“You’re not the only one.” Noah sags into a chair and seems to deflate.
I need to get him home, and I don’t mean my apartment. I need to get him to the cabin—the cabin that I built with him and our life in mind. He had as much input into the plans as I did. My intention had always been to move into it permanently with Noah, but those dreams had died when he disappeared. When he reappeared, they sparked to life again. And with everything that has happened, I wasn’t willing to wait to start my life with Noah.
“Let’s talk to Jim and get it over with. Then afterwards, we’re going to the cabin. Eric is back in town and looking for something to do so I figured he could come here and be site manager for a while. I just need to be alone with you.”
Noah
“That’s fine with me.” I can hardly get my response out for Ramon.
Sometimes I just want to pinch myself because I’m so lucky to have Ramon in my life. I nearly didn’t and it would have been my own fault. I don’t regret leaving him to protect him. Sometimes, I’m not even sure the threats would have been carried out if I’d stayed.
And not too long ago, I thought I’d be leaving him again, but this time forever.
I still have no clue as to why Angelina was up there with me or what her intentions were. It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. She didn’t appear to have a weapon on her, at least not from what I could see, and her dress was fairly transparent when the light was behind her.
Ramon places his hand on my shoulder in a gesture of comfort before he opens the door and indicates for Jim to come in.
The detective is flushed, which makes me smile, and from the glimpse I catch of Jackie, he isn’t the only one.
Ramon clears his throat and says, “We have security cameras up there so I’ll get the footage sent to you.”
Jim nods and turns to me.
“Noah,” Jim starts as he takes the seat Ramon offered. “Can we start with you telling me what happened up there?”
“We can.”
I start by recounting everything from the first moment I laid eyes on her until I made a grab for her when the wind caused her to lose her balance.
It had been sheer luck that I’d managed to grab her as well as the steel girder. I’d felt as though my arm was going to pull out of its socket.
If Jed hadn’t looked up from the floor below and seen what was happening we’d both have hit the ground and probably be dead. As it was, he’d come running up and clipped his harness to one of the attachments, which allowed him to lean over and grab Angelina from me. He’d shoved her at someone else who’d come running up before he helped pull me up. It had been the longest five minutes of my life.
Listening to Ramon fill Jim in about the trouble that has been happening here at the site, I reach out and entwine my fingers with his. I just need to feel his touch to keep me grounded.
When he’s finished talking, the silence stretches between us, as we’re lost in our own thoughts. I shake my head to clear it, and ask, “Do you know what her intentions were?” Both Ramon and Jim stare at me. “I mean, she didn’t appear to have a weapon and I certainly don’t believe she’d planned to jump. So I just don’t understand what she was doing up there.”
“I haven’t spoken to her yet, but I will. It looks like I’ll be speaking to her father as well.” Jim gets to his feet.
Ramon offers his hand. “Thanks for coming out here.”
“Anytime. I’ll be in touch.” He shakes Ramon’s hand and then he’s gone.
Ramon sits behind his desk and, after a few minutes of silence, starts to load papers and his laptop into his briefcase.
“We’re going to the cabin so I’ll do what work I have there. We can detour on our way there to visit Lily and our niece.” Ramon smiles. “I’m itching to see how Michael is faring.”
I raise a brow.
He chuckles. “He’s such a * when Lily is in pain. You saw Lucien. Well, Michael will be worse. Mark my words.”
I don’t agree or disagree, but I do love how his brothers love their wives. They love with everything they have. Just like Ramon.
Ramon stands. “Let’s go.”
Getting to my feet, I chuckle.
Ramon knows what he wants and that’s to be away from here with me.
I can’t complain about that.
Chapter Twenty
Ramon
Being at the cabin now for over a week, you’d think I’d be able to relax and let the tension go, but some of it is still there.
Some of that has to do with my secret research into gay marriage. Although we wouldn’t be entitled to any benefits of being a married gay couple if we chose to carry on living in Lexington, we’d still have the official paper saying we’re married. Not sure what Noah’s thoughts are on the subject and I’m always nervous to ask.