Page 71 of Undeniably Perfect

“Miss Crane?”

“Yes.”

“This is Detective Smith with the DC Metropolitan Police Department. I’m calling to inform you that Jarrod Majerkawitz was arrested in connection with the fire at your apartment and studio. He has an initial hearing tomorrow. You don’t need to be present, but I wanted to keep you informed.”

“Oh my god. OK. What do I have to do?”

“Nothing. Not at this point. We probably need to take further statements from you, but the attorneys will be handling that. I just wanted to keep you informed on the case.”

I thank the detective and get his contact information. He confirms that Phil has received the initial report on the arson and the information about Jarrod. And just like that, I’m left shell-shocked and staring at my laptop.

After a few minutes of digesting the information, I close my laptop at the sound of the side door opening.

“Hey,” Kent’s voice calls out from the foyer connecting the guest suite and the rest of the house, and I immediately feel calmer.

“Hi, how was practice?”

I turn to find him at my door. “It was great.”

“I thought you’d be later.”

He shrugs. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

“I bet.”

“You want to take part in my ritual for big games.”

My eyes widen.

“My pre-game ritual…” he adds.

“Uh, that depends on what your ‘pre-game ritual’ is…I don’t kill animals, I don’t do weird sacrifice ceremonies, and I don’t get tattoos on a whim.”

“Wow, are those your only hard limits?”

I put my hands on my hips and give him a pointed look. He smirks.

“Since I was a kid, I go to get ice cream on Main Street. They are open for one more hour. Obviously, I can’t always do that, but I think a series game justifies it.”

I grin. “Yep, I can totally take part in that ritual. Hold on, I just have to pee,” I say as I run to the bathroom to empty my bladder.

Kent’s sitting on my bed looking at a spread of family photographs that I have set out and ready to add to my “random families in D.C.” album.

“These are really good, Tabby.”

“Thanks,” I say shyly because I have never shown them to anyone.

“I’m serious. It’s like you captured the love in these moments. It’s palpable. You have a real gift for candid photos.”

I feel the heat creep up my cheeks. “Thanks, Kent. I…it’s just a hobby. I love photographing families. Sort of a photography guilty pleasure.”

“Why is it a guilty pleasure?”

I shrug. “I don’t get paid for it. I don’t ask permission. And I never do anything with those photos. They are just for me. Something I enjoy seeing. I know that sounds strange, but I guess…it’s like looking at something you can only dream about. Like those goal posters for sports or something. That’s my goal poster.”

His face softens. “You want a family?”

I bite my lip and nod. “I always wanted one.”

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