The car pulled up to her building, and I got out of the car so I could walk her to her door.
She didn’t object this time, probably because it never made a difference anyway.
We took the elevator to her floor and approached her front door.
She slipped the keys into the door and unlocked it, but she made sure the door stayed closed. “Thank you for your jacket.” She switched the clutch between her hands as she got the jacket off her shoulders.
I took the clutch out of her hand to make it easier.
“Thank you.” She slipped it off then took the clutch from me.
I put the jacket back on, adjusting my collared shirt underneath before I looked at her again.
“Well, I had a great time. Thank you for letting me be part of it.”
I should be the one thanking her, but I didn’t have the words.
She didn’t seem to expect anything from me because she smiled. “Goodnight, Deacon.”
“Goodnight, Cleo.” I waited for her to go inside.
She opened the door but kept her body in the crack, like she was trying to hide my view. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
I nodded then got back into the elevator.
When I was back in the car, Tucker texted me.
How’d it go?
Fine.
Really? A hospital was named after you, and it was fine?
It was really fine.
Did you just make a joke? LOL.
I didn’t respond.
You gonna send me that picture?
I opened the photo Anna had taken. I hadn’t had a chance to look at it because there’d been too much going on. But now, I stared at it, saw the way Cleo smiled at the camera, the way her eyes stood out with her bold makeup. The dress would be unflattering on anyone who didn’t have the right figure, but since her body was flawless, she looked incredible. Black was definitely her color, not just because it was my favorite.
I texted him back. I forgot to get one. I lied to my brother and didn’t know why. The only reason I’d asked for the picture in the first place was because he wanted me to. But when I saw us together, I suddenly didn’t want to share it with anybody. It was personal. It was private.
It was mine.
Twenty
Cleo
Deacon knew I was coming, but I knocked on the door anyway.
“It’s open.”
I let myself inside and walked to the dining table where he was sitting. He had a beer sitting in front of him, along with his stacks of paperwork. Saturday was a couple days ago, but it was still fresh in my mind. I went online and found the picture of him cutting the ribbon. I printed it out and framed it, intending to put it in his cabin as a surprise.
Now, whenever I entered the room, he always looked at me, my presence more important than whatever he was working on.
“The notary is outside, along with my client’s banker. I just wanted to give you a moment to get organized.”
He turned back to his papers and sorted them, returning the paper clips to the piles before sliding them into the folders.
I picked them up and carried them into his office. “And I just need your ID.”
He grabbed his wallet off the counter and pulled out the ID before he handed it to me.
I put it on the table and organized my papers. “Ready?”
He took a seat again and nodded.
I returned to the front door and let them in. “Alright, welcome. Let me introduce you.” I guided the notary to the table. “Debra, this Deacon Hamilton. Deacon, this is the notary who’s going to handle the paperwork.”
He stood up and shook her hand.
“And this is Bart. He’ll be handling the money transfer.”
Deacon shook his hand before he sat down.
“Alright, let’s go to work.” I sat down at the table beside Deacon, directing the meeting so he didn’t have to do much.
I slid the papers toward him that needed to sign, handed him a tissue to wipe off the ink from his thumbprint, and waited until everything was done.
Then Bart took over. “Since this is an all-cash deal, we’ll need the full transfer now.”
Deacon opened his laptop and pulled it toward him, logging in to his bank account.
I could see everything from where I sat, so I picked up the stack of papers and shielded my face, making a divider so he knew I couldn’t see the screen. But I had a feeling he didn’t care. He trusted me that much.
When he was done, he grabbed my arm and gently pulled it down.
I set down the papers again.
Deacon spoke. “It’s complete on my end.”
Bart checked the transaction from his device. “It’s done.”
Deacon closed his laptop.
“We’ll get this filed with the county, and your keys will be delivered by this evening.” Bart and Debra said their goodbyes before they left.
Deacon opened his laptop again, as if he didn’t care about the new purchase at all.