When Harrell opened the door and saw Lance standing there, he felt a wave of relief, mixed with surprise. It was almost like he'd been waiting for this moment.
“I knew you’d find me,” he said quietly.
The door was barely open, but Lance just pushed it the rest of the way with his foot. Harrell stepped aside, watching as Lance strolled in, hands shoved into his pockets.
The apartment was tiny, just two rooms, and with both of them inside, it felt even smaller. They were both tall, broad-shouldered, and the space seemed to shrink with the tension between them.
Lance stopped in the middle of the living room and turned, eyes scanning Harrell.
“I’m only saying this once. Be straight with me, Harrell. Tell the truth now, or deal with the consequences.”
Harrell knew Adelina would never let things get ugly. She was too careful for that. But Lance was too smart. For him to track Harrell down and say this, he must have already figured out more than Harrell would ever admit.
“I don’t have anything to say.”
But it wasn’t true. There were things Adelina didn’t want Lance to know, and Harrell had secrets of his own.
Lance’s expression was impossible to read. The silence between them was heavy, pressing in until the air felt icy.
“Pack your stuff. Tomorrow, you’re coming with me to Eldervale.”
He said it after a long pause, then brushed past Harrell and walked out.
Harrell turned, watching Lance go down the stairs, his silhouette fading out of sight. He’d half expected it to end this way, their friendship of over twenty years unraveling in silence. Lance had never tolerated betrayal, and Harrell had always been the exception. That only made Harrell feel worse, his guilt gnawing at him.
Eldervale. Maybe Catherine was another exception for Lance, a grain of sand he couldn’t ignore.
...
The morning in Eldervale was cool and fresh. Catherine wore a light gray dress, a shawl draped over her shoulders—something Lorinda had insisted she take along.
She was just getting out of the car when Letty hurried across the parking lot toward her.

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