After months of zigzagging across the US, she was finally where she wanted to be. Almost. She just needed one more thing to make it perfect.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Cage
Cage came in from the cold, appreciating the warmth and the sense of being home. That was what Sanctuary had become. Not just a project, but also the place where he felt like he truly belonged.
How things had changed in the three years since they’d started. There was still a lot of work to do, but it was a great feeling, finding his place and seeing goals realized. And yet he couldn’t help but feel something was missing. Had been, ever since the day Bree had driven away.
Until recently, he’d hoped that wouldn’t be the end of it. That what they’d shared was more than a thing of convenience. That he would hear from her again. Not that he expected her to give up everything and show up on his doorstep, but trading emails would have been nice. Talking on the phone, like they had on Thanksgiving. Something.
Since that call, he hadn’t heard from her. Not once.
He’d appreciated the contact at the time, but now, he wondered if it would have been better if she hadn’t called at all. She’d raised his hopes again, but after several weeks, he had to assume it was a one-time thing. Unless, of course, she got lonely around Christmastime and called again.
If she did, would he answer?
In a heartbeat.
Perhaps that was why he’d felt compelled to do what he had. Two weeks after Thanksgiving, with the newly renovated suites completed and the cold weather putting a pause on outside work, he told Church that he needed some time away to take care of some personal business. Church agreed without question, telling him to take as much time as he needed.
It was the first time he’d been off Sanctuary property for more than a few hours in three years. His trip started with a drive to New York City, where he had started. He walked around the old neighborhood, certain that no one would look at the man he was now and see the skinny, weird kid he’d once been. He’d expected the experience to be painful, but it was cathartic. He’d come a long way, and when he left the city that day, it was with a sense of closure. His past really was well and truly behind him.
After that, he flew out to Coronado and spent a few days there. He ran into old Navy buddies, several now instructors, and caught up over a few beers. Some had heard about Sanctuary, some hadn’t, but all thought it was a great idea.
On a whim—or so he told himself—he looked up Antonia while he was out there. He wasn’t sure what to expect when he called her. He didn’t even know if Bree had mentioned him. Apparently, she had because Antonia agreed to meet him for coffee.
She was a lot like Bree in appearance and attitude, right down to the remnants of a Brooklyn accent. Antonia didn’t tell him where Bree was, but she did confirm that she and Bree kept in touch on a regular basis.
“Is she okay?” he asked. That was really the only thing that mattered.
“Yeah, she is. And, Nick? Don’t give up hope, okay?”
He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but he’d returned to Sanctuary, feeling a little better than when he’d left. If and when Bree decided to reach out again, he’d be there.
He found the others sitting together in the dining room, having what looked like an animated discussion. Conversation quieted when they spotted him.
“Hey, he’s back!” Doc called out in greeting.
“And he’s got a tan,” Heff pointed out.
“Did you have a good trip?” Sam asked, her eyes bright and twinkling.
It felt good to be home. To be among friends again. It helped ease some of the ache in his chest. “Yeah, I did. Glad to be back though. Anything interesting happen while I was away?”
The men’s faces went curiously blank.
“Nothing much,” Smoke answered.
“Yeah, you know, same old, same old.” That was from Mad Dog.
“The new guys arrive okay?”
“Yep. They’re all settled in. Good group, too. You can meet them tomorrow.”
Unlike the men, the women looked like they were struggling to keep a secret. The sense that he was missing something grew stronger when no one would make direct eye contact. No one, except Kate, who seemed even happier than usual. Cage chalked it up to marital bliss or the impending holidays. Or maybe Heff finally found his balls and set a date with Sandy.
“Right, well, I’m beat. I just stopped in to let you know I’m back. I’ll see you tomorrow, and you can catch me up.”
“No hurry,” Church said. “Take as much time as you need.”
What the hell? Do they think I’ve gone off the deep end? “I’m good.”
Cage left and started the hike back to his trailer, anxious to sleep in his own bed. The cold air felt good, more seasonably appropriate for the impending Christmas holiday.
Lights from within his trailer glowed out from the darkness. Cage didn’t think too much of it at first. He’d asked Doc to stop by and run the water occasionally to keep the pipes from freezing while he was away. But when he got closer, he swore he had seen a shadow pass behind one of the curtained windows.
He slowed his approach and listened intently. Church, Smoke, Heff, Mad Dog, and Doc had been in the dining room with their significant others. Who was in his place?
He circled the trailer and found several tracks, both human and canine. Perhaps Justin had been out, walking the dogs, and swung by just to check on things.
And then a dog barked. From inside his fucking trailer.
“What do
