“Did you tell him that she tore it up?”
“No,” Queen sighed. “I don’t want to discourage him. He even started calling her father. Talking to him. Nothing can get through to her. She’s so stubborn.”
“She’s not going to forgive him,” Goodiva said.
“What? Of course, she is. She’s just playing tough,” Queen scoffed.
“No. She’s not,” Goodiva said. “Delilah is better at this than any of us. She’s used that big brain of hers to convict the man. He’s been cast out now. There’s no coming back from that.”
“Well, he did run away. He should have just been honest with her,” Queen mumbled.
“I understand why he did it,” Goodiva said.
“You do?”
“Girl didn’t I jump on a plane and run from my man,” Goodiva chuckled.
“Not the same, honey,” Queen laughed.
“Don’t get me wrong, she really does love the guy. She just can’t trust him, anyone. You and I both know how hard it is to trust a person.”
Queen reached for a beer that she had found in the fridge. She drank it even though it was only ten in the morning. “Well, I talked to the Chief about getting him on the force. I think he would be a good cop. We had a few take early retirement with all this stuff going on. I guess if you got skeletons in your closet, it’s not a good time to be a cop.”
“Did he accept your offer?” Goodiva asked.
“No. He said he’ll never be a cop again. He was serious about that. He said he’s coming back to Falcon Cove to open up a mechanic shop for cars. He will get him a place and start to build his business again. I think he’s coming back to prove himself to her and Noah. I respect that.”
Delilah listened. She held the basket of folded clothes in her hands and leaned back against the wall. The girls discussed her and Maverick like some reality show soap opera. Tears slipped down her cheeks at the news of his pending return and that heaviness she felt on her heart softened but.
NEW YORK - TWO WEEKS Later
“Sign here, and here, and here,” the attorney said.
Maverick signed all the documents. The attorney checked the signatures. He then passed the paper from the buyer to Maverick with three checks. He’d sold his garage, his land, and his trailer all to his neighbor. The sale was fair. The best he could get considering his need to push things. It would have to work.
“I’m going to say I will miss you, buddy.” Harvey extended his hand. Maverick shook it. “Best of luck in Colorado. If I didn’t have sixteen grandkids, I would move there myself.”
“Sixteen?” Maverick laughed.
“That’s right. Nine kids and sixteen grandkids. Being a father is all I have ever known. Best job I’ve had,” Harvey grinned.
“Yea, I’m learning that,” Maverick said.
“Well, we’re done here.” The attorney said. He handed over the keys to Harvey Miller. Two years living next to him and Maverick had never known the man’s story. Just waved at him as he retreated to his garage. It was done. He was free of New York. For good.
“How soon are you leaving?” The attorney asked him.
“My flight leaves at nine tonight. I got movers bringing my stuff down to Colorado in a week. I need to secure a place for it.”
“Well, if you need a contact for real estate, I got a few in the area to recommend,” the attorney offered.
“Thank you,” Maverick said, and his phone rang. It was a FaceTime call from a number he didn’t know.
“I’ll give you some privacy,” his attorney said and left him. Maverick answered the call.
Noah’s face popped up on the screen. “Hi!”
“Hi Noah,” Maverick said in a shocked gasp.
Noah grinned. “I got a dertle.”
“You got a what?” Maverick asked.
“A dertle.” Noah held up a turtle. The little animal retreated to his shell. “See! See? See!”
“I see him,” Maverick smiled. “You name him?”
Noah nodded.
“What’s his name?”
“Dertle!” Noah said and grinned. Maverick did too before Noah ran away. The person with the phone showed Noah playing with his turtle. His son put the turtle down on the ground and patted its shell. The turtle entirely retreated into his shell. It dawned on Maverick that the person behind the camera was Delilah. He almost said so but didn’t. When she changed her number, instead of just blocking him, it sent a clear message. He had gone into a panic trying to get through to her, but Delilah had shut every door. Lucky for him, her friends and family had felt enough pity to keep them connected.
“Noah? Daddy is coming back. I’ll be there tonight,” he said to Noah, who pushed at the turtle. He wanted Delilah to hear him, but she refused to speak as Noah played. “Noah, can you tell your mother that I love her?”
“Huh?” Noah looked at the phone.
“Can you tell your mother that I love her, and I miss her very much,” Maverick said?
“Okay!” Noah said. He picked up the turtle and brought it over to the camera. “See. See him.”
“I see him. And I’ll see you tonight. Even if you’re sleeping. I’ll see you tonight. O promise Noah,” Maverick said.
“Tonight? See me?” Noah asked. His face now so close to the phone, Maverick could see the little buggars in his nose.
“Tonight. See you,” he repeated.
“Tonight! Tonight! Tonight!” Noah jumped up and down. He ran away from the phone.
“Delilah, please talk to me...” Maverick said. The phone clicked off. The call ended. Maverick smiled. She was ready. He needed to get home and finish packing. He couldn’t wait to get the hell out of the state.
FALCON COVE —
“Hey, you busy?” Delilah asked.
Goodiva was on the floor, on her mat. She was in the middle of meditating while rubbing her belly. Delilah felt terrible for disturbing her. She saw the incense burning in clay pots and knew this was a time of calm and relaxation for her friend. She watched her until Goodiva was past whatever state of her meditation she relaxed in and opened her eyes. Her friend smiled.
“Hey?”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you,” Delilah said.
“No, girl, c’mon in. Where is Noah?”
“Ma and Daddy just got here. He’s with them. Can we talk?” Delilah asked.
“Sure, sit.” Goodiva held out her hands. Delilah joined her on the Matt. Goodiva took her hands into hers and held them. “Relax, Dee.”
“I need to talk,” Delilah sighed.
“Relax first. C’mon. Let’s do some breathing. You and me, together.”
Delilah closed her eyes. While holding her friend's hands, she exhaled through her mouth and breathed through her nose. Goodiva’s calming voice helped. Her friend told Alexa to play a song she hadn’t heard before. And throughout it, she listened to the flute melody as her mind was lulled into a calmness. In a few weeks, her friend would give birth, and they could all just be a family. For Delilah, it was clear that friendship was far more important than the love of a man. She and her friends now had each other.