Twenty-Two
“Can I help you?” I ask.
“Really?”
“Hawes Photography is here to meet your needs, to capture those memories most important to you, those life events you absolutely don’t want to miss. Like the births of your children. We have a special package just for that—”
“Stop, Frankie. Just …” Sam nods at Gabe, pats Sherlock’s back as he sniffs this newcomer, and then grabs one of the chairs from the waiting area. He plunks it down on the opposite side of my reception desk. On his lap rests an old Nike shoebox, held closed by two thick rubber bands that look stretched to their limits.
“Why are you even here? If you want your bag, they didn’t take that from the car. It’s in the back room—” I stand, as if I’m going to retrieve Sam’s overnight bag from the wedding weekend. I guess the th
