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Chapter 42 - Regrets

L POV

June 2005

It was cool outside, as the sun finally started to set in the distance. I sighed deeply, the pain stronger now. I didn't want to go. Me, the person who always craved more work, more mysteries to solve, prepared at any moment to catch a flight to my next investigation. My duffle bag always readily packed for such a purpose, I wanted to stay right where I was. All I wished to do now was sit and somehow will time to slow to a crawl. It was a preposterous childish thought, but still I clung to it. If the sun didn't set, then tomorrow wouldn't come. If tomorrow didn't come, I wouldn't need to leave. If I didn't need to leave, I wouldn't have to say goodbye.

A knock interrupted my thoughts, then I heard the door to my room open and her voice followed next. "L? Are you ...oh..."

I turned toward the window. "I'm here, Grace."

"Er, where exactly?"

I smirked to myself. "Come to the window and see."

A moment later, curiosity getting the best of her as it usually did, Grace was staring at me in shock as she craned her neck out of the window. "Good Lord, L. Why are you on the roof? Do I have a reason to be concerned?!"

I chuckled. "I have no intentions to jump, I assure you."

"Pleased to hear it. But what are you doing out there?"

"Enjoying a spectacular sunset." I answered, feeling braver. "Come join me."

She blanched and looked down. "What? Join you? I couldn't possibly..."

I shifted closer so that I was once again directly next to the window. "I promise you won't fall." I extended a hand to her. "Detective's honor."

I could tell she was contemplating all angles as she hesitated. "I know that. It's just if any of the kids see us, we won't be able to stop them from doing the same foolish thing."

"Who's going to see?"

Grace sighed deeply. "I'm going to regret this, I know it..."

"What's life without regrets?" I dared her and was rewarded with a smile as she made up her mind to join me.

"Fine. Not a word of this to anyone. Next thing you know, Fritz will have me up in that blasted plane if he finds out."

"I shan't tell a soul, G."

"Right, then."

Carefully, she grasped my hand as she sat down on the windowsill and placed her other hand on the wall to steady herself. I tightened my hold and her eyes met mine, blue and trusting as she eased one leg out of the window and then the second. I reached forward to take her arm as she slowly slid down from the window sill and her feet touched the roof. Remaining close to the wall of the house, she moved to seat herself beside me, still holding my hand for balance before she felt comfortable enough to let it go.

Grace glanced around uncertainly as she gained her bearings but then looked up and sighed with pleasure. "You're right again. It's truly not a sight to miss. Have you ever seen anything so captivating?"

Her eyes were transfixed on the sky casting streaks of orange and gold above the rolling fields surrounding the house and was completely unaware that I wasn't sharing the same view. "No, never."

She took in the sunset a bit longer and then turned back to me. "Anyway, I was looking for you. Wammy said you had something to tell me?"

Well time had marched forward despite my futile efforts to stop it. "Er, yes. I will be leaving tomorrow morning. There's a case in Beijing. It cannot be completed remotely."