Trail of Secrets(33)
Seth stared at her for a moment before he answered. “I’d like to do that, Callie, but I don’t know if I can unless we can base our friendship on truth.”
“But our relationship has always been built on truth.”
He cocked his head to one side and stared at her. “Really? Then maybe it’s time you told me the truth about why you turned down my proposal.”
Her face turned pale, and her mouth gaped open. “B-but I t-told you. I wanted to pursue my career in Virginia.”
“I know what you told me. You also led me to believe that it was because I was a policeman, and your father was killed in the line of duty. But after two years of thinking about it, I don’t buy either one of those excuses. When are you going to break down and tell me what really made you decide not to marry me?”
Her lips trembled, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “Seth, I’m sorry if you can’t accept my reasons, but...”
He held up his hand. “You’re wrong. I have accepted the fact that it ended with us two years ago. I just want to know why. I don’t think it could have been another guy because Dan says you aren’t involved with anyone. It just makes no sense.”
She straightened in her seat, and a tear slid down her cheek. “Again, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else I can tell you other than that I didn’t think we were right for each other. Please drop this and do what I asked. Just be my friend. With my only relative near death, I need a friend, and you’re the only one I can turn to. I need your friendship, Seth.”
He exhaled a deep breath and leaned against the back of the booth. Why had he brought this up today? He’d always suspected there was some hidden reason Callie had run away from him, but she was determined not to tell him what it was.
Perhaps he needed to forget about her reasons and accept the friendship she was offering now. He knew nothing would make Dan happier than to know that the two people he loved most in the world had gotten past the anger of the past. He could do that, if not for himself then for Dan.
He nodded. “All right, Callie. Whatever your reasons, you’ve made it clear you’re not going to share them with me. But I agree that we owe it to Dan to try and rebuild some kind of friendship. I’ll try if you will.”
She smiled and reached across the table to grasp his hand. “Thank you, Seth. I promise I’ll try, too.”
He glanced down at her hand resting on his and threaded his fingers through hers. For the first time in two years he felt a twinge of peace radiating through his soul like a light trying to pierce the darkness in a tunnel. It felt good to be here with Callie. Now if the doctors could get Dan out of the woods and he could protect Callie, maybe the three of them could once again share the good times they’d had in the past. He hoped so.
* * *
Seth let his gaze drift down the alley that served as his appointed meeting place with Melvin. It ran behind the row of small businesses that fronted a busy street in south Memphis. He pulled to a stop behind a Laundromat and glanced over at Callie. “Do you want to come with me or wait in the car?”
“I’d rather come with you if that’s all right. Will he be willing to talk with you with me present?”
“I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out.”
He’d barely finished speaking when Melvin stepped out the back door of the Laundromat and stopped in front of his car. His gaze settled on Callie as they climbed from the vehicle. “What’s this, man? How come you go bringing a woman down here with you?”