“But admit it,” I tell her as I pull on a shirt. “It was one of the best.”
She grins. “Fine.”
I walk over to her and plant another kiss on her lips. Afterwards, I stroke her cheek as I gaze into her eyes.
“What?” Cathy asks me.
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her. “You always were.”
She snorts. “By the way, how did you know about that incident with the cookies and the tin can? I didn’t see you there.”
I chuckle as I sit beside her. “I was watching from the stairs.”
She frowns. “You should have joined us.”
“Nah.” I wave a hand. “The two of you were having enough fun. Besides, there were only enough cookies for two.”
Cathy laughs, then suddenly turns serious. “How did the prosecutor know about that? Mr. Pitts couldn’t possibly have known that.”
I shrug. That thought has been bothering me as well. The only ones who knew about that incident were me, Cathy and Trisha. How come the prosecutor knew about it? Who told him?
“He didn’t seem to know what really happened, though,” Cathy remarks. “When you gave the details of the story, he looked rattled. It wasn’t what he expected.”
“Well, he did want you to turn out to be the villain,” I say.
Cathy lets out a deep sigh. “I still think I am, you know. I still think I’m responsible for Trisha’s death.”
I frown. Aren’t we done with this?
“Before the hearing, I met a hypnotherapist and I remembered some more things. I remembered that I was drowning and that I was trying to call out to Trisha, who was standing on the shore, talking to some guy.”
My eyebrows furrow. “Guy?”
“I’m not saying I killed her. I don’t think I pushed her head under water or used her as a lifesaver or anything like that.”
“Of course not.”
“But I think she went into the water because of me. She tried to save me and she did, but somehow she died in the process.” Cathy looks into my eyes. “If that’s what really happened, then I’m still guilty of manslaughter, don’t you think?”
I reach for Cathy’s hand. “No. I don’t think that’s manslaughter.”
She doesn’t look convinced.
“And if that’s what really happened, then I don’t think it’s too bad. It only means that Trisha was your best friend until the very end. I’m sure she didn’t mean to die. I’m sure she didn’t want to leave you alone, but I think she died happy knowing that she saved you.”
Cathy’s eyebrows crease. “You think so?”
“I know so.” I squeeze her hand. “She wouldn’t want you to blame yourself. That would discredit her final heroic act. It would make her feel like she didn’t save you. But she did save you, Cathy. She got you to shore. The best way you can repay her is by getting back on your feet and moving on.”
Cathy says nothing.
I touch her cheek and look into her eyes. “Trisha was a best friend to you. Now be the best person you can be for her.”
For a moment, Cathy’s expression doesn’t change. Then she smiles.
“Thank you, Jackson.”
I answer by touching my forehead to hers and giving her a tender kiss. She kisses me back and turns her hand over in mine. Our palms touch and our fingers entwine.
After the kiss, I look at her hand. “You didn’t throw the ring away, did you?”
“No,” Cathy answers. “I left it in the drawer of the bedside table in my room. That’s where I put it at night. I didn’t put it back on in the morning.”
I nod.
“Do you want it back?” she asks me.
“No,” I tell her. “I want you to hold on to it.”
“But…”
I hold a finger to her lips. “Cathy, I love you, so I’m going to do this properly. I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to marry you someday.”
Cathy’s eyes grow wide. “You’re proposing?”
“I’m telling you how I feel and what I want. I’d like you to do the same.”
Cathy draws a deep breath. “I…”
I put my finger back on her lips. “You don’t have to answer right away. I’ll wait. Just think about it, okay?”
She nods. “Okay.”
I lift her hand to my lips. Then I put it back on her lap and stand up. I go to the closet and grab a pair of pants.
“Where are you going?” Cathy asks me.
“I just need to buy some stuff for the restaurant,” I answer. “You stay here and rest.”
“Okay.”
~
It takes me only half an hour to get all the cheese I want, and I’m on my way back to the hotel when I see Simon sitting in a cafe. He’s busy typing something on his laptop, so he doesn’t notice me.
“Simon,” I call out to him.
He jumps. As soon as he sees me, he closes his laptop and throws me a smile.
“Hey. What are you doing here in Milwaukee?”