He caught sight of her outside, just a blur as she streaked past the window beside him. Through the blinds, he watched her walk along the sidewalk toward the front of the restaurant. He waited for the normal feelings she elicited in him to materialize. Expected them, in fact. But the usual rush of anger did not come. Nor did the bitter sense of resentment emerge. Even the heartache that went hand in hand with seeing her was gone, replaced this morning with a calm contentment. Things, he knew, would be okay.

When she came through the front door, she spotted him. He lifted his hand in an amicable wave and offered a heartfelt smile. He stood when she came to the booth and they embraced in a warm hug.

“I was shocked you called,” Meghan Cobb said, her mouth near his ear.

“Sorry to spring this on you without warning,” Walt said.

“How long have you been in town?”

“A couple weeks.”

He sensed her pain that he had not called her before now. He equally detected her comprehension that something was different about him.

“Why didn’t you call me sooner?” Meghan asked, but there was no conviction in her voice. “We could have spent some time together.”

Walt shook his head. “This is about something else.”

Neither spoke for several seconds.

“What’s her name?” Meghan asked.

“Who?”

“This change,” she said. “Only a woman could have caused it.”

Walt didn’t answer.

“I like it. This version of Walt Jenkins. It reminds me of the old you. The man I used to love. It’s good, Walt. I’m happy for you.” Meghan cleared her throat before she spoke again. “You said something was wrong. What is it?”

“I need your help.”

CHAPTER 61 - Manhattan, NY Friday, July 9, 2021

CHAPTER 61

Manhattan, NY Friday, July 9, 2021

IT WAS FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE SHE GATHERED THE COURAGE TO CALL him. Her hand shook when she lifted the cell phone and placed it carefully on the coffee table. She hit the speaker button and then tapped the phone number she remembered from childhood. It, too, contained the three sevens from the address, and Avery hadn’t known the number still rested in the folds of her mind until she decided that this was the best move she could make. She hoped to God it worked.

She pressed send and waited. Four long rings chimed through her hotel room, each one causing her heart to pound harder in her chest. Then, he answered.

“Hello?”

Avery tried to speak, but couldn’t. The sound of his voice after so long caused her vocal cords to seize.

“Hello?” he said again.

“Dad? It’s me.”

Now her father paused. The sound of her own voice surely causing the same reaction for him.

“Claire?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“You got the card,” he said. “I knew you’d know what to do.”

“I have to see you, Dad. I don’t have a lot of time.”