My Brother Gave Her My Place, So I Stopped Coming Home novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Client Conflict, Mr. Rask

I drove to Beacon House at midnight in a borrowed car and told Kirk everything on his kitchen floor.

I sat with my back against the cabinets, and he sat across from me with his bad leg stretched out.

I told him about the report, the ledger, the gala and the program with Janie's name on it.

He listened without moving.

When I finished, he said, "I know about the photograph."

"What photograph?"

"In Rodney's drawer. A little girl on a dock." He rubbed his jaw. "I saw it on Saturday morning, when I went to his office. He said the word daughter and couldn't say which."

"You went to my father's office at six a.m. and didn't tell me."

"You were asleep. I left you a note."

"The note said you'd be back by eight."

"I was going to tell you at eight."

"It's been two days, Kirk."

His jaw tightened. "You weren't answering your phone. You were in Pearl Street, then in that house."

"So you kept it."

"I held it until you could stand to hear it."

"That's what everyone in my family said."

That landed. I watched it land, and I was glad.

He got up. His knee clicked, and he stood with one hand flat on the counter.

"You want to talk about holding things back?" he said. "Fine."

"Kirk."

"Eight months ago I asked you to dinner."

I went still.

"I stood in the lobby at Beacon in a clean shirt. You said yes. Then Dylan had a birthday, and you cancelled by text from his table."

"I had a reason."

"You always have a reason. They need you. You can handle it." His voice stayed low, which was worse. "I never asked again, because I figured I knew where I ranked."

"That's what you've been carrying for eight months?"

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