No, Julius was here because he was checking on things that couldn’t be checked on over the phone, not to Julius’s satisfaction.
Walker didn’t call him on it. Instead, he finished his drink, twisted and set the cup on the railing away from him.
When he turned back, Julius was looking into the house. He felt Walker’s eyes and he looked to him.
“Okay, Walk…” he paused then said slow, “shee-it. What the fuck?”
Walker felt his lips twitch.
Then he told him, “Walked outta that hole straight to a miracle.”
“You can say that again, my man, fuck me. Believe in God but only ‘bout two hours ago met my first angel walkin’ on earth.”
“Lexie’s a lot of things, all of them good but don’t think God makes angels like that.”
Julius’s midnight face split into a huge, white smile.
“I like that,” he muttered.
“So do I. Wildcat,” Walker replied and Julius’s smile got bigger.
Then some of the white died before he remarked, “Good for you. Happy for you. You deserve a miracle.”
Walker didn’t respond.
Julius made an accurate guess. “This ain’t play.”
Walker shook his head.
Julius went on. “How long did it take you to maneuver that?”
“Too long, over a week.”
Julius blinked. “That it?”
“Felt like fifty years.”
Julius threw his head back and boomed with laughter. Walker grinned at him while he did.
Then, still chuckling, he caught Walker’s eyes. “Pretty *, sweet *, classy * like that, ex-con, took you a week. Fuck me. I can work it, brother, but even me, it’d take at least a month.”
Walker didn’t reply.
Julius’s gaze went intense. “How real is this?”
“Real,” Walker answered firmly and Julius tipped up his chin.
“Real for her. That bitch in there is livin’ the dream. I knocked on the door, fuckin’ me, big black man, her a white woman in a sweet crib in the middle of fuckin’ nowhere in the goddamn mountains. She took one look at me when she opened the door, knew exactly who I was and the bitch flipped. Acted like I just got home from bein’ at war. She refused to call you, wanted me to be a surprise. Even made me go out and move my ride so you wouldn’t see it when you got home.”
No surprise. That was Lexie.
Julius carried on. “Spent two hours drinkin’ beer with her and listenin’ about all the shit you been doin’. She made it sound like, you got home from the gym, you’d do it flyin’ through the air.”
No surprise with that either. That was also Lexie. But it didn’t mean hearing that from Julius didn’t feel really fucking good.
Julius studied him. Then he asked softly, “It that real for you?”
“Look around, Champ, everything you see is solid. How much more real can it get?”
Julius again studied him. Then he shook his head.
Then he muttered, “Jesus, brother,” he looked to the view and swallowed before he repeated a whispered, “Jesus.”
This was not a surprise either. His friend felt relief, overwhelmed by it. Julius had been worried. Walker’s state of mind the day he left prison, anyone who gave a shit would be. Julius walked out to three women, two children and a big family, all of whom gave a shit, they did it before he went down and they stuck by him while he did his time.
Walker walked in in chains for a crime he didn’t commit and walked out to none of that and he walked out with vengeance on his mind.
“I’m good, Champ,” Walker said quietly and got his friend’s eyes.
“You let her in?”
Walker nodded.
“How far in?” Julius went on.
“She’s in,” Walker replied.
“How far?” Julius pushed.
“She’s in,” he repeated.
“How far?” Julius repeated too.
Walker didn’t speak.
“You know what I’m askin’ you, Walk,” Julius told him and he did know.
“Her life has not been a fairytale either. You’ve spent time with her, I told you, you’d be shocked as shit what she’s been through. We’ve both got our demons. We’ve both shared.”
“That woman takes one look at you, brother, she’ll know you can wrestle her demons. You give her the opportunity to do the same for you?”
Fuck. Not this shit again.
“It hasn’t been two months,” he evaded.
“You of all brothers know there is no fuckin’ time like the present.”
This was true but he was done so he shared because, as he knew, if he didn’t, Julius wouldn’t let up.
“She’s in,” he said low. “She knows what was done to me. She was waitin’ for me outside of prison and we started on a deal. She had bad shit in her life, under a piece of shit’s thumb. I get her outta that, she gives me what I need. A week later, I gave it all to her and gave her the choice to walk out the door. She didn’t take it. She took my back. Her decision. Thirty K in diamonds, fifty K in cash I was offerin’ her for the time she spent with me and that time was just over a week. She didn’t take that shot. She stayed then made a new deal. Deck furniture out of her fifty K, the rest she donates to the cause. Is that in enough for you?”
Instantly, Julius grinned.