Two nights later, I met Nick at Trio, a bar on Richmond Road a bit west of my office in Hintonburg. His plane had landed and Dad gave him my cell number when he called the house. I was downtown at the police station when he reached me and Trio was a familiar meeting place.
Nick was waiting for me at a corner table in the darkened bar, which was lit by flickering candles on high tables. He looked good. Freshly shaved, black hair cut short, the way I liked it. Better than good.
He stood when he saw me and grabbed me in a bear hug. The outdoorsy smell of him made me weak at the knees. I felt his lips on my forehead, my cheek, my mouth. When he let me go, he pulled out a chair for me and took the one beside it. His black eyes never stopped gazing into my face.
“You’re looking so good,” he said. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
He’d ordered a bottle of red wine before I arrived, and he poured me a glass. We both had a sip and I searched for the words to tell him that he didn’t owe me anything. I wouldn’t hold him to any promises he’d made before he went away.
“So, I hear you solved a difficult case,” he said.
“We did. A man hid his son away after the boy witnessed a murder. He didn’t tell anyone why his son was missing. Not even his wife.
“He must have had a good reason.”
“He thought he was protecting her.”
“You don’t appear convinced.”
“I would have wanted to know.” We locked eyes. “She suffered a nervous breakdown a few years ago, though. Maybe he was taking that into account.”
Nick looked to be thinking it over. “People will go to great lengths to protect those they love. Especially if they’ve done something to hurt them before. Is the son safe now?”
“I believe so. We have enough evidence to put the killers away for life.”
After a brief pause, we both started talking at the same time. Nick laughed. “You go first.”
I took a drink and set my glass down. “The thing is, I’m beginning to think we’ve moved into this relationship too fast. Dad still needs me and Cheri is acting crazy. Evan is having trouble in school. You’ve got an exciting career and I understand if you want to date other women or . . .”
“Hold up, Anna. What makes you think I want to date other women?”
“I know you’ve been dating your co-star. I read the papers.”
Nick looked puzzled. “Carolina?”
“She’s very beautiful.”
“Carolina and I are old friends, but that’s it. Her boyfriend is a cameraman and was with us on the shoot.”
“Oh. But you never called me or even texted.”
“We were out of range and I lost my phone with your number in it. I called your house as soon as we got back to Vancouver. I wondered why you didn’t return my call. Didn’t you get my message?”
“Yes, but I’ve been busy with the case.” And I’ve been a fool to believe what I read in the paper.
He reached across me to his coat on the empty seat. “I wrote you every day but had nowhere to mail the letters. Thought it would be quicker to just hand them over to you.”
I took the packet of letters tied with a red ribbon and knew Nick was the real deal. I was out of reasons for keeping him out of my life. I looked back up at his face and into the eyes that saw all of me. All I had to do was take the leap. I set the letters on the table and leaned closer to him.
Nick took my hand in his. “I was thinking of putting an offer in on a house next door to your dad. That is, if you agree. I know you don’t want to move out so I thought I could move closer.” He smiled. “Share you with your dad, and Cheri and Evan.”
I felt a bubble of joy start up from my ribcage and grinned back at him. “If you’re buying the Rizzo house,” I said, “you’ve got your work cut out for you. Mr. Rizzo put flowered wallpaper in every room, and that’s about all he did to the house after 1960. The Rizzos were especially fond of green and pink.”
“I was hoping you could help me out with fixing up the place. That is, when you’re not working on a case.”
I raised my glass and clinked his. “Seeing as how I plan to spend a lot of my time with its owner, I should be up for trips to the paint store.”
“Good.” Nick said. “That’s good. Because I plan to spend a great deal of time with my new neighbours. I always wanted to be the boy dating the girl next door. Looks like my wish is finally coming true.”