Chapter 8 - THE HOUSE NO ONE EXPECTEDNora eventually left the base.
Not because she was running.
Because she had chosen something else.
She bought a small house near the coast.
Ranger moved in.
There was a fenced yard.
A wide porch.
A warm kitchen.
No alarms.
No locked kennel.
No concrete walls.
The first night, Ranger walked through every room.
Then he chose the spot beside Nora's bed.
She smiled.
“You can sleep anywhere.”
He stared at her.
“Fine.”
He lay down.
Nora sat beside him.
For the first time in years, she didn't feel like she was waiting for something terrible to happen.
Marcus visited on Sunday.
He brought flowers.
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“Flowers?”
“I was told that's what normal people do.”
“You're not normal.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
Ranger barked.
“You approve?”
The dog walked over to Marcus.
He sniffed the flowers.
Then sat.
Marcus laughed.
“I'll take that as approval.”
Nora made coffee.
They sat on the porch.
Marcus finally said,
“I resigned.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I spent too many years protecting systems that didn't deserve protection.”
“And now?”
“I want to protect people.”
He looked at her.
“Starting with you.”
Nora smiled.
“Careful.”
“Why?”
“You're beginning to sound like you care.”
“I do.”
Silence.
Nora's heart moved.
Marcus took her hand.
“I didn't expect this.”
“Neither did I.”
May you like
Ranger rested his head against their knees.
They both laughed.
