“I am. Eight months, or close to it. Seven months, two weeks, and a couple days.” Annika brushes her fingers along the straight line of Kelly’s bob cut, along her jaw. “I like the short hair. It looks good on you.”
“Thanks.” Kelly tucks her hair behind her ears. “It’s new. I’m not used to it quite yet.”
Another hug. It’s obvious Annika doesn’t even need to say the words—all is forgiven. But I know she needs to say it, for herself, and needs to hear it.
Kelly ducks to glance into the car at me. “Well, come on in. Luis is at work.”
Annika blinks at Kelly. “Luis?”
Kelly holds up her left hand, wiggling her fingers. “I’m married. Luis is my husband.”
Annika swallows hard. “You…you got married?”
Kelly ducks her head, nods. “Yeah. I…I thought about inviting you, but…I just couldn’t. I’m sorry.”
“When was it?” Her voice is subdued, carefully shielding the hurt.
“A year ago next month.” Kelly rolls her shoulder. “It was my family, his family, and that’s about it. It was in his parents’ backyard. Super small.”
“I wasn’t clean a year ago next month.” Annika nods, squares her shoulders, making a monumental effort to put the hurt away. “Congratulations. You’ll have to tell me about him.” She looks at me, then at Kelly. “He’s good for you, though?”
Kelly lights up, nodding eagerly. “Yes, god yes. So good. He makes me a better person in every way. When you called and texted a few months ago, he wanted me to answer. He told me I had to forgive you, even if I never saw you again. I was too…upset still, I guess, so I didn’t. But I should have. It’s bothered me ever since.” She ducks again to look at me, gesturing to me. “Come inside, you guys.”
I shut off the engine and exit the car—as I rise to my full height, Kelly’s eyes widen.
“Holy fucking shit, you’rehuge.” She looks to Annika again. “I thoughtmyman was tall, but goddamn. What are you, seven feet?”
“Not quite. Six-nine.”
“Jeez.” She pulls a face. “Sorry, I’m sure you get sick of that kinda thing, huh?”
I laugh. “Nah, it’s fine, I’m used to it.” I extend my hand to her. “Chance Kapule.”
She takes it, and I’m careful to grip very gently as I shake her hand. “Kelly Conrad.” She heads for the house. “Well, come on. No sense standing around outside.”
The interior of her house is as neat, attractive, and tidy as the exterior—open concept, white walls, dark wood flooring, dove gray living room set with colorful toss pillows and throw blankets, slate kitchen appliances, white marble countertops streaked through with gold veins. There are clusters of framed photos on the mantle over the fireplace and on couch-side tables, of Kelly with longer hair next to a tall, built Hispanic man sporting a high and tight hair cut; most of the photos are a variation of the same. In several of the photos, her husband, Luis, is wearing Marine Corps uniforms—Service Charlies or Bravos, or PTUs; in one of the photos, I can make out the single gold bar of an O-1, a Second Lieutenant.
Annika stands beside me, both of us examining the photos together. “Your husband is in the Corps, huh?” I say. “O-1?”
Kelly beams with pride. “He just got his silver bar a few weeks ago, actually. He’s O-2, now.”
“Nice,” I say. “Congrats to him. O-2 is a hell of an accomplishment. I was E-6, Force Recon.”
Annika glances at me, the question in her eyes. “E-6? O-2”
“E-6 is Staff Sergeant,” I explain. “Quite a few ranks below your girl’s husband. O-1 is Second Lieutenant, O-2 is First Lieutenant.”
“Force Recon? Impressive. Luis is JAG.” Kelly gestures at a Keurig on the counter, glancing at me. “Coffee, Sergeant Kapule?”
I wave at her. “Just call me Chance, please. And yeah, I’ll never turn down coffee. Thanks.”
She gestures at the four-place round table in the nook off the kitchen. “Have a seat. Coffee, Annie?”
Annika nods and takes a seat, as do I. “Sure, please.”
A few minutes later, we all have mugs of coffee, Kelly sitting across from me, next to Annika.
A moment or two of silence. And then Annika clears her throat, sips coffee, turns her attention to her friend and former partner. “Kel, I…god, where do I even start?” She blinks hard, looks away from Kelly, into her coffee. “I’m sorry. That doesn’t even come close to…” She shakes her head, trailing off. Starts again. “I…took money from you and used it for drugs. I stole cash out of your purse. I almost stole your car, but I talked myself out of that one. I lied to you about being clean so many times. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I hope to god you can find it in your heart to give it to me. You were like a sister to me, and I fucking…I betrayed you time and again. I love you, Kelly. And I’m sorry for all the awful shit I did and said to you.”
