214 Wills novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Table Thirty-One

Miles's POV

The Marlowe ballroom held three hundred people, and every one of them turned to look when we came in.

Callie sat in a wheelchair with her cast stuck out in front of her, in a green dress with the skirt split to fit it.

I pushed.

Every face in the room smiled at her.

Rob was at the foot of the stage in a black tuxedo, and he crossed the floor to us with both hands out.

"There she is," he said, so the people nearby could hear. "My girl."

He kissed her hand.

She let him.

I watched her do it, and I understood that she was holding something very heavy very still.

"Miles," Rob said. "I'm so glad you came."

"Wouldn't miss it."

"I've put you at thirty-one. Near the kitchen. I'm afraid the front tables were full." He squeezed my shoulder. "I'll take good care of her."

Bert was suddenly beside him with a glass in his hand and the camel coat replaced by a dinner jacket.

"The guest of honor," he said, and touched her cheek.

Callie turned her face a little, so his hand slid off.

His smile did not change.

A man in a gray suit came up behind Bert, soft in the middle, with a politician's handshake and good white teeth.

"Ms. Troyer," he said. "It's been a long time. You look remarkably well."

He said it kindly.

Callie looked at his hand.

Then she took it.

"Sir," she said.

"I think about your case often. It's a great credit to this county that someone like you has been given the chance to put it behind her."

"Thank you," Callie said, and there was nothing in her voice at all.

That was the county prosecutor.

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