Reining In (The Network) Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation I wanted to have with him, before I did leave. Now was as good a time as any.
    “Mack?”
    “Yeah?” He kept his eyes on the drive, carefully pulling up to my front door.
    “Um…. Tell me about Marlene.” He tensed up instantly, and I immediately regretted saying anything. But the words were already out of my mouth, so I continued.
    "Mack," I said softly, touching his shoulder, trying to reassure him. "I like her."
    That was all I said. That was all I needed to say. As I opened the door to get out, I saw him, out of the corner of my eye, smiling as big as he ever had."
    “I like her too,” he whispered to himself, barely loud enough for even me to hear.

Chapter Four
     
    I spent the next several days entertaining guests at my house. It wasn’t often that several members of the network would get together in one location, so I tried to look happy, or happier, at least, and enjoy their company. Most of them I hadn’t seen a very long time, and a few I hadn’t seen in years. I used to travel the world frequently, but as they got better at their jobs, my need to move around diminished. I rarely left the country anymore, and when I did, it was often only to a handful of countries.
    Of course in recent years, I rarely went anywhere. I had made the decision to stay and take care of Raymond. It was a huge risk, staying in one place for more than a few years. But I had managed to stay out of the radar for the most part, largely due to the unique talents of my friends.
    So while they were here, I was going to do my best to make their stays pleasant. They were, after all, my lifeline. Mack took several days off from his office to help out at my house. I thought several times he had made that excuse just so he could keep an eye on me. I knew he was worried about me.
    I tried several times to corner him and let him know that I was fine. He would nod his head in agreement, but I could tell he was still thinking about the episode in the hospital. I would have to try to look more like myself when he was around, or he would never let me out of his sight.
    The weather had warmed up enough for my guests and me to spend most of our time out by the pool, so I decided to make snacks and drinks so we could enjoy the sun and catch up on old times. Mack came into the kitchen to help me. He always amazed me at how graceful he was. His large hands never seemed clumsy or in the way. In no time at all, he had several trays of snacks ready to go, while I still stood there, preparing a pitcher of lemonade.
    “Huh. I thought I was supposed to be the fast one,” I joked. Mack smiled, laughing quietly to himself.
    “I think you just like to humor me sometimes,” he joked back. Then, changing the subject, he asked “Have you called Jake yet?”
    I sighed, trying to avoid his gaze. He had stopped what he was doing, and was now staring at me, so I knew I couldn’t avoid the question.
    “No, I’m not going to call him,” I finally said, a bit too harshly.
    “Khallie, don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind. Really, you need this. If you don’t call him, I will. Right now!”
    “No. You won’t!!” I almost shouted at him.
    “You need to get away from here, and you NEED to fix whatever is left of your relationship with Jake! Khallie, you can’t keep avoiding this. It’s going to happen, like it or not!”
    “Are you done?” I asked, when he finally stopped to take a breath. Sometimes Mack could get so excitable about things. I could see the veins pulsing in his temples, about to burst at any moment. When he didn’t answer, I continued.
    “I didn’t change my mind.”
    “But…”
    “Don’t interrupt! I said I didn’t change my mind, and I haven’t. But I am not calling him. I don’t want him to know I’m coming.”
    “So you can still change your mind? Khallie that’s not...” I cut him off again.
    “Mack! Will you let me finish? There are lots of reasons I’m not calling him. And yes, that is one of them;