“Yes. Dallas.”
“Big D, huh?”
“It’s a great city.”
“Great D.A.’s office too.”
“And that’s where I wanna work.”
Melissa looked over my face and then stuck out her bottom lip. “But I want you to stay here. You’ve done so much good.”
“I’ve certainly tried.”
“Have you talked to your dad about what you’re wanting to do?”
“I have and he supports me. Austin and Dallas aren’t that far apart. It’s an easy road trip for me to take to come back here to see him or for him to come to see me.”
“So how much notice are you gonna give to me?”
“How much do you need?”
“A year’s,” Melissas chuckled. “Seriously, though… If you can, give me a month to get all your cases reassigned and all the loose ends tied up.”
“A month is fine. It’ll give me the time that I need to put my house on the market and also look for a new place to live in Dallas.”
“Besides the fact that your house is so beautiful, it’s gonna sell fast because the market is so hot right now.”
“I hope it does sell fast. There are too many memories of Graham and me inside it for me to continue living in itorthis city.”
“If you’re really serious about doing all of this, Stevie, then know you have my total support, my blessing, and my love.”
“I am completely serious.”
“Then I’m gonna make a phone call to the D.A.’s office in Dallas. I know the whole group there and I have no doubt they’ll immediately want you to come on board.” Melissa gave me a backward smile and then shook her head at me. “They’re gonna be getting my Joan of Arc and I’m gonna miss her so much.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “I’m gonna miss you too, as well as everybody else up here at this crazy, wonderful place.”
“If you ever think you might wanna venture back down this way and put down roots again then let me know. Our door will always be open to you. Okay? Don’t forget us.”
“I could never forget you.”
Six weeks later
“Yes, I have everything unpacked and put up in its place,” I told my dad.
“I still can’t believe how quickly your house sold. On the market two days and boom!”
“I’m so thankful it happened like that because it pushed me to get everything done to get moved.”
“How’s that pool at your new house?”
“Heavenly. I’ve gotten in it every day since I’ve been here.”
My dad chuckled. “It’s really strange to think you’re not a ten-minute drive away from me anymore.”
“I know, but Dallas really isn’t that far. Why don’t you come to see me in the next couple of weeks and spend the night?”
“Let me know which day works best for you and I’ll be there. Any day but Sunday, of course.”