Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [50]
Taylor shook his head and focused on his fly rod. "It would have to be a pretty big book."
"Since you were the voice of this town for eighteen years, you know more of its secrets than anyone." Tricia folded her arms across her chest and leaned in. "So if there is even a shred of a chance this book is genuine, any real evidence to back up Jason, then you would know it. And you like helping people. So if you try and tell me all you know about the Book of Days is that it's a strange legend and nothing more—"
Taylor spun toward her in his chair and locked his hands behind his head. "So I should just grab a three-cheese pizza with Cameron and hand over whatever knowledge I possess, whether it's garbage or not? Maybe spend a few days brainstorming with him, doing research, hiking in the woods with him looking for this thing since deep down he reminds me of myself and I'm always such a helpful guy?"
Tricia patted his shoulder. "Well said."
"Thank you."
Taylor returned to his fly rod and scraped off a tiny bit of excess glue. Tricia knew he considered the conversation finished, but she didn't. And she could always outlast him in the icy stare-down contest.
He slapped his modeling knife on top of the workbench. "If it's that critical to your happiness, I'll dig through my old notes and see if I can find anything. Okay?"
Tricia whirled, marched out, and didn't look back. Taylor wouldn't be grabbing the trowel anytime soon. Again, it wasn't like him. Finding out why leaped to the top of her mental to-do list.
On Sunday night Cameron drove into Bend to catch a movie and escape his crumbling world. He needed to wrap his mind around something more than the question of whether or not he'd be wrapping his mind around anything at all a few years into the future.
Tomorrow he'd meet Ann, see if she found anything at the library, and decide what to do next.
As he walked through the parking lot toward the theater, a familiar face moved toward him.
Ann.
"Cameron, what a nice surprise." She sashayed up to him and fell into step alongside him.
Was she kidding, or had the truce they'd established on the mountain kicked into effect? "I thought you were going to see that play in Bend."
"I changed my mind."
"I see." Cameron stuck his hands in his pockets and walked faster.
Ann took a few quick strides, then she was next to him, matching his pace. "You're going to a movie?"
Cameron nodded. "Yep."
"By yourself?"
"I think it's the best way to take it in. No distractions, no having to talk to anyone about it till you've had a chance to process it." He glanced at her. "And you're headed . . . ?"
"The same."
"To a movie?"
"Yes."
"By yourself?"
She nodded and smiled.
"And I thought all we had in common was rock climbing and—" Cameron stopped himself. No parents, brothers, or sisters for either of them. Both missing Jessie. Both looking for answers.
She raised her eyebrows.
"Rock climbing," he finished.
The line to buy tickets was long, and Cameron didn't try to break the awkward silence till it had stretched past a minute. "Have you found anything more about your family?"
"I'm getting almost nowhere."
He could relate.
Ann stepped out of line and folded her arms, probably to see why the line was moving so slow. She wore faded Levi's and a dark blue Nike sweatshirt, her hair cascading over it like water.
Beautiful. He locked his hands behind his head and put his chin down. Stop it! The feelings were wrong. This is the way to honor Jessie? To remember her? By letting possible emotions for Ann dance around in his head like a tango? He had to get a handle on it.
"Do you want to help me investigate?" She stepped back into line beside him. "The way I see it, we have similar skills. Find the interesting angle to a story whether it's with words or with the lens of a camera. We know how to draw the deeper parts out of a subject or a scene. It's