Page 198 of When a Soul Cries

“Your stuff.”

“What do you mean you got my stuff?”

“I made some calls before they cleared the unit.”

I stared.

“Where is it?”

“Storage.”

My chest tightened.

“Rome…”

“I didn’t go through anything. I had it secured. That’s it.”

“That wasn’t your decision to make.”

“I know.”

I hadn’t expected that answer.

He glanced at me.

“My mama already got on my ass about doing too much.”

Despite myself, I smiled.

“Good.”

“Don’t encourage her.”

Then his expression became serious again.

“Your things are safe. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll take you. You decide what happens after that.”

I turned toward the window.

My eyes burned.

Those pictures weren’t gone.

The paperwork wasn’t gone.

Pieces of my life I thought had disappeared with everything else were still somewhere waiting for me.

“Thank you.”

Rome exhaled softly.

“You don’t gotta keep thanking me.”

“I know.”

But I did anyway.

Eastview came into view several minutes later, and I slowly sat forward.