Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [110]
"It's beautiful."
Jessie nodded.
Cameron turned it over in his hand and ran his forefinger over the surface of the smooth stone. There were scratches on it, but they weren't random. It looked like some kind of pattern or writing. "Where'd you get this?"
"I found it when I was a kid. It's Native American."
Something was off. There'd never had secrets between them. "How long have we known each other?"
"A long time."
"And you're just now getting around to showing me this? I thought I knew everything about you." He winked and patted her leg.
"It wasn't the right time till now."
"And what makes now the right timing?"
"It just is."
"Okay." Cameron put his arm around Jessie and pulled her close. "And these markings?"
"I think it's some kind of language."
"What's it say?"
Jessie shrugged. "I have no idea."
"It's cool, I like it." He started the movie playing again and tried to hand the stone back to her.
"No." Jessie pushed his hand away. "I want you to have it. You need to have it."
He paused the film again. "This stone means something to you." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face and studied her eyes. They were puffy. "What's going on? Why have you been crying?"
She shook her head. "I needed to give it to you just in case."
"Tell me what the stone means."
"I'll tell you when I get home, I promise."
Pressing her wouldn't make her tell him, but he had to ask. "Just in case what, Jess?"
She placed her finger on Cameron's hairline and slowly ran it down his forehead . . . nose . . . chin . . . neck . . . chest till she stopped on his heart. "I will always be here, you know. No matter what happens in the next few weeks."
He pulled her in close and kissed the top of her head. This wasn't like her. Quiet, hidden, melancholy. And holding on to a secret that had her living in a world she rarely visited. She wouldn't tell him what the stone meant? Okay, he'd give her time. But he didn't want her to be alone today. He didn't want to be without her today.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here today? Hang out, you and me?"
Her gaze dropped to her lap. "I can't stop living and I need to get some hours in the air."
"Tell me, Jess."
She stood and buttoned her Gore-Tex jacket. "Good-bye, Cameron." She flipped her tan scarf over her shoulder, the one he'd given her so she'd look like Amelia Earhart, and shuffled toward the door.
He squinted at the back of her head. "You sure you don't want to stay?"
"I'll be fine. I'm sure I got all worked up for nothing." She opened the door halfway and stopped, her hand resting on the knob. A few seconds later she turned and looked at him, a sad smile creasing her face. "I love you, Cam. Always and forever. Remember."
"What is it?"
She dropped her head and shook it. "Fine, I'm fine." She opened the door the rest of the way. "So are you. Always."
The front door clicked shut and the blast of cool air that had swirled around him for the last few minutes died.
CHAPTER 40
Early on Tuesday morning Cameron looked at his directions again, wondering if he'd missed the cutoff. The guide at the climbing store said the trail was tough to see, but was right past the huge boulder shaped like a peach. He wanted to find a climb no one had been to in years. A place he could be alone on the mountain.
Wait. There.
He slammed on the brakes and made a quick U-turn.
At the base of the rock was a faint trail. It looked like it had been eons since anyone had used it. Perfect. He didn't care if he remembered the climb, didn't care if he forgot it.
He just wanted a place to figure out his next move. Maybe even attempt another conversation with God.
After hiking for a little over an hour, he reached a cliff that looked at least 250 feet high. Other than a single crack that meandered up the rock face, there were no holds he could see for at least the first fifty feet. It would be a challenge. Good. He was ready.
By the time he was halfway up, sweat dripped in a steady pattern off his