Page 96 of In Cold Blood

“I didn’t know she was going to church.”

“A friend of hers invited her when we returned to the county. That’s where she met him.”

“And how is he?”

“He’s okay. I can see he’s itching to throw his two cents into every conversation.”

“Does he?”

“Not so far. Though I imagine that will change soon. Eventually, he wants mom to move in with him but she’s not sure she’s ready to do that.”

“Well, she’ll have to decide soon now that she has that engagement ring on her finger.”

Mia squinted as the sun bore down on them. “You jealous?”

“Me? Why would I be? I want nothing but good things for your mom and you two.”

She nodded. Ethan was getting Axel to sit, then stand, then sit, then stand.

“We’ll make a K-9 officer out of you yet,” Noah yelled. Ethan beamed.

“Dad. Do you think you’ll ever move back here?”

He looked at Mia and then stared out at the water. He certainly would appreciate the slower pace of life and seeing his kids more. “I don’t know, kiddo. For you two, in a heartbeat. But there’s more to it than that.”

“Can’t you transfer?”

“To this region. I guess.”

“It would be the same work.”

“Just a lot closer.”

“To people, you don’t want to be around,” she added.

He noted the edge in her voice. “Hey. You know I love being around you and Ethan. You’re my world. There’s nothing I want more. It’s…”

“Grandfather?”

Noah sighed. “I spent the first eighteen years of my life here. You kind of want to spread your wings. You’ll understand when you’re that age.”

“I understand it now,” she said.

“Hey, your mom is doing the best she can. This is still as new to her as it is to me. Cut her a break, okay?”

“Easy for you to say.” She got up and tossed the remainder of her ice cream in the garbage.

It was easy for him to say. Mia was right. He was the one looking in, the parent who only shared in the good stuff. Moving back would bring with it many challenges but twenty years away had given him time to stand on his own two feet and become the man he wanted to be. Maybe it was time he considered living nearer. Hugh wasn’t getting any younger, and Noah had missed out on time with his nephew and niece. It would be good to have family around.

After a couple of hours down by the water, Noah took the two of them on a tour of his old stomping grounds. Places he used to visit when he was a teen. He recounted stories that only made sense in his era. To them, it was nothing but dull white noise and the ramblings of a man reflecting on his youth.

As the Bronco rolled back through town to the parking lot, he spotted Jack Grayson outside Gauthiers Saranac Lake Inn. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

He wasn’t alone. He was talking to some butch-looking fella. At first, he thought it was a client but something was very odd about the exchange. Jack leaned toward the stranger, whisperedsomething in his ear, and smiled as he stuck some dollars in his hand.

Noah veered in.

“Is that Uncle Jack?” Mia asked.