Sawyer beamed. “I had no idea you were up and about. I thought Debbie might be straightening your bedsheets before she led me to your room.”
“Second day on my feet,” he stated proudly.
Sawyer stayed by his side as he made his way over to the Empire sofa and took a seat.
He patted the seat next to him, and she sat down. It made her happy to see color in his face. “I never would have pegged you for a fancy parlor man.”
He chuckled. “It’s an old, historic house, and we’re doing our part to preserve history.”
She could hear people talking in the other room. “You have visitors. Debbie should have told me. I could have come back another time.”
His eyes sparkled. “My son is here.”
“And your granddaughter?” Sawyer asked, happy for Palmer. He had mentioned his son before, said they’d had a falling-out of sorts. For that reason he hadn’t seen his granddaughter in years.
“And my granddaughter,” he said. “They’ll be staying for a few weeks, so there was no need to send you off. How are things at the office?”
Sawyer smiled. “It’s not the same without you.”
He angled his head. “How are you and Lexi getting along?”
“I think I’m beginning to actually like her.”
Palmer’s laughter turned to a cough. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and once he collected himself, he said, “You two have more in common than you know.”
Sawyer said nothing.
“So what’s on your mind?”
“The Black Wigs. And now we have two more homicides that I believe are the work of a copycat, but the investigators have different ideas.” Not wanting to keep Palmer away from his son for too long, she told him everything that was going on, ending with her and Lexi’s lunch at the Blue Fox and all about their chat with Ian Farley, the server who quit soon after Brad Vicente was arrested.
When Sawyer was finished, she recognized the expression on Palmer’s face immediately. They both knew what she needed to do.
“You know what I’m going to say.”
She drew in a breath. “I need to talk to Perez.”
“Yes.”
“The man can hardly stand the sight of me.”
“He’ll come around. You’re bullheaded and stubborn. And so is he. You’ll be fine. You always are.”
“And if he doesn’t come around? What then?”
“Just do what you always do, Sawyer. Be you. Do you. Believe in yourself. Your instincts haven’t failed you yet.”
She smiled. “This is why I need you at the office.”
“To pump you up and remind you to trust yourself?”
“Exactly.”
His face grew suddenly somber. “Now it’s my turn.”
“For what?”
“To tell you what’s going on with me.”
Her heart pounded. Was he sicker than she thought?
“I’ve had a lot of time to think lately, and I realized that I’ve never taken the time to tell you how much you mean to me.” He lifted a hand to stop her from protesting. “Not just because you saved my life—”
“I didn’t—”
“You did. But that’s not what I’m getting at. I’m sure you know that I saw something inside you the very first time we met. Something special. Something that told me, ‘That girl means business and she’s going places.’”
Sawyer smiled, her insides filling with warmth. Maybe she liked receiving praise more than she’d thought.
“When we first met in class and I told you that the baggage you were carrying within would weigh you down and stop you from becoming a decent reporter, I knew then what I know now. You’ve got the determination and perseverance that it takes to be a good crime reporter. You’ve also got what many reporters don’t. You have a big heart.” He sat up taller as if trying to get comfortable. “I don’t think you have any idea how much you mean to me. I think of you as a daughter.”
And this was exactly why she’d come to see him. Deep down, she’d realized it the second he walked into the overdecorated parlor. He’d always been her mentor, but he’d quickly become so much more. Other than Harper and Aria, he was the only person in the world she trusted wholeheartedly.
Sawyer reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze, but worry settled over her when she noticed a change in his expression. He had more to say. “What is it? You’re getting better, right?”
“My doctor assured me I’m going to be just fine.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
“But I’ve decided to retire.”
Her heart dropped to her stomach.
“I want to read and spend time in the garden with Debbie. Maybe even take a trip to Paris.”
“Wow,” Sawyer said, pulling her hand away and using it to push loose strands of hair out of her face. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll be right here. Stop by anytime.”
“You know I will.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Aria had just finished sending a text to Sawyer when Corey Moran walked through the door to the shelter. Weird timing, considering the text she’d just sent her sister included a picture of Corey she had taken through the window of the coffee shop yesterday when she saw him walking across the street toward the café.
Her insides did somersaults.
Their visit at the coffee shop had been cut super short when he’d gotten a call and had to rush off. She’d told him she would be working all week at the shelter if he wanted to stop by and visit Duke. That was the name she had given the dog he’d found on the street and brought in the day they met.
She had no idea whether he would come. But here he was, looking better than ever in light-washed jeans and the same chunky boots he’d worn the first time they met. He also had a newly shaved jaw, which made him look younger. The only thing different about him was the man bun. It looked good on him.
“Is Duke around?” he asked.
“Duke? Oh, yeah, Duke.” She laughed. Just the sight of him had her completely discombobulated.
He laughed too.
“So how much time do you have?” she asked.
“As much time as you need.”
Okay, then. “I’ll walk Chompers and let you take Duke.”
“Sounds good. Just tell me what to do.”
She grabbed a leash and took Corey to Duke’s cage. While he worked on rounding up Duke, Aria went to get Chompers, an old dog and the shelter’s longest resident. The poor dog was a slow walker, but Chompers loved being outdoors.
The moment they stepped outside, Aria drew in a breath. It was a beautiful day. She kept sneaking glances at Corey. And her day kept getting better by the minute.
“You love what you do, don’t you?” he asked.
“I do. I love being with animals, and I love this place.” Aria looked around, admiring the view. “Whenever I walk the trails, I feel like I’m in another world.”
Aria unlatched the gate leading to the trails. She was glad he had come since they hadn’t had time to get to know one another at the coffee shop. They walked quietly, Corey working hard to keep Duke from running too far ahead while Aria tried to nudge Chompers onward.