“I know your time isn’t your own, but may I have your phone number? As you can imagine, stuff is a mess at home right now, so I don’t know how often I can get back here, but I have to be able to at least hear your voice.”
Tears rolled down Talia’s face as she gave him the number.
Bowie could hardly bear to leave her and was troubled by her tears.
“Talia, sweetheart, why are you crying?”
She felt her cheeks, her brown eyes widening in surprise when she discovered the tears.
“I didn’t know I was,” she said, and swiped her hands across her face.
“Where’s your phone?” he asked.
She pulled it out of her hip pocket.
“Put my number in your contacts,” he said. “And will you promise to call me anytime, for any reason?”
Tears rolled again.
Bowie couldn’t bear to see her like this and once more took her in his arms.
“Baby...why?” he asked.
“I never had any backup before. I guess I’m just overwhelmed.”
That hurt. He hadn’t meant to, but the happiness she’d sacrificed had led to him abandoning her at her darkest time. All he’d known was that she’d shot down his dreams. There weren’t enough years left in their lives to make up for what she’d suffered alone.
“We’re both up to our necks with grief. Just know that whenever this is behind us, I’ll still be here,” he said.
Someone knocked at the door.
“That will be Erin,” Talia said.
“I’ll let her in on my way out,” Bowie said, and then leaned in for one last kiss. Her lips were soft and a little damp from recent tears. It felt like he was walking away just as he’d found her again. He so didn’t want to leave, but the nurse was at the door and the groceries were in the truck. “I’ll call,” he said, but Talia wouldn’t let go.
“What?” he said.
“Thank you,” she said.
He frowned. “For what?”
Her fingers tightened around his wrist.
“I’ve loved you forever, Bowie. Even when you were gone. Thank you for still caring enough to do this again.”
“I guess I buried the memories so far down I forgot that caring was there. This feels damn good to me, too,” he said softly.
It was the second round of knocking that ended the moment.
“Damn it,” he muttered, and headed for the door.
The tall blonde looked startled to see a man in the house.
“I’m just leaving,” Bowie said, then held out a hand. “I’m Bowie Youngblood.”
“Erin McClune.” She shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Bowie said, then looked back at Talia. “Remember what I said...call me anytime.”
She nodded, and then he was gone.
Erin shut the door behind her and then stood there a moment with her hands on her hips.
“Spill it,” she said.
Talia sighed.
“The love of my life. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.” Tears were rolling again, but she didn’t care. “He came back.”
Erin sighed. “Come talk to me while I check on your dad, and I’ll try not to hate your guts that he’s already taken.”
Talia followed her to the bed and then brushed her hand across her father’s forehead. He didn’t respond to the touch.
She looked at Erin. “He moaned a few minutes ago.”
Erin was taking his pulse. When she finished, she made notes on his chart.
“He’s getting weaker, isn’t he?” Talia whispered.
Erin nodded.
Talia looked at her father and then leaned down and whispered in his ear, “Dad, you don’t have to worry that I’ll be alone anymore. Bowie came back for me.”
*
The wind had come up while Bowie was at Talia’s house. He could see storm clouds building over the mountain as he drove through Eden and knew it would be raining soon.
He stopped off at the police precinct to talk to Chief Clayton. His dad and Clayton had gone to school together, and despite the gossip about Clayton being in the Wayne family’s pocket, it didn’t deter him from believing the chief would be fair. It wouldn’t take long to get an update, and he wanted to take any news home to his mother.
The receptionist looked up as Bowie entered. She knew before he got to her desk what he wanted, because she recognized him as one of Leigh Youngblood’s sons.
“Is Chief Clayton in his office?” Bowie asked.
“Yes, but he was on a conference call. I’ll have to check and see if he’s finished. One moment, please.”
Bowie watched her walk out of the lobby, heard a door open and close down the hall, and then the murmur of voices. She hadn’t asked for his name, so he assumed she recognized him.
She came back a few moments later and stopped in the doorway.
“Chief Clayton will see you now. Follow me.” Then she led the way to the chief’s office and opened the door.
“Thank you,” Bowie said, and walked in.
Henry Clayton was already on his feet and coming forward with his hand outstretched.
“Bowie, it’s good to see you, though I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances. It’s a little bit disconcerting. You look so much like Stanton, it’s eerie.”
“So they tell me,” Bowie said, and grasped the chief’s hand.