖

―He wants to know if we‘re available for a softball game

tomorrow afternoon.‖

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303

―Again? This so-called pick-up league of his sure picks up a lotta

games.‖

―Adam managed to arrange a game with some team from the

pizza league. He says he‘s sorry it‘s so last minute, but it took him most

of the day to work out the logistics."

Since Logan had thoroughly enjoyed the few games he‘d already

played on the team, the news wasn‘t actually unwelcome, but he

couldn‘t help but be amazed at the amount of time Adam spent

arranging outings for his large group of friends, a group which had

recently expanded to include Logan. ―Geez, does that kid ever work?

You know, the kind he gets paid for?‖

―Oh, you know Adam….‖ Nick laughed ruefully, as though he‘d

suddenly realized that wasn‘t quite true. ―Well, you will. He works just

enough to get by. Is that a no?‖

Logan quickly weighed the possibilities before answering, ―Guess

we can fit in a game. That team will lose for sure without your

pitching.‖ He was gratified at the obvious grin of pleasure his sincere

compliment had elicited from Nick.

―And your hitting,‖ Nick drawled in return.

―Yep.‖ Logan felt no need to deny it. ―But there‘s a radiator job I

gotta get done on a Jeep tomorrow morning.‖

When they drew near an aging brick building, Nick interrupted

their conversation to point out the Fort Pitt museum. While Logan was

reading the historical marker at the front entrance, Nick asked, ―You

sure you got time for the Jeep
and
the game tomorrow?‖

Logan peeped at Nick from under the brim of his Pirates cap,

answering archly, ―Sure—if I can get some help on the Jeep.‖

Nick rubbed his hand across his lightly-stubbled jaw, giving the

appearance that he was considering his options. ―Sounds like you‘re

looking for some more free labor outta yours truly.‖

Hearing no real heat in his boyfriend‘s mild jab, Logan continued

the good-natured repartee. ―Ain‘t that what you get outta me with them

mechanic‘s classes I‘m doin‘ for ACC?‖

―Hey, now, ACC is a
charitable
institution.‖

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Felicia Watson

Logan‘s first response was a snicker as he easily retorted, ―So? So

is Crane‘s Auto Clinic.‖

Nick‘s voice got suddenly earnest when he asked, ―But not for

long, right?‖

Happy to allay that concern, Logan answered quickly and

honestly, ―Nope, not for long.‖

―Good.‖ Nick gestured towards the museum. ―You wanta go in?‖

―Nah, I wanta see this famous fountain of yours. It‘s over that

way, ain‘t it?‖

―It‘s not
my
fountain,‖ Nick objected. He seemed to be struggling

for words as he and Logan walked along the Monongahela River

pathway towards the renowned feature. ―Back when I first saw it, it

seemed…. I just liked the way… the idea….‖ Nick let his deeper

thoughts trail off as he simply finished, ―It‘s pretty impressive.‖

―You started coming here in college, right?‖ Logan confirmed,

more to get Nick talking again than for information, since he‘d heard

the story several times.

―Those first few months, I came here a lot, yeah. And then

whenever I was feeling down.‖ Suddenly Nick stopped short and gave

Logan a knowing glance. ―Oh, like I am now. That‘s the point of all of

this, huh?‖

―Yeah.‖ When Nick said nothing, Logan was worried that he‘d

made some sort of blunder. ―Is that okay?‖ He breathed a sigh of relief

when Nick smiled and clasped him on the arm.

―The park‘s always good, but bein‘ here with you is—well, it‘s

great. Thanks.‖

―Ain‘t no big deal. I been wantin‘ to see this place, too, you

know?‖ The next statement took some effort to force out of his mouth,

not because it wasn‘t true, but because it was. ―It‘s the symbol of my…

my new hometown, ain‘t it?‖

Logan‘s exertion was rewarded when Nick‘s smile turned into a

blinding grin. ―You bet. Looks a lot better when it ain‘t so torn up,

though. I wonder if they‘ll still have the fireworks on the Fourth of

July?‖

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305

―They have ‘em here?‖

―Yeah, a huge production every year.‖ Nick‘s voice grew even

more animated as he suggested, ―We should bring the girls. They‘ll go

wild.‖

The ―we‖ in that statement loomed large for Logan, and he