Cancel

I think he’s stressed out enough. I know Dae-Dae and I leaving has been a big blow, but I can’t help feeling like there’s something else going on. He keeps telling me that everything is fine, but I don’t believe that.

I almost talked myself out of doing this. I saw the look on his face when I found out I had a week to make the move. This has been so hard on everyone.

I had to do things so quickly. Felix handled a lot of the details, but there was still so much for me to do. Dean offered to come along before I could ask. She had already wanted to make a change and this was right up her alley.

The best surprise was Connie’s call to let me know she would be in Ireland. For some reason that made it easy to breathe again. I made it through telling my parents and explaining to them that I wasn’t going to leave Dashawn behind.

My dad was upset. I knew he would be. He glared at Felix the entire time as if Felix was supposed to make me change my mind. In the end, both of my parents gave their blessings and offered to come help out anytime I needed.

I got all of that squared away, but I totally forget to contact Lisa. There is no way I’m making that book tour. At this point, I just want to deal with Lisa. I’ll let her know I can’t make it and that will be that.

Making the call through my google line, I wait for someone to pick up. Dae-Dae and Felix are at Felix’s grandmother’s house. Connie is here with me, helping me to get settled in while one of Felix’s uncles made the trip to pick up Dean.

“Hello,” a voice finally says on the other end.

“Hi. May I speak to Lisa, please,” I reply.

“This is she.”

“Oh, great. This is Kaye Blaze, the author.”

“Hi! It’s so nice to hear your voice. You are such a talented author. I truly enjoy reading your books,” she says.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. I was calling because I needed to inform you guys that I won’t be able to make the book tour,” I say.

There is an awkward pause on the other end. I bite the pad of my thumb. I truly hate to disappoint her and the fans. There is just no way I’ll be able to get back and not for that many days.

“I’m sorry, Kaye. The tour was cancelled months ago. I thought you were informed. You should have received your twenty-five dollars back by now,” she says nervously.

My head whips back. I look at the phone like I can see her and gauge if she’s crazy. First, I’ve been pushing the event and I’ve seen posts about it. Second, I paid a lot more than twenty-five dollars.

I put the phone back to my ear and start to count backwards. I can feel I’m about to get placed in the middle of some mess. I don’t need this right now. I have to report to work in the morning and Felix flies back to the States tomorrow night.

“I truly am sorry. I haven’t been on social media much so I didn’t make the announcement. I had a fire in my home and my laptop was ruined. Then, there were a few other issues. Bonnie promised she’d take care of everything,” she continues.

As I said, this is my first time talking to Lisa. We’ve emailed once. I don’t know what’s going on or what to believe at this point. I’m so pissed off. I know the last thing I need to do is to get caught up in this.

“Okay, well, thank you for your time,” I say. “You have a good one.”

“Yes, okay, thank you,” she says still sounding uneasy.

Twenty-five dollars? Ain’t this about a—. Calm your nerves Kaye.

Felix

Yes, there are cams all over the cottage. Carrick took care of that for me. That will allow me to breathe easier.

Connie has been in Ireland a lot lately. When I reached out and told her Kaye would be here she was ecstatic. Granted she’s much further out, but still within driving distance.

This will be okay. It’s just a year. I’ll be on a plane to come see them every chance I get.

Too bad I haven’t been able to convince myself of my own words. I haven’t slept well since Kaye made the announcement that this all had to be done in a week. Contracts were signed, the house was packed up and rented out, Kaye and Dae-Dae spent their last days in the States with me in my apartment.

That place is going to feel so lonely without them. I’ve been toying with selling the place. We already have a home waiting for us when Kaye comes back home. It was a part of her engagement gift.

My chest hurts when I think of the ring in my top drawer back home. Temptation almost caused me to place it on her finger. However, I’ve been watching Kaye watch me. She’s been waiting for a reason to back out of this.

I’m not giving her one. She’s going to see her dreams come true and then she can come home. I’ll be there waiting.

“Hey you,” I hear her sweet voice come up behind me.

I’ve been standing out here looking over the view, while she put Dae-Dae to bed. My grandmother spoiled us with food and attention. Dashawn wore himself out trying to hang with the big guys.

“Did Dean get settled in?” I ask, pulling her into my arms.

Kaye laughs, throwing her head back. She looks gorgeous. I’ve thought about extending my stay a few times, but the office is already short staffed. Wyatt and Noah have been out on assignment for going on two months.

“She’s not here. She took off with your uncle and Connie,” Kaye giggles. “I think your uncle has a thing for my friend.”

“Uncle Ronan has a thing for women, period. You’d be doing your friend a favor by telling her to leave him alone,” I warn.

“She’s a big girl. She’ll be okay,” she says. “This place is great. I think Dae-Dae will enjoy it here.”

“Yeah, we loved coming here when we were little. Some of our best memories come from visits to my grandmother,” I reply.

“Is it weird that hearing that makes me feel like we’ll be closer to you?”

“Not at all. I’m glad things worked out for you to be here. There are some shitty areas that I wouldn’t have been too happy about,” I murmur.

“Thank you, Felix. Thanks for always being there,” she says.

“I’ll always be here when you need. I mean it, Kaye. If you need me, you tell me.”

“We’ll be fine,” she says with a small smile.

“You’re amazing. This is going to be awesome for you. It’ll go by faster than you know,” I promise.

“I’ll be counting down,” she gives a small chuckle.

“That makes two of us. You’ll be back home before you know it.”

“Just a year. Nothing to it. What could happen in a year right?” She asks nervously.

I groan internally. As a PI, I know those are famous last words. All hell has broken to those words more often than not.

I don’t say that to Kaye though. I cover her lips with mine and kiss her like it’s my last. I’m going to miss her soft lips.

Next, week. Next week I’ll try to make it back.