“Once Johnson gets back we’ll take the trip. That gives you guys enough time to get everything together, doesn’t it?”
“More than enough,” Quinn agrees.
He stands and makes his way to the connecting room. Finally.
“You okay, Quinn? You don’t seem like yourself.”
“There’s a lot going on. I’m ...” She frowned. “Digesting.”
“Seems like more than that—”
“I’m fine,” she snaps.
Arching my eyebrow, I raise my hands in surrender. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. “I’m stressed and overwhelmed. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”
“So say that. No one expects you to be Super Woman.”
“I do.”
“Even Super Woman had back up and days off.” I lean down. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Her lackluster answer concerns me. Maybe she’s tired? The quiet spreads as the minutes tick by like molasses and we make sure the little we have is packed. I want to probe, but I know she’ll shut me down until she’s ready to talk, so I hold my tongue and wonder if what I thought was the start of a new phase might’ve been the final nail in our coffin. We’ve been through more than most married couples experience in decades. Part of me wants to push her away before she can hurt me. The other part, the larger portion, squashes the idea. She’s never let me down. I can only return the unfailing dedication. Life is bleak, but without her, it’s a total blackout.
“I WANT TO SAY I’LL miss you, but I’m not in the habit of lying,” Carter says as we shake hands in front of the Hilton hotel.
“The feeling is mutual. Thank you for protecting us.”
“You got a good woman there. Might want to lock that down permanently.”
I smirk. “You get tired of her turning you down?”
“Oh no, I love a challenge. You screw up I might just come back around.”
I open my mouth to tell him where he can go, when she places a hand on my shoulder, done with her good-byes to Johnson.
“Thank you again for everything.”
“My pleasure. You ever need anything, you look me up, okay?” He winks.
“We’re no longer under your protection. You make one more pass at my woman, and we’re going to have a problem.”
Carter laughs. “Been waiting for you to do that.” He salutes us both and walks away with Johnson who shakes his head.
“Stay safe guys,” Johnson delivers a parting statement.
“And then there were two. I know we have our cell phones, but I don’t have enough desire or energy to open up that can of worms.”
“Whatever you want to do is fine with me.”
“Quinn?”
“I’m tired, Ollie. Bone deep, soul level exhaustion. I could sleep for twenty-four hours, and still feel drained. Give me a chance to get my bearings and recharge. I thought I’d be relieved when he got sentenced. I don’t. I’m lost. I’m confused, and uncertain about the future. Are they going to keep coming after us? I have a business to run. I can’t go into hiding. To stop doing what I love would be a slow death.”
“Are you thinking about quitting?” I ask, stunned.
“I don’t know what to think. That’s the problem. I don’t do well with the lack of direction or planning. I need time.”