Page 44 of Echoes

The pool had also been a strategic decision for her because when the workers had shown up and dug the hole where the pool would go, Rosie had waited until they left for the day and had taken a shovel to the packed dirt on the bottom. She had dropped the case into the ground several feet below that and buried it where no one would ever find it.

It was several days later now, and she watched the dirt get covered with concrete, Rosie breathed a sigh of relief. It was time that she made the phone call.

“Hey,” Felicity said softly.

“Hi,” she replied with a smile because she hadn’t heard that voice since the night in her office.

“This is going well,” Felicity said with a laugh.

“You answered, so, yeah, itis.”

“I was always going to answer, Rosie.”

“You were?”

“Of course, I was. No matter what happens with us, you were always a friend more than just a mentor to me. Yes, there was more to it than friendship for me, but I’ll always answer when you call.”

“Is there still?”

“Still what?”

“More to it than friendship?” she asked as she sat on her sofa.

“I’d say yes, definitely. But I also don’t know that we really know each other all that well anymore. It’s been close to five years. Things change, you know?”

“So, it’s a cautious yes?” Rosie pressed.

“What’s the question again?” the woman asked with a little laugh.

“Will you go out with me, Felicity?”

“Oh,” Felicity let out. “Um… Ami?”

“Fastest divorce in the history of divorces,” she replied. “Finalizedthree months ago. We didn’t have any joint assets, really, so it was pretty easy from that perspective. The house is about to go on the market.”

“You’re selling it?”

“Yes. I want a fresh start. She lived here, and if I move in with someone again, I don’t want it to be here. Besides, you’rethere.”

“What do you mean?” Felicity asked.

“I told you that my home base can be anywhere. I quit the university.”

“I heard that you went on a few trips this summer, but honestly, I was also tryingnotto pay attention to the things I heard about you because I was worried that I’d accidentally hear that you and Ami were still together.”

“Ami moved out long before the divorce was finalized. It was all amicable and swift because we wanted it to be done. I haven’t seen her since the day we signed the papers. I went on a few shorter trips, yes, but other than that, I’ve been here trying to pack and sort out the rest of my life. I’m writing a book, too, so there’s that.”

“OnTitan?” Felicity asked.

“How did you–”

“It was one of your biggest discoveries.”

“Yeah. And I have a publisher for it, so I was thinking of maybe renting a little cottage or something on the water, or near the water, at least, and finishing up the draft I owe them while I see if you and I could maybe finally… try this.”

“Try this?” Felicity asked, laughing a little. “You’re really cute when you’re asking me out on a date, you know?”

“Does that cuteness get me anything?” Rosie asked.