But Gloria shook her head. “No. I’m done with that family.”

Aldo squeezed her arm in agreement. They were done with Glenn. Done with the sordid past. They had a whole big, bright future to look forward to.

63

“Well, well. If it isn’t my own personal hero,” Aldo said, answering the video call that popped up on his desktop screen.

Luke’s face grinned back and him. “If it isn’t my vertebra-dislocating, dead-weight friend.”

“You called all the way from Afghanistan to tell me I’m a lard ass?” Aldo kicked back in his desk chair and smoothed his tie. He was in the office early this morning before the hordes—his partner and their associates and interns—descended with fancy coffees, endless chitchat, and smartphones that never shut the fuck up.

He hadn’t stepped back into his role at work so much as dove in head first. It was sink or swim. They’d landed a contract for a massive, state-wide bridge study and replacement project. It meant at least a couple of years of consistent work—and huge volumes of red tape. Today alone he had an on-site inspection and two zoning board meetings in addition to his actual normal work.

“Well, that, and to tell you I’m coming home.”

Aldo sat up. “No shit? It’s about damn time.”

Luke rubbed a hand over his head. “Yeah, two weeks, and I’ll be able to see your lard ass in person.”

“I can’t believe Harpist didn’t spill her guts,” Aldo said, thinking of their morning run. They’d worked their way up slowly, but surely, and now met up several mornings a week to run through the quiet, sleeping town. He was proud of her…and pissed that she’d keep her lips zipped about Luke.

“Well, that’s kinda the thing. Harper doesn’t know,” Luke grinned.

“And you want to surprise our little ray of sunshine,” Aldo said, catching on.

“Exactly.” Well, well. Luke Garrison planning a surprise homecoming. There was hope for him yet.

They talked strategy for a few minutes with Luke nixing every big, public spectacle idea that Aldo threw at him just to annoy him.

“Let’s keep it simple. Private,” Luke said. “And don’t tell anyone. That town has bigger mouths than a lake full of bass.”

“I’ll have to tell Gloria. She’d murder me in my sleep if I kept a secret like this from her. Plus, she’s a good organizer.”

“How are things there?” Luke prodded.