past now. Oh, and that reminds me…” I hop up and trot into my bedroom. Rummaging through my closet, I grab a large black duffel bag and lug it back out into the living room.
“What the hell?” Aurora asks through a mouthful of chips.
“Uh, you got a dead body in there?” Deanna’s smiling but she eyes the duffel skeptically.
“Not quite.” I smile as I unzip the massive bag. “But these goods need to go.” I lift out one piece of designer clothing after the next. Dresses, swimsuits, heels, and more. All my gifts from David.
“What?!” Deanna screeches. “No way, Lilly. You can’t just ditch that stuff.”
“Your designer goods? Absolutely not!” Aurora likewise looks horrified.
“I was thinking of just donating it.” I say, “I mean, this stuff just isn’t me.”
“At least give it to me then!” Deanna is already pawing at the delicate fabrics eagerly.
“No.” I firmly place my hand on hers. “These things are all part of a past that we both need to let go of.” My voice is calm and commanding, and Deanna takes one look at me before grumpily flopping back on the couch. She can tell it’s no use trying to argue.
“Okay, okay.” She clears her throat. “But you could at least sell them?”
“Yeah,” Aurora adds. “Take the money and put it into your savings, for when you finally buy your own restaurant space.”
I pause. It’s not a bad idea. I basically want these reminders of Vegas out of my home as soon as possible. Donating them to a charity would be the easiest option. But Deanna has a point.
“You can sell them on eBay,” Aurora presses onwards, sensing my resolve cracking.
“I can help you,” Deanna adds. “Come on, Lilly, you easily have twenty or thirty grand worth of merchandise here.”
“Fine.” I nod. “It’s a good idea.”
“Good. So,” Deanna picks up the remote and aims it at the television, “what are we watching? Chick flick?”
“Yes, please!” Aurora kicks her feet up.
“Definitely.” I sigh and sink back into the couch. I want to lose myself in another person’s romance for the night, even if it’s just a Hollywood movie heroine’s. Because my own romance is done and dead.
Chapter Twenty-Six
David
“We’ll be landing shortly, Mr. Milner.”
“Thank you, Cindy.” I put aside the paperwork I’ve been reviewing throughout the flight and look out the window, watching the landscape below come into focus as the plane descends. First, I only see a patchwork of cornfields. Then, buildings come into focus and a small cityscape appears. Not quite as grand as Las Vegas but a city nonetheless—a city with an airport where the jet can land.
On the ground, a black car is already waiting for me. I still have a two-hour drive ahead of me. My final destination is a small town, with no airport of its own. It’s a hell of a trek to get here.
I’m too antsy to focus on work during the drive and spend the ride staring out the window instead, lost in thought. We pass through one small town after the next. Stretches of farmland lie between the small municipalities. Whenever the big, black car inches through one of these little towns, people stop and stare. Fair enough. I doubt many Escalades pass through here. It certainly stands out.
These small towns all look pretty much the same. They have at least one gas station and one grocery store. Maybe a fast food joint or two. Or a locally owned diner, some kind of “mom and pop” shop. And that’s about it. No movie theatre. No arcade. No bowling alley. Not even a school, usually. The kids get bussed to school in larger cities or, if they’re old enough, drive themselves. I know because that’s how I grew up.
“Here we are, sir.” The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror as we pull up at our final destination.
“Thank you. Go ahead and take the afternoon off. I’ll ping if I need you.” I glance at the white-paneled house and nod. The car crawls to a stop and I get out, take a deep breath, and walk without hesitation to the front door.
I knock twice, hard, holding my breath. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent the driver off already. I’m not sure she’s home. I’m not sure she’ll answer the door. I didn’t tell her I was coming beforehand.
Then the door is thrown open.
“David!” The shock on her face is evident but so is the pleasure in her voice. Without hesitation, she envelopes me in a huge hug. I