"As much as I appreciate your company, Greenlee," David eyed his sister-in-law, "I was hoping to do more than just watch you eat."
Greenlee paused from her rush to empty her plate and looked up at David. She had been trying to avoid conversation with him as much as possible, worried that she might let Leo's secret slip. But she could tell that David wasn't going to let her get away with ignoring him for much longer.
"Let's see, Greenlee," David smiled. "For the what? twenty or thirty minutes we've been here, you've barely taken your eyes off of the table. And every couple minutes or so you've had this weird look on your face – like a smile is trying to come out and you won't let it. Come on, give me some credit here. I know something is going on with you. Spill."
Greenlee wanted so badly to tell him everything. Holding in all this newfound glorious energy was driving her crazy. When you win the lottery, do you not tell a soul? When you climb Mount Everest, do you keep it to yourself? And when the love of your life comes back from the dead, do you not want to shout it from the rooftops? "It's nothing, really," she lied, desperately trying to hold back a smile.
David tauntingly shook his head at her. He knew she was lying. Now that she had finally allowed him to make eye contact, he could see there was something in there he hadn't seen in a while. He was certainly no expert on social interaction, but the woman he had been so worried about lately didn't have the twinkle in her eyes that he was seeing right now. "Okay, you're not talking," he acknowledged. "But don't think I'm not onto you, Greenlee. There was some reason you rushed me and Trey out this morning and you don't want to tell me why. Fine. But know that I can tell you're hiding something from me." He tilted his head at her with a raised eyebrow and stared at her for a couple seconds waiting for a reaction. Greenlee's cheeks began to swell up as she tried to hide her emotions. "See – that!" David slapped his hand down on the table. "What was that?"
A laugh escaped from Greenlee before she quickly caught herself and lowered her head away from her brother-in-law.
"Does this have something to do with the package you got last night? Whatever it was that belonged to Leo? I was his brother, remember? It's okay to tell me what it was."
"It was something private," Greenlee told him, realizing she may have found a way to satisfy David enough to end his line of questioning. "And yes, that's why I'm feeling better than I have in a while. It terns out that having something else of Leo to hold onto was what I needed more than anything."
David laughed at her. "Getting warmer," he told her as he chuckled.
"I'm telling the total truth, David," she lied again. "Swear."
"So tell me what was in the package," he pressed on.
"Leo wants…" Greenlee paused, immediately realizing her error. She grabbed her napkin and brushed it over her mouth, despite the lack of any food there that needed to be wiped away. "He would want. Leo would want some things to stay between the two of us. Not every part of our life together can be public knowledge, David."
He smiled and shook his head again. "Is the truth ever going to come out of you?"
"How's Anna?" Greenlee asked, attempting to change the topic. "And the baby?" she asked further, knowing that was David's soft spot.
David took a deep breath. "The doctors say she may have some complications with the baby, but it's too early to tell for sure."
"And how are things between you two?" Greenlee asked, thankful that David was taking the bait.
"Anna and I," he sighed. "Well… nothing's changed on that front. She won't give me another chance." Greenlee looked at him sympathetically. She wished he could have the life and the family that he deserved. David noticed her concern. "I know what you're thinking, Greenlee," he continued. "You're thinking that we've both learned that life is too short, and every second needs to be taken advantage of, right?"
She nodded in agreement, thinking back to when she was sitting alone at the falls; how she regretted all the time she and Leo had wasted.
"But what can I do?" he pointed out. "Me and Anna – we're not you and Leo. I may love her, but if she won't have me…"
"No!" Greenlee stopped him. "I can't believe that and neither should you. We just need to show her how she has changed you; how you're not that same person anymore that hid Maria. Show her the person you've shown me." Greenlee reached over and placed her hand on top of David's and looked up into his eyes. "If Anna is really the person you're meant to be with, you can't waste another second."
David's reactive sigh threw her off. She knew she was right, but how could she tell David to stop wasting time when here she was doing exactly that? She felt her eyes moistening up as her tone grew stronger. "Love needs to be held onto, David," she pleaded. "It's why we're all here!" Tears began to fill her eyes, but she continued on, chocking out the words: "You need to go to Anna and try again, David. You can't afford to waste any more time!" Her own words felt like a knife pierced through her heart. What was she doing here? How could she let Leo talk her into this? So what if he wanted to keep her out of danger; he still was! How could she leave him knowing that he wasn't safe? How could he let her believe in tomorrow when there was no guarantee he would make it that long?
"Greenlee?" David asked noticing that the wet face he had become so familiar with lately was back. "What's wrong?"
Greenlee wiped her face with her napkin as she stood up. "No… I… I shouldn't be here right now! I shouldn't…"
"Where are you going?" David called after her, watching Greenlee run off.
"Taking my own advice," Greenlee mumbled to herself as she ran from the Valley Inn's dinning room, hurriedly searching for her car keys in her purse. So what if Leo said staying with him wasn't safe? If she and Leo were being given another chance, she couldn't waste another second.
----------
Claire exited her cabin, off to her somewhat daily trip to the gym, with her trademark smile. She thought about what a great day this was shaping up to be. She was thrilled that Leo got the chance to see his wife again, and now he was looking happier than she'd ever seen during their brief time together. Tomorrow they were going to begin their search to find out about the diamonds and who was after them. Then Leo and Greenlee could have the happily ever after they deserved.
Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her. The man rubbed on the gun hidden in the side pocket of his jacket. It couldn't be random that Greenlee had come out here to the middle of nowhere, he thought. It had to have something to do with the diamonds and Leo. He watched Claire drive away before emerging from behind some trees and setting his sights on the cabin. He licked his lips in anticipation, hoping all his work was about to pay off. Whatever it was that made Greenlee come here, he was going to find out right now.
He quietly walked up to the door and leaned his ear up against it, but heard no noises coming from the inside. The door looked old and worn out – the lock was probably the same way; getting inside wouldn't be too difficult. He was able to jimmy the lock quickly and opened the door as quietly as possible.
Taking his first steps into the cabin, he noticed a large empty room. With his hand on his gun, he tiptoed his way into the kitchen, again finding no one. There were two more rooms connected to the kitchen: one of the doors was wide open and leading to the empty master bedroom. The other door was slightly ajar, but he could see that the lights were out. He walked towards the second door and lightly pushed on it to get a better view inside.
Within was a sight for sore eyes: Leo duPres asleep in the bed. He grinned and held up the gun, using his free hand to turn on the light. "Tired are we, Leo?" he asked sarcastically, noticing the light had cause the handsome man to awaken. "I must say, you've been giving me a lot of trouble."
Leo looked up in shock, less because of the gun pointed in his direction than from the person holding it. "You son of a bitch," Leo angrily shook his head at the man. "I gave you a chance. I accepted you when you had nothing."
"Oh come on, Leo," he responded. "Don't look so surprised. You always knew this about me." The man's expression turned serious as he held the gun steady, pointed at Leo's forehead. "Now where are the diamonds… little brother."
