Page 51 of 4th Silence

“About?”

I glance around the office, my attention skittering over the five skulls. Three complete and two in progress. Ariel, Martha, Nancy, Randy, and Peter. All cold cases. All names I’ve bestowed on them until we can identify them.

“I’m obsessed.” I peer back at Jerome. “I don’t know if I have room for all of them and being a wife.”

He gives me a mock-horrified look that makes me laugh.

God, that laugh feels good.

Right.

I love this man.

“Meg, you are stone-cold nuts.”

“And your point is?”

He snorts. “I could say the same about me. What do I know about being a husband? I’m a halfway-decent artist, part-time gallery clerk, part-time weed dealer, maybe-soon dispensary owner. I’ve never had a real relationship before you. At our age, that’s... not great. But I love you. That’s what I know.” He shrugs. “The rest? I’ll figure it out.”

I cock my head, rolling his words around in my mind. We’re a pair, aren’t we? Both of us are thinking too much about what hasn’t yet happened instead of focusing on right now. On being present and enjoying each other.

“You’re right,” I say. “I let my anxiety steamroll me. I’m so sorry. I should have talked to you. Told you that I was scared.”

“Fear is normal. Shit. I’m scared every day when I open my front door. Anything can happen, right? I want it to happen with you. However, that needs to be. If you’ll have me.”

Always. Without question. “Absolutely,” I say. “I love you, Jerome. I hope you know that.”

“I do. But you can’t ghost me again. I won’t live that way.”

Ooofff. That one lands hard. “I promise you, I will never do this again. If I freak out, I’ll talk to you.”

“Excellent. Hallelujah. Now we can both get on with it. Are we good?”

We are so good. “Sure are. I feel a thousand pounds lighter.”

He bends low, brushing his lips against mine. “You make me insane.”

I loop my arms around his neck. “I make me insane.”

Then I full-on kiss him, pouring everything I have into it. My gratitude. My love. The last of my energy. He deserves that, even with everything else crashing down around me.

When we finally back away, I fan my face. “Phew. I’ve missed you.”

At this, he smiles and lightly pinches my chin. “I’ve missed you. Now, I’m gonna get out of here. Let me know when you’re available. Would love to see you.”

I nod. “How about tonight at my place? It might be late. We think we found a major clue. We have security footage of Mary Hartman taking something to the cottage.”

“Whatever time works,” he says. “I’ll come by around eight. If you’re not there, I’ll wait.”

Such a good man.

“Yes. I’d like that.”

He drops a quick kiss on my lips and heads to the door. “Good. See you later.”

I watch him go. His tall, lean frame moving away from me. “Jerome?”

He pauses near the door and swings back. “What?”