Page 154 of Homecoming

“Oh wow, really?”

“Yep. I’ll update you when I know more.”

“This day is turning out awesome. Thank you for all you’re doing.”

“You got it. See you soon. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

“Y’all are too cute,” Walter said, smiling in the mirror.

“She’s the best thing in my life.”

“As long as you know that, you’ll always treat it with the respect it deserves. Messed that up a bit for a time myself, but we’re getting back on track. She no longer hates the sight of me, so I take that as progress.”

Dan laughed.

“Gave her a lot of reasons to hate me over the years. Regret that terribly and will spend the rest of my life making amends for those hurts.”

“You’re doing the hard work. I’m sure that matters to her and your kids.”

“I think it does. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this won’t be either. But I’m determined to see it through.”

“Good for you, Walter. It would’ve been easier not to bother.”

“That’s for damned sure.”

“Says a lot about who you are that you’re bothering.”

“Either that, or it says I’m really a masochist at heart.”

Dan grunted out a laugh. “Maybe a little of both. Got a few friends in recovery. It’s a tough road but seems worth the effort in the end.”

“I sure hope so. No matter what happens long term, it beats the way I was living before.”

“I’m happy for you, man. Truly.”

“Thanks. Means a lot coming from you.”

They pulled up to the public safety complex a few minutes later.

“Not sure how long this’ll take.”

“I’m not in any rush. Take your time. I’ll grab some lunch.”

“I’ll update you in a bit.”

“Sounds good.”

Inside, Dan asked to see Detective Cosgrove and was shown to the same conference room where they’d met before. The table was covered with folders, papers, discarded coffee cups and take-out wrappers.

Cosgrove stood and shook his hand.

“Thanks for seeing me. How’s it going?”

“Slowly. We’re stretched thin with people on vacation after the tourist season ended.”

“I told you about Tanya’s breakup with Billy Norton and how he hadn’t taken it well.”

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