“What’s going to stop her from trying to start this whole mess all over again?”
“I doubt she’ll do it,” I said. “Too many eyes watching. The FBI is looking into Sheriff Blake, the community college is reconsidering who it wants to affiliate itself with. No casino, that’s for sure.” I shrugged. “Smart woman like her, she’d take the illegal stuff somewhere else.”
“Another small town in Connecticut,” Samuel mumbled.
“I’d say well out of the state, maybe far away from New England in general.”
“Well, good riddance,” Samuel sighed and closed his eyes. “Now, get out and let your old man get some rest.”
I laughed. “Now you’re old?”
“When it’s convenient.”
I smiled, made my wait and closed the door.
* * *
I found Jenni outside, sitting on the porch swing, coffee mug cradled in her hands. She smiled at me as I approached and shifted to let me fall down next to her. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. We didn’t say anything, just stared out at the street and the woods beyond, savoring the peace.
“He’s going to be fine, right?” she finally asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “He’s a fighter. Always has been.”
“Must be to raise you the way he did,” she said.
“Is everyone taking hits at me today?”
“Today?”
I laughed and squeezed her closer. “I’m going to head back to Miami in a couple of weeks, finalize the paperwork.”
“So that’s it?”
“That’s it.”
She sipped her coffee and rested her head against my chest. “People are usually trying to leave Kent, not the other way around.”
“I guess they just need a reason to stay,” I replied. “Or in my case, come back.”
“That’s sappy,” she giggled, looking up at me, “and incredibly sweet.”
“Well, you know, I actually like you.”
“Actually?”
I kissed the tip of her nose, losing myself in her eyes. “Wanna join me?”
“Where? Miami?”
I nodded. “Probably won’t be there for more than a week or two. Raul’s willing to send me the finalized papers and sell the house for me, so I don’t have to be there for long.”
“That’s nice of him.”
“So, what do you say?”
Jenni smiled at me. “F
uck, no.”