Page 72 of Hidden Nature

“I’m sitting down now.” So announcing, Sari pulled up a chair beside Joel’s.

“He’s too good a commander to offer this to me because of the personal connection. If I wasn’t sure of that, I couldn’t even consider it. This just happened today. I haven’t said anything to my family yet. I know where they’d come down, and know they’d tell me it’s my decision, and support either way. But since I know, I don’t want to tell them about it.”

“Made a list, didn’t you?” Sari kept up the conversation when Joel said nothing. “Reasons to, reasons not to.”

“Pros and cons, yeah. I’d say they’re running pretty much neck andneck. I still need to think about it. I have some time before the application deadline. But I wanted to hear what you thought.”

Joel put a hand over Sari’s. “I got a question.”

“Okay.”

“Are you stupid?”

“No! Come on, I—”

Now he held up his other hand to cut her off. “Then you’re going to take what you want, what you’ve earned, because you’re not stupid.”

“It’s not just a matter of a promotion, Joel. It means moving across the state, leaving people I’ve worked with—especially you—for years.”

“I know that, sis. I didn’t say it was easy. I said you’re not stupid. None of this should’ve happened to you. You shouldn’t’ve walked into that goddamn mini-mart and into a bullet. But it did happen.”

He took a breath.

“It did. Now, whatever the reason, something good’s come out of that bad. That terrible bad. I’m not saying turning it down’s wrong, because it has to be right for you. I’m saying when something you want and worked for lands in your lap, it’s stupid not to pick it up.”

“I gotta love this man.” Sari pressed her lips to Joel’s cheek. “He doesn’t give me a choice.”

“You’d take it?”

“It’s not about what I’d do, sis. It’s you.”

“You’re right. It’s me. I’m going to think about it some more. I’ve got time to be sure, either way, before the deadline. Thanks for hearing me out.”

“Always will.”

“That goes for both of us. We love you, Sloan.”

“I love you guys. I love all three of you. We’ll talk again soon.”

She set the tablet on charge. After she got ready for bed, she stood at her window looking out at the shadows and silhouettes her view offered.

It amazed her she wasn’t yet tired enough for sleep. She settled down, picked up her crocheting, and got to work on the baby blanket.

As they finished up their first job for All the Rest, Nash and Theo met CJ Kirpeckne.

Since it was Theo’s turn with tunes, the Bluetooth speaker played a lot of alternative music Nash didn’t necessarily get. Apparently, neither did CJ Kirpeckne.

When she walked in, she put her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with genuine rock and roll?”

“That’s what I said.” Nash came down from the ladder he stood on to finish painting the ceiling.

“Country’s fine as long as it’s not whiny. Does Dolly whine? No, she does not! Not even on ‘Jolene.’”

“Dolly Parton’s a goddess.”

“You got that.”

Nash pushed back the Mets cap he wore, gave the woman a quick study.

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