16It's been 10 months, I know. I wanted to finish the story after the last chapter, but it didn't feel right. And I guess I know why: the ending of this story remains the same (unless the next books add something to the story), and I felt like it was necessary to put it in.
Many years later
I hugged eleven-year-old Cammie goodbye as she ran off to play in the garden. When I turned to walk back into the house, Matt blocked my way and kissed me. I smiled as he pulled me into the house. I knew he had finally finished the paperwork from his last mission and that now we had some time to ourselves. When you work for the CIA, spare time isn't easy to find. We walked upstairs and talked about this and that – Cammie, our missions, the Gallagher Academy, Cammie, our friends at MI6, Cammie – until we heard a muffled scream outside our window. We both ran to look. It was Cammie who had made the sound – she was playing with our neighbors' son Leonardo, who was two and a half years older than her. "When did he start coming over just like that?" Matt asked me, and even though he was joking, I noticed a slight menacing edge in his voice. I knew how he felt about Cammie.
"About a week ago. She was bored, so she often climbed into their yard, and then he started coming over too." As I answered, Cammie broke free of this chokehold and flipped him over her shoulder onto his back.
He lay there, completely still for a moment. I twitched uneasily. She knew she wasn't supposed to use moves like that! The worry on her face grew as she bent down to see if her was okay. Suddenly, he jumped up and threw her on the ground, and they started wrestling again. Matt laughed. "I'll go stop them before she hurts him." While he was walking downstairs, I heard him muttering, "That's what I get for trying to keep my daughter safe… Fights with boys two years older than her… Won't ever be a little helpless princess or something…" I laughed.
When Cammie and Leonardo were happily drinking lemonade, he came back upstairs. I was lying on the bed, reading. "You look hot," he said. I smiled and turned around. "Maybe you should take off a few layers… What do you think?"
I thought about it for a second, but then I shook my head. Still, I had to laugh. "Seriously Matt, Cammie is downstairs with her friend!" Still, he came next to me onto the bed and hugged me. With one hand he stroked my face and with
He was about to say something witty – I recognized his face expression – when the phone rang. He went to answer it. "Good day sir… Of course… Yes sir I'll be right there." He hung up and turned towards me. "I have to go…" he said.
I knew what he meant. "Oh."
"Don't worry, it's not… Joe can't go; he's been placed on desk duty. I have to go, Rachel."
"Of course," I said, and I meant it.
He started packing.
When he was ready to go, I went downstairs and called Cammie. "Cammie, come here for a second."
She ran towards us. "Hey," she smiled. Then she saw Matt's suitcase. "You're leaving?" her face fell.
"I'll be back soon honey," he said, but we both knew that this might not be true. He hugged her tightly, and then he kissed me. Hard. The same way he had kissed me so many times before when he was leaving: as if he would never see me again. "Bye," he smiled at Cammie once more, and then he drove away.
Weeks Later
When I got home, someone was sitting on our couch. "Joe!" I smiled and went to hug him. "How are you? I heard you're stuck in an office… Might as well have visited me." That's when I noticed his face. "What's wrong?" I asked, my tone infinitely different.
"Rachel… Sit down." I sat on the armchair across from him… the armchair in which I had cuddled so many times with Matt. I trembled as I took off my scarf.
"Is it Matt?" I asked, and my voice was a hoarse whisper.
He nodded. "We've been looking for him. But he's just… gone."
"Is… have they… has a… has he been found?" I asked, and I wasn't sure which answer I wanted to hear.
"No. But… I don't think he'll be coming back."
And then Joe Solomon, one of the strongest men I'd known started crying. I went and sat next to him, glad Cammie wasn't home.
Then I realized someone would have to tell her. And I started crying too.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened -Someone. This is a sad story... But I guess... Happy Reviewing!