Page 44 of The Photograph

She points at the TV. “Dora’s gone.”

I look at the black screen and punch every single button on the remote. When nothing happens, I check the plug behind the screen and blow out a breath.

Gabe who’s been standing in between the doorjamb, edges close and extends his hand.

“Let me try.”

I nod, happy to slap the evil little remote in his palm. “Thank you.” I kneel before the toy table. “Sammy, Gabe’s going to try to fix it, okay?”

She replies with her eyes on her coloring book. “Okay.”

After mouthing a thank you to Gabe, I hurry to the kitchen to make a salad and grilled chicken to complement the pasta, set up the table, and go back to the lounge where I find Gabe sitting on the floor listening to Sam talking about Dora’s friends with a working TV screen in the background.

He’s good with children.Melting a little—a lot—I clear my throat. “Dinner’s ready.”

Sam takes my hand and turns toward Gabe. “Come on, dinner’s ready.”

At the table, seated between Gabe and me, Sam questions Gabe about his favorite cartoons, when he says he doesn’t have one, she scowls—adorably so—and shakes her head. She asks about his job as a repair TV guy, and Gabe’s answers make Sam giggle and me chuckle.

After dinner, I plant a quick, hot kiss on Gabe’s mouth before I get Sam in her pjs and read her a story until her lids get heavy.

When I come back to the living room, Gabe’s in the lounge facing the window with his hands in the pockets of his jeans.What happened?Even from behind, he exudes power. I enfold his waist from behind and rest my cheek on his back. Making a sound that vibrates from his body into mine, he unhooks my arms to pull me in front of him before mashing me against him.

I sigh and my chest tightens at his tormented expression. I cup his face,

trying to understand what he won’t tell. “Gabe—”

He swears and kisses me so deeply for so long, I whimper, dazed and breathless when the kiss ends. “Gabe—”

“Don’t.”

He clasps my nape to press a bruising kiss on my open mouth, steps back, and leaves. The slam of the door makes me jump.Why does he keep doing that?

Back in the living room, I clear up Sam’s things, and curl up on the sofa, staring blindly at the TV.

A little bit after 10:00, Mindy collects a sleeping Sam I secure in her car seat before waving them off. As I twist toward the front door, I spot a parked car across the street I swear I’ve seen before. I rub my arms and hurry up the stairs before locking the door behind me.

****

At exactly 6:08 AM, after tossing and turning all night, I climb into Chris’s truck and turn to him. He’s slimmer than the last time we met, and he thankfully let his hair grow past the buzzcut, but his grey eyes are still the kindest I’ve ever encountered. I peck his cheek.

“Hi, Chris.”

He dips his goateed chin and squeezes my hand. “Ready?”

No, but I have to do this. I nod and take a deep breath. “Yes. let’s go.”

Chapter Ten

Gabe

“She just left with him.”

Wiping off the sweat from my chest, I sling the damp towel in the laundry basket by the door of the bathroom and tighten my grip on my cell. “How did she look?”

The investigator clears his throat. “They seem …very friendly. Do you want me to follow them?”

“No. Send what you found to my office.”

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