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I nodded again at the envelope. The doorman frowned slightly as he reached uncertainly for the paper, and I turned for the street. “Thank you for everything, Lyndon.”
“Ms. Lynn!”
I paused and looked back toward him, cocking my head curiously. He ambled closer, his aging cheeks flushed slightly. “I… I just wanted to say…”
My eyebrows rose. “What is it, Lyndon?”
“I’m sorry.”
My brow knit into a vee of confusion, the apology unexpected. “For what?” I asked, glancing toward the street where Charlie was double parked and waiting impatiently for me. I had sworn to be a minute, and I was already taking ten times longer than I’d expected. The driver scowled at me and tapped his watch meaningfully, but I ignored him.
“I wasn’t very kind to you when you first came to the Gable Place,” he blurted out. “And that was my fault, not yours. You’re lovely and deserved better. I should have given you a chance.”
My heart swelled at the sincerity, and I shook my head, a smile forming on my lips.
“Oh, Lyndon. That’s all water under the bridge. You and I are pals now, aren’t we?” I told him honestly.
I hadn’t thought about any of his poor attitude in months, and I would miss him.
“I hope so, Ms. Lynn. And I hope you’ll stop by whenever you’re in the neighborhood. It won’t be the same around here without you.”
I grinned at him. “I hope you and the missus enjoy the tickets,” I winked, nodding toward the envelope.
“And I hope you and the misters enjoy your new house. You’ve earned it.”
I giggled, and on a whim, I hugged the crotchety old curmudgeon, relishing the blush on his face.
“I won’t be a stranger, Lyndon. See you later.”
I hurried out the front doors, Lyndon holding it for me now as Charlie grimaced.
“It’s about time!” he complained. “Were you just waiting for me to get a ticket?”
“You say that like Silverpiece won’t cover it,” I mused.
“That’s not the point.”
“Don’t start your shit now,” I instructed him. “Moving is a bitch.”
“You hired movers,” the driver reminded me.
“Watch it, or next time, I’ll make you move me again.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he retorted lightly, and we both laughed as I climbed into the backseat with my bag. It was the last of everything I could find at the penthouse, our lives fully wrapped up and brought to the suburbs to our brand-new build, where I had overseen every detail.
But as we drove away from the Gable Place, my heart twinged, this start of a new chapter nostalgic and vaguely sad.
“How do you feel about this drive now?” I asked the long-time driver. “Or do you care?”
“Honestly? I’m glad I don’t have to fight as much traffic. You guys picked a beautiful spot… especially if you’re ever going to have kids.”
It had been one of the topics of conversation we’d had when investing in the lot, the location, the school zone. I was still on birth control, but one day, maybe…
We drove through the city to the suburbs, the pretty greenery already affecting my mood as the business of downtown faded away.
Charlie steered the Escalade up the gated driveway, parking next to the movers.
Kai was at my door before Charlie could park.
