“Yes. I need tosee you. I think I may have some information for you.”
Rememberingwhat Katie said, I know I should tell Slinky that I don’t want anymore information on Fournier, but something stops me. I still feellike I need to make sure Fournier can’t hurt any more people. Plus,what could me meeting with Slinky hurt? Even if I don’t end uptrying to destroy Fournier, the least I could do after Slinkyhelped me, is meet him for a coffee and thank him.
I agree to meetSlinky at Starbucks on Davie Street tomorrow at 4pm. Katie willstill be at work, and I won’t have to worry about defendingmyself.
As soon as Iend the call, I hear someone walking lightly on the floor behindme, “Who were you talking to, Jules?”
My heart justabout jumps out of my chest, and I spin around, “Katie. You scaredthe shit out of me. I thought you were sleeping.”
“Who were youtalking to?” she says, not about to let the issue go.
“It was Slinky.He called me and…”
“And you agreedto meet him tomorrow? And, after everything we talked abouttonight?”
“I’m not goingto cause any shit around Fournier. Slinky is my parents’ oldfriend. Today, he saved my ass. I just want to thank him. I’mmeeting him at Starbucks on Davie, not near Blood Alley or anywhereseedy like that. I promise. Plus, I have full intention of tellinghim that I’m no longer interested in gathering more informationabout Fournier.”
She doesn’t saya word. She just stands there staring at me, waiting for me to lookdown at the floor as a way of admitting to a lie. My mother usedthis tactic when I was small, and she suspected me ofbullshitting.
But I don’tlook away from Katie, instead, I try to look relaxed, confident andfree of lies.
“OK,” she says,tilting her head sideways. I guess I have to give you the benefitof the doubt that you’re telling me the truth.”
“That’s morelike it. Now come on, let’s go back to bed.”
ChapterEleven
The morning sunis a welcome sight after so many days of overcast and rain. I wakeup with Katie in my arms and a smile on my face. I’m glad we stayedhere for once. Being here in this apartment no longer frightens me.I get up, make coffee and call the hospital to see how my father isdoing. He was doing so much better yesterday that I’m expecting himto be even more improved today.
As I punch inthe number, Katie walks up behind me and wraps her arms around myback. With my free hand, I reach behind me and pull her in closer.I tell the hospital operator to pass me through to my father’sward, as Katie begins to rub her hands over my butt. I cover thereceiver and with a smile on my face, turn around, “Behaveyourself. I’m checking on my dad.”
She gives oneof my cheeks a pinch and then walks away.
“Hello?” anurse says on the other end of the phone.
I tell her whoI am and that I’m calling to find out how my father is?
She asks me towait while she pulls up his file. After a few minutes, she saysthat my dad is doing a lot better. Apparently, they have taken outthe IV and unhooked him from the heart monitor. She explains thathe’s now on a general patient ward and has been slowly walking upand down the hallway with the use of a walker and the help of anurse. I feel so happy and relieved that I laugh giddily and thankher for taking care of my dad. I ask her to pass a message to myfather that I’ll be in to see him around dinner time. By the time Ihang up, I can barely contain my happiness. Just as I walk down thehallway, Katie is coming out of the bathroom. I grab her and planta big kiss on her, “It’s a good day, I say. He’s doing better, alot better. Do you want to come and see him with me when you getoff work today?”
“I don’t worktoday. Didn’t I tell you? I have two days off. I’d love to go tothe hospital with you. Maybe we can go after you meet with Slinky?I mean…It’s not like you’ll be very long with him, right?”
“Yes, Warden.That’s right.”
* * *
With no freshfood in the fridge, we take the passenger ferry to Granville Islandand order brunch at Bridges Restaurant. The sun sparkles off theocean’s surf as we watch the boats coming and going in the harbor.After we eat, we walk around the market for a few hours and thentake the ferry back to the apartment. As soon as we get upstairs,our primal attraction for each other takes over, and we spend thenext hour in an impromptu love making session.
* * *
Afterwards, wehave a tandem shower and get dressed for the second time today.Downstairs, we kiss and she heads off to run errands while I go tomeet Slinky at Starbucks. As I drive out of the underground parkinglot, I notice the sky is growing darker, as the last hint of thesunny day disappears quickly into the horizon. By the time I arriveat the Starbucks on Davie Street, the sunset has been replaced bystreet lights and glowing neon signs. I park in the back alley ofthe coffee house and walk round to the front. A cold North windrushes up the treeless street, persuading pedestrians to takeshelter in eateries or shops. I cross my arms in front of me andwalk against the wind until I reach the door. The place ispacked.
Every seat inStarbucks is filled and those who arrived too late to find a chairare standing against the tall wooden counters. Looking up at theclock, I see that I’m a bit early, so I order a coffee and find anempty spot against the wall to lean on. I barely hear my cell as itrings. It’s Katie. Speaking loudly over the other customersconversations, I suggest that she texts me instead. A few secondslater, Katie texts that her parents showed up unexpectedly and wantto take her to dinner and then spend the night at her apartment.She
