CHAPTER 1
Daisy Carruthers closed the flaps of the box on her desk at Global Human Rights Journal and heaved a long sigh. She was going to miss this place, despite everything that had happened.
The box contained all the personal effects she had kept in the office--photos, a water bottle, a silver-plated box for business cards, a plate and bowl for the days she ate lunch in the office, and an extra pair of loafers.
Jude Laughton, never one for knocking, opened the door and looked into Daisy’s office.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay?”
Daisy gave the editor-in-chief a tired smile. “It’s only a short sabbatical, Jude. I promise. But for now I just need to get away from this place.”
“I wish I could go with you,” Jude said, sitting down in the chair opposite Daisy’s desk and crossing her long legs. “But I feel like the journal needs some continuity if it’s going to stay in print.”
“I think you’re doing the right thing,” Daisy assured her friend. “But after all that went on, so soon after the incident in New York, I just feel like I need a break.”
“I understand completely. Did I tell you I found a freelancer to work for the journal while you’re away?” Jude asked. “His name is Luke and I like his work. He’s also very easy on the eyes.” She grinned.
“Jude, no office romance, please,” Daisy said, rolling her eyes.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I have no intention of having anything other than a completely professional relationship with Luke.”
“Good.”
“Have you finalized the details of your new gig?” Jude asked.
“Yes,” Daisy answered eagerly. “It’s been a stressful back-and-forth with the university, but they’ve finally made me the lead researcher on the study.”
“I’m really happy for you,” Jude said. She stood up and walked over to Daisy. She tilted her head and smiled. “Text or call anytime. I want to know everything you’re up to.”
“I will, promise. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” Jude said with a smile. Daisy gave her a big hug.
Then she hefted the box onto her hip and Jude opened the door for her. “Do you need help with that?” Jude asked.
“Nope, I’m good. Talk to you soon,” Daisy said.
Less than five minutes later the box was securely in the back seat of Grover’s car and she was sliding into the front seat beside him.
“I wish you weren’t leaving,” Grover said, reaching for Daisy’s hand. “It’ll be lonely without you.”
“You can come up and see me anytime, you know that. And I will have some free weekends, so I can come down here, too.”
“It’ll still be lonely without you,” Grover repeated.
“No pouting. I’ll start crying,” Daisy said. “I just can’t work at Global Human Rights right now. Too much has gone on and when I think of how close I came to…” Her voice trailed off.
“How about this? How about I stop pouting if you stop thinking about Mark John and the havoc he caused?”
“Deal,” Daisy said with a smile. As hard as it would be to leave Grover for the months her research was expected to take, she knew it would be even harder to stay and continue working for Global Human Rights.
She didn’t say much on the way to the train station. Grover seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, too, so it was a quiet ride.
When they came within sight of the train station, Grover turned to her. “Want me to come in? I can find a parking spot and carry the box for you.”
Daisy took a deep breath. “I don’t think you should,” she said. “This is going to be hard enough. If you come with me, I’m afraid I won’t leave.”
“Then I should definitely come with you,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
She swallowed and tried to smile. “This is something I need to do by myself. I don’t have much to carry--just this box and my tote bag.”
“It was smart to have your other stuff shipped to your new apartment,” Grover noted. “This will make the whole trip easier.”
Daisy nodded, suddenly unable to speak.
“You okay?” He had pulled up to the unloading zone in front of the station and stopped the car. He turned to her and put his finger under her chin, tilting it up a little bit.
She gave a slight nod.
“Don’t worry about a thing. This job is a good thing for you,” he said. Was he trying to convince himself as much as her?
She found that she was blinking back tears. “Oh, rats,” she said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “I wasn’t going to cry.”
“Don’t cry,” he said. “Everything is going to work out. I’ll come see you soon.”
She nodded again, trying to swallow around the lump in her throat. She opened the door and stepped onto the curb while Grover got out, too, walked around to her side of the car, and opened the back door.
But before he reached into the backseat to drag Daisy’s box out, he turned to face her. He gathered her into his arms and hugged her, stroking her long hair and kissing her ear.
Daisy wanted that hug to last forever, but she knew she had to make her train. She lifted her face to his and he kissed her. When she pulled away, breathless, she said, “You’d better give me that box or I’m never going to leave.”
Grover smiled and reached for the box again. He placed it into her arms and watched as she turned to go into the station.
She walked through the arched marble entrance into the soaring space of Union Station and turned around. She couldn’t wave because she was holding the box with both arms. Grover was watching her go, smiling. He waved and she turned around and disappeared into the crowd.