Page 51 of To Bring You Back
She pulled her gaze up from the helmet. “I misrepresented what he said about you. Mostly, he was positive about your music and interviews. He just mentioned that you being in a relationship with Harper would be inconsistent with your beliefs.”
“He’s right. It’d also be inconsistent with my tastes.” He never would’ve said such a thing to a reporter, who’d take the statement as an opening to ask what his tastes were. But he regarded Adeline evenly. If she needed him to elaborate, he would. Happily.
Her eyes widened, and flattered surprise flickered over her features.
She understood.
Good.
As her expression fell, her lips seemed to form a word and then abandon it. She passed her helmet from one hand to the other. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
She chewed her lip, regret lingering. If she couldn’t understand forgiveness over something minor, how would she ever understand it from God over what had happened between them and with Fitz?
She shifted. “I also saw that story about Harper. The abuse one.” The corner of her mouth dipped. At least she looked apologetic instead of suspicious.
“I wish it were easier to clear up that kind of thing. We checked the security footage and confirmed no one else came or went to my apartment that night. She just fell.”
Adeline nodded. “I’m sorry they’re saying otherwise.”
Lots of people had had sympathy for Harper. In response to her video, they’d piled on affirmations.
Though Gannon’s inner circle had never doubted his innocence, mostly, from them, he’d faced frustration. Adeline’s sympathy marked a first, and his fingers ached to reach for her.
“Where to?” he asked.
Adeline studied him, and doubt crept in. She’d never go along with this.
“Lakeshore?” he asked.
She pulled on the helmet. “Let’s visit home.”
14
Gannon paused on the front step to text his mom. If she was awake, she’d get the message and meet him at the door. If not, hopefully she’d see it in the morning before calling the police about the man in her house.
After a minute without an answer, he let himself in. He left his shoes by the door and took a quiet tour of the first floor. Not much had changed in the last eleven years, including the lingering scent of savory cooking spices. He lay down on the couch instead of in the guest room upstairs so he’d wake when Mom got up.
Or at least, that was the plan, but when he opened his eyes in the morning, light drifted through the windows, and the scent of bacon and eggs meant she’d snuck by him into the kitchen. His phone told him it was only six o’clock, but he made himself sit up. Adeline needed to get home before her lunch shift at the food trailer, so they didn’t have much time.
The sight of Mom at the oven, checking what must be an egg bake, brought a smile. He leaned against the doorjamb and waited while she refilled her coffee. When she turned and saw him, a grin broke across her face.
He wrapped her in a hug.
When she stepped back, she patted his cheek. “You stinker.” She lifted her coffee mug, her smile marking her eyes. “How’s Lakeshore? And Adeline?”
“I brought her with, dropped her off at her parents’ house.” If only all those years ago, giving her a ride home had been so uneventful. Last night, there’d been no good-night kiss, hardly anything but a quick “see you tomorrow.” He’d watched until her dad opened the door and welcomed her in.
“It’s good you two are talking again. Fitz was a nice boy, but even weddings that do happen are only binding until someone dies.”
“She took it hard.”
“We all did.” She dipped her chin and met his gaze pointedly. She’d been the one to rub his back while he lay on the couch crying after the funeral, where the only words Adeline had spoken to him were, “We did this to him.”
Coming home always dredged up memories like these. Maybe that was why he usually flew Mom out to LA and why Adeline had never gotten over Fitz’s death—she lived so much closer to the loss, came home to reminders of the tragedy a few times a year. If he wanted to understand her, understand how their mistakes could be so fresh in her mind after all this time, he ought to go see Fitz’s grave.
His stomach hardened at the idea, but by resurfacing in her life, he’d made Adeline face feelings like these and worse. The least he could do was go remember. Seeing the grave again would confirm for himself and for Adeline that, even when confronted with the ugliness of the past, he could cling to belief in God’s forgiveness.
