Jude immediately started searching for flights, trying to reassure Seth at the same time. "It''s okay, it''s okay. There''s another one in two hours. Once we''re back in Rivercrest City, we''ll be in the same city. We''ll have plenty of chancester."


    "I can''t wait another second."


    Jude fell silent.


    So much for that.


    As they bought their tickets and headed for security, an announcement for the


    departing Glenhaven City flight echoed through the terminal.


    Seth paused.


    "What''s wrong?" Jude asked.


    Seth shook his head. "Nothing. Let''s go."


    ***


    Harborview City.


    Noreen was surprised to find Castle Joyner himself waiting to pick her up from the airport.


    Castle exined that he had just returned to Harborview City and, knowing she was arriving, decided to pick her up on his way.


    On the drive back to the estate, Castle asked about InnoCore.


    He mentioned that a middleman had recently tried to set up a meeting between him and the head of InnoCore.


    "It was nothing. Just a partnership that ran its course."


    If even personal rtionships were temporary, what did that say about business coborations?


    Seeing that Noreen was handling it well, Castle didn''t press the issue.


    Of course, he had already made some calls. InnoCore would find no open doors in Harborview City.


    If InnoCore''s leadership was smart and knew how to read the room, they wouldn''t try anything funny.


    But, as always, some things were beyond his control.


    It was best for Noreen to be prepared.


    The car had just pulled up to the Joyner estate when Castle''s phone rang.


    He answered, and his expression changed. Finally, he said, "I''ll be right there."


    "I was hoping to have dinner with you, but it looks like I''ll have to take a rain check," Castle said apologetically to Noreen.


    "It''s fine, you go do what you need to do." Noreen wasn''t bothered by such details. After saying goodbye to Castle, she went to find Katy.


    Katy, knowing she wasing, had stayed up waiting for her. She even had ate dinner with her.


    Later that night, Katy came to Noreen''s room, pillow in tow.


    Noreen generously patted the empty side of the bed. "Come on, you can sleep here."


    Katy happily climbed in next to her, wrapping her arms around Noreen''s


    w.the familiar,ent


    of perfume put Katy at ease


    They chatted for a while, and just before midnight, Katy finally started to feel sleepy.


    As she was drifting off, a faint noise came from downstairs.


    Castle was back.


    "Do you want to go say hi to your dad?" Noreen asked.


    Katy shook her head. "It''s toote. If I go down, Dad will just worry that I''m having trouble sleeping again."


    She was a thoughtful child.


    Once it was quiet again, Katy


    snuggled closer to Noreen. "Dad bas


    never forgotten Mom," she said


    softly "I''ve seen him staring at her


    photo for hours sometimes for as Whole day."


    Noreen remembered that before Mrs. Joyner passed away, she had specifically requested that all her belongings photos, her wedding ring, everything-be burned. She was afraid Castle would be tormented by the reminders.


    "It''s a picture of Mom from a charity g," Katy exined. "Dad has a whole bunch


    of her photos hidden in his safe."


    Hearing this, Noreen could only sigh.


    Forgetting someone was never that easy.


    You could burn all their possessions, but memories were forever.


    Katy soon fell asleep, but Noreen found herself wide awake.


    Maybe it was the jetg, or maybe it was something else, but sleep wouldn''te.


    She ended up messaging ire, telling her about Castle.


    ire sighed. *I don''t think I could ever get over it either. I''d rather have someone fall out of love with me than die.*


    Because the pain of death was the pain of permanence.