Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Creed
“Where is your wife?”
I looked up from the paper I was cutting, momentarily thrown off by the question. “My wife?” I asked Kim, my hands pausing mid-snip.
“Yes, that pretty dark-haired woman you were here with last week,” she replied, her gaze steady and inquisitive.
I tipped my head to the side, speechless that Kim had remembered not only Jada but also myself. She hadn’t remembered my name, but she remembered us being there last week. It was a small miracle, given the circumstances.
“Uh, she had an important meeting she needed to go to,” I explained, trying to keep my voice steady.
Kim nodded, her attention returning to the piece of paper she was gluing to the background. “Maybe you can give this to her when we are done with it,” she offered, holding up the colorful collage she was working on.
I cleared my throat, feeling a lump form. This was only the second time I had sat with Kim, but the woman had already dug her way into my heart. Just like her daughter. “I think Jada would really like that,” I said, my voice a bit hoarse.
“Just promise you’ll bring her the next time you visit,” Kim added, her eyes shining with a hopeful glint.
“I promise,” I said softly, touched by her sincerity.
We continued working on the craft in comfortable silence, the snip of scissors and the rustle of paper the only sounds between us. I watched Kim as she meticulously placed each piece, her concentration absolute. There was a gentle, almost childlike joy in her actions.
“Do you enjoy doing crafts?” I asked, trying to engage her in conversation.
Kim looked up and smiled. “Oh, yes. It keeps my mind busy and my hands moving. Plus, it’s fun. Don’t you think?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it is. I used to do this kind of stuff when I was a kid. It’s been a while.”
Kim chuckled softly. “It’s never too late to get back into it. Maybe you and Jada can do some crafts together.”
I smiled at the thought. “That sounds like a good idea. I’m sure she’d love that.”
As we continued working, I couldn’t help but think about Jada. She was probably in her meeting with Candace. I just kept praying that Candace took what little info Jada had for her and didn’t hurt her.
“Do you have any children?” Kim asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
The question caught me off guard. “No, not yet,” I replied, feeling a pang of longing. “But maybe someday.”
Kim nodded thoughtfully. “Children are a blessing. They bring so much joy into your life.”
I smiled, thinking about the future. “Yeah, they do.”
We finished the craft, a beautiful collage of colorful shapes and patterns. Kim held it up, admiring our work. “This looks wonderful. Jada will love it.”
“I’m sure she will,” I agreed, gently taking the collage from her. “Thank you, Kim. This means a lot.”
She smiled warmly. “You’re welcome. Just remember to bring her next time.”
“I will,” I promised again. “I’ll see you next week.”
As I left the Larson House, the collage carefully tucked under my arm, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jada.
It was only half past eight, and I didn’t think she would be back home yet. The drive alone from Green Door to her house was at least half an hour, and that was in clear traffic.
I knew if anything happened, I would know right away.
This should be an easy meeting with Candace, and then Jada would come home.
I kept reminding myself that she had six people keeping an eye on her. They knew nothing was to happen to Jada.
She had said she would bring dinner home, so all I needed to do was get to her apartment and wait.
I hated waiting.