Chapter 16: Not a Pause

Sam came down the center aisle between the tables in a wrinkled gray suit, with no tie and a day of beard.

Travis let go of my wrist before Sam reached the dais.

He did it fast, and he stepped back with both hands raised.

"Sam. This isn't what it looks like."

"It looks like you had your hand on Jenna," Sam said. "Get off the stage."

Travis got off the stage.

Nobody laughed, because nobody was breathing.

Sam stopped at the foot of the steps and looked up at me.

His eyes went over my face, my dress, the microphone in my hand.

"Did I miss it?" he said.

"Most of it."

"I had a speech."

"I'm sure it was lovely."

"It had a rental car in it." He held up a hand. "Later."

Mr. Pennell had come up on his left, with his lawyer a step behind.

"Redfield," he said. "You've made an enemy tonight."

"I made one the day I stopped covering for your son-in-law," Sam said. "Take the forty-three percent. Take it tonight. I won't beg for it."

"You'll regret this."

"I already regret the suit," Sam said. "Good evening, Mr. Pennell."

He turned his back on him.

I put the microphone down on the stand, and my hand shook only a little.

Roz was already at my elbow, holding my bag.

"Go," she said. "I'll handle the arch. Go outside and breathe."

I went out the terrace doors with Sam at my shoulder.

The night air smelled like cut grass.

A stone pond lay at the foot of the steps, with orange fish turning slowly in the lamplight.

Sam stood beside me and did not touch me, and I understood he was waiting to be told.

"Why didn't you answer?" I said.

"My phone died outside Dayton. The charger was in the flight bag, and the flight bag was in a hotel in Chicago.

"The buyer cancelled at seven this morning. Pennell had already called him. I stood in the lobby for ten minutes, and then I got in a car."

"You drove five hours."

"Six. There was a truck." He rubbed his face. "Jenna, I want to say this properly. When I left, I saw you go white."

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