Page 22 of Share with Me

“If I pray to the wind, what good is it?” Ivan replied. “If I pray to my God, it means something because my God, to whom I pray, is the One who works. Speaking for myself, of course.”

“Grandpa Brooks used to take us to church.”

“Grandpa Otto used to take us to church.”

Brinley understood. “We all have losses.”

“Some more than others.”

Brinley rubbed her forehead. “Sorry. I’m just tired.”

“Me too.” Ivan waved down a server. “Want coffee or hot cocoa?”

Brinley shook her head. “No, thanks. Don’t want to be up all night.”

“I’m driving home. I need caffeine.”

“For a ten-minute drive?” Brinley laughed.

“See. Made you laugh.” When the server came by, Ivan asked for two cups, one for here and one to go. “But truth be told, anyone can fall asleep behind the wheel.”

“It’s a ten-minute drive, Ivan.”

“That’s what happened to a friend of mine. Heart attack at the wheel.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It does happen.” Ivan left it at that.

As he sipped coffee, Brinley swiped her iPhone and texted Malik Medcalf, Director of Security for all of Brooks properties worldwide. He texted back that the security personnel assigned to Zoe was in the ballroom. She turned around to find him. The crowd had dwindled to Zoe’s friends. There at the back of the ballroom, the security personnel looked up from his iPhone and waved to her. Funny how he was as far away as possible from the singing couple. Brinley felt sorry for his having to put up with Zoe.

“Well, I’d better be going.” Brinley started to rise.

Ivan helped Brinley with her chair. “Grandma texted me. She said you were kind to her.”

“It was nothing.”

“I—we—appreciate it.”

“No problem at all.” Brinley thought it was nice of Ivan to help her with her coat even though she didn’t need any help at all.

“May I walk you to your car?” Ivan asked.

“I’m just going back to the cottage next door.”

“That’s nice. When I visit my sister in Atlanta, she makes me stay in a hotel most of the time. That way she doesn’t have to clean up after me.”

“Well, it’s nice to have some space sometimes.”

“I’ll walk with you.” He put on his tuxedo jacket, slung his backpack violin case over his shoulders, and grabbed the hot paper cup.

Brinley hesitated. “It’s just a short sprint.”

“I’ll sprint with you, then. Is that okay with you?”

Oh, more than okay.

* * *

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