Page 88 of Hidden Gem
Marnie circled the building. His car was parked out front, a mint green Prius she’d seen before. But where was Jason?
“Marnie!”
She turned around and her heart jumped. He stood on the front steps of the house next door. The empty house.
“Over here!” He beckoned her closer. In jeans and a woolly jumper, he was no longer the sleek politician she remembered from their first meeting. He looked relaxed.
In her hurry to get to him, Marnie leapt over the low hedge, landing rather disgracefully on her hands and knees on the lawn. Before she could pick herself up, he was there, hauling her up into a tight embrace. Nothing had ever felt as good. Marnie’s whole body shivered as she drew in a lungful of his scent.
“Marnie.” His breath warmed the top of her head.
She smiled. “You got my message?”
Jason grabbed her by the shoulders, leaning back to make eye contact. “Oh my God! I nearly fell off the bed. Are you okay? Do you regret it?”
“Not even a little.” She shook her head. “I was expecting a horrible fallout, but so far no one’s said anything that bad. I mean, the newspaper article was... nice. I haven’t been online to read any comments, though. I realised I don’t really care what those people think. I care about what you think.”
Jason’s eyes turned soft. “You were so brave! Let me know if anyone hurts you. I’m always ready to publish an embarrassing video to take the pressure off you. I’ll give an interview about my performance issues or something.”
Marnie burst out laughing. “You have no performance issues!”
“I don’t know. I’m old, expiration date looming... that could be just around the corner.” He winked, rubbing his stubbled chin.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Oh, no! I wouldn’t dare.” He widened his eyes in mock horror.
Marnie’s heart swelled, drumming against her breastbone like it was about to take flight. “I’m sorry about everything. I’m sorry I let Kathleen get to me. I believed my own lies.”
“You don’t have to worry about Kathleen anymore.”
“No?”
“No. She’s in hospital. Smoke inhalation. Dementia.”
Marnie’s heart ached. “Oh, God. I hope she gets some help.”
“I’m sure she will, but I really don’t care. I just care that you’re here now.”
She looked around. “Why are we on your neighbour’s lawn?”
“This is the address I gave you. It’s thirty-nine, not thirty-eight.” He nodded at the house. “I wanted to show you something.”
He led her up the concrete steps to the tidy, empty deck and unlocked the door.
“You have a key?”
He smiled, his eyes sparkling. He looked better. Almost healthy. “I just put in an offer on this house. The agent let me borrow the keys.”
Marnie froze at the threshold. “What?”
Jason let the door swing open, creaking as it revealed a tiled hallway. His grin had an uncertain edge to it. “We would own it together. I sold the ambergris, so this would be as much yours as it’s mine. Fifty-fifty, remember?”
“You ... you’re crazy! How much is this? It’s by the lake! A million dollars? You can’t possibly—”
Jason laughed. “Fine! The ambergris was only thirty grand, but I cashed out my cryptos. It’ll still be fifty percent yours. Well, that’s my plan anyway, if you...” His gaze searched her face for answers.
Marnie swallowed, heat rising up her neck, making her cheeks blaze. “If I what?”
