You Can't Run by Hope Davis (best way to read books .txt) 📗

there. It was Vance who broke the silence again. “Tomorrow, on our walk, I want to say goodbye to Kevin. When the time seems right, can you and Elliot leave us alone? Please.”

“Anything for you.” She promised in a whisper, she didn’t trust herself to speak any louder for fear she would begin sobbing uncontrollably.

“And I don’t have much of anything left, but can you call a lawyer? I need to draft up my will.” His voice transformed from emotional to businesslike. “The house is yours.”  Naya knew he was serious about it, there was nothing for her to say.

“I’ll have one come on Monday.”

“And I want to be cremated. Don’t waste money on an urn or anything, spread my ashes somewhere in nature. Please. Don’t spend any more money on me.”

She felt her tears slow realizing that after all he had been through, Vance was more worried about messing up her life than his. When he didn’t speak for a few more minutes she squeezed him and then slowly stood and headed for the door. She planned to clean herself up in the bathroom before going upstairs to see Kevin.

“And Naya?” Vance called as she was almost to the door.

“Yes?” She asked, turning back around.

“I’m sorry.”

This confused Naya and she tilted her head to the side. “Sorry for what?”

“That you changed your whole life for the last few weeks of my life.” His voice cracked and he dropped his head to his hands.

Naya quickly crossed to the bed and hugged him again as tight as she could.

“Never see it that way Vance. I’ve only been here a few weeks and already they’ve been some of the best weeks of my life.” She remembered the huge case breathing down her neck, well, best except for that she reasoned. “In La Junta I had reached the end of my rope. There was nothing else for me to do but stare at the same few cases for years on end. Coming here was the shock I needed to show me there was more to life.” She realized she was crying again. “And for that I thank you.” She whispered the last part.

After another minute of hugging each other, Naya pulled back and stood. “Goodnight Vance.”

“Goodnight Naya.” He replied as she slowly closed the door behind her. She turned to go to the bathroom and ran straight into Kevin who was leaning against the wall, a solemn look on his face.

“How much did you hear?” Naya whispered.

“All of it, I think.” He whispered back. “I didn’t mean to. I came down to brush my teeth and when I heard you guys talking, I froze.” He embraced Naya in a hug and she felt herself somehow still crying. Where was all this water coming from anyway? He smoothed a hand through her hair.

“Come on, let’s get you upstairs.”

She nodded as he took her hand and gently led her up the stairs and around the creaky step. Both were silent as they stripped to their underwear and slipped into bed. Kevin lifted his arm and Naya snuggled into his side.

“I’m sorry I ruined the mood for the evening.” She grimaced remembering his playful mood earlier.

“It’s not your fault.” He must’ve realized how bad that sounded because he quickly amended his statement. “And it’s not Vance’s either. I just wish there was something I could do to keep the inevitable from happening.

“Me too.” She sighed as they fell into a companionable and comforting silence. Naya was so tired that sleep came quickly and soon she found herself in that weird place between waking and sleeping.

A place where everything was pleasant and safe. She was back in La Junta, running through the long flowing grass, her older brother running right alongside her…

Morning came all too soon. Technically she could’ve slept in, but the light from her window woke her up around seven. She was still cuddled up to Kevin who was fast asleep snoring lightly. As quietly as she could, she slid from bed and pulled on her hiking clothes.

She ran her brush through her hair, noticing that it felt weird in her hand. When she pulled the brush away from her head, she noticed her scrunchie, which had always been on the end was no longer there. She paused. Maybe Kevin had borrowed it for…something? Well, it was just a scrunchie, she would just have to grab a regular hair tie from the bathroom to put her hair up.

Trying her best to hold her ponytail in her hand as she stepped down the stairs, she made her way to the bathroom, where she grabbed a hair tie and brushed her teeth. Then she made her way to the kitchen to finish cleaning up the mess she had left when they had left for dinner the night before.

Luckily, it wasn’t too bad, just some sauce residue and a little spilled fried rice on the counter. She quickly cleaned it up and then looked in the fridge to see if there was anything she could make for breakfast.

No such luck, she hadn’t been to the store in over a week. The fridge was crowded with a random smattering of take-out boxes from probably every restaurant within a three-mile radius but nothing else. They would have to go out, like usual.

She heard movement in the bathroom and was in the process of trying to guess who it might be when Kevin appeared in the doorway.

“You’re up early.” He commented, raising his eyes at her clothing choice.

She pretended to check her watch even though she wasn’t wearing one. “I could say the same, I’ve only been up for a few minutes.” She paused and looked back at the fridge. “So, we have absolutely nothing to eat, so once Elliot gets here, let’s plan to grab breakfast somewhere near wherever