Chapter 20

Larry woke up early and rolled over. He noticed Rebecca wasn't in bed with him. He got up and slipped on a pair of shorts. He walked out of the bedroom and saw a light on in the living room. He walked out and saw Rebecca looking out the window. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "Did you have another nightmare?"

"No. I just couldn't sleep."

"Oh. Do you want me to make coffee?"

"I wish I could see the sun come up but we are facing the wrong way."

"I'll make some coffee and get dressed. Then I will take you to see the sun rise."

"You don't have to," Rebecca said. "It's still early. You should go back to bed."

Larry turned her around. "I want to do this for you, sweetheart. Besides it's not far." He said then walked over to the kitchen.

Rebecca walked over to the counter. "You don't have to accommodate everything I mention. I hate you spending money on me."

"I know. I like to get you things that I can. Besides seeing the sun rise won't cost me anything."

"All right. I will go get dressed." Rebecca said then walked down the hall.

Larry poured coffee and led Rebecca out the door. Instead of going to the elevator, they went further down the hall. They went to the end and Larry punched in security code and opened the door. They walked up the steps. Larry opened the top door to the roof.

Rebecca walked out slowly. "Wow, this is amazing. You can see everything."

"Yes, you can," Larry said. They walked over to an open area. "It's only used for maintenance."

She sat down on the roof and pulled out her camera. She aimed it at Larry and snapped a picture. He walked over and sat down next to her. She showed him the picture. Rebecca aimed her camera again and took a picture of the skyline. "This is another one of my passions."

"Yes, I noticed that in your apartment."

"I took pictures of everything when I was a kid. I would do small jobs as a teenager to pay for film and developing. That was before I could get a digital camera."

"Then you must have went crazy."

"Yes I did," Rebecca said. "Yesterday at the station when I saw Detective Sharp, I remembered a lot more of what happened."

"Yes, that is what I heard."

"I also remembered everything else about my life. A few details might be fuzzy, but my memory came back."

"That's great."

"Yes, but I have realized that I haven't been the nicest person around. I wasn't going to tell you until after your work was done but I couldn't hold it in any longer."

"Is that why you couldn't sleep?"

"One of the reasons. I felt like I was lying to you. I don't want to lie to you. I love you, Larry."

"I love you, too."

Rebecca aimed her camera again and took another picture. "I'm actually almost done with the advertisement."

"That's great."

"I worked on it some when I was gone. I mostly need a cover shot. Shelly gave me the information and I have several pictures."

"That's good. I am proud of you to getting it done so fast."

"I'm not done yet, but since my memory came back, I know how to use the computer more."

"That's good," Larry said. "We can get it published as soon as you get it done."

"I should have it finished by the beginning of next week," Rebecca said.

"Did you get a dress for tonight?"

"I picked one out, but they didn't have my size so it will be here today."

"Is it as amazing as the last one?"

"I'll let you be the judge of that." Rebecca smiled. The sun started to come up. Rebecca started to take some pictures. Larry sat back and watched the sun rise. After a several minutes, Rebecca put her camera down and took a hold of Larry's hand. "I love this time of day. It's so peaceful. It's the calm before the storm. I'm usually not up this early, though."

"You and me, both. But it's nice."

"Yes, it is," Rebecca said. "Thank you."

"So, you remember everything?"

"Yes and like I was worried about, I don't like the person I am, but I am going to change. I hurt people with the articles I wrote. Yes, they were true, but I didn't have to write them."

"If you wouldn't have, someone else would have. I didn't see anything wrong with the articles I read."

"I guess it was just how I got some of the information that bothers me."

"That is over with. You can move on from it."

"And I intend to but I am planning on doing better."

"Good."

"Maybe I will change my career. Maybe I will become a photographer. That was my minor in college."

"You can do whatever you heart desires. You don't even have to work if you don't want to."

"I want to work. I can't sit around and do nothing."

"You wouldn't be doing nothing. You would be keeping me on track."

"On track for what? You are already a successful businessman. You could probably retire on what you have."

"Yes, I could, but I want to do more. I want to be able to help people."

"I am sure you will do that. You have given a lot of people second chances."

"I know," Larry said.

"We'll figure it out in time. We have plenty of time to do this."

"Yes, we do and I hope to be able to do a lot of things with you." Larry said then leaned over and kissed her. They kissed for a few moments before they separated. "Do you want to go back downstairs?"

"Sure. This roof is a little uncomfortable."

"Yes, it is." Larry said then got up. He helped Rebecca up and took her camera bag. They walked over to the door and down the stairs.

Rebecca came out of the shower and got dressed. She went out to the kitchen and saw breakfast waiting on the table. Larry held the chair for her and she sat down. "I heard you didn't eat much yesterday."

"I couldn't eat. I was too nervous."

"I can understand that," Larry said. "I hope you got your appetite back."

"Yes. I'm starving." Rebecca said as she started eating.

"I have to be at work at ten and should be home around two. Then the party starts at seven."

"All right," Rebecca said. "I'm going to get a cover shot of the hotel. Duane said he would help me."

"Yes. I already talked to him. I authorized him to do whatever you need doing."

"Thank you."

"Just be careful, whatever you do," Larry said. "He said something about a lift."

"Yes. Don't worry. I'll be careful."

"Good," Larry said. "I offered him a paid vacation for everything he did, but he declined."

"He said he doesn't like to do anything. It's pretty bad when he'd rather be working than doing something else."

"I know, but when you enjoy you work, it’s like you don't need anything until you find something or someone and then your whole life changes."

"Are you talking about yourself?"

"Yes. My life has changed since I met you," Larry said. "And it's for the better."

"I hope so." Rebecca smiled.

They ate their breakfast and cleaned up. Rebecca walked back to her room and got her stuff together.

Larry and Rebecca walked downstairs together. They walked through the lobby and outside. Larry turned to Rebecca. "I should be back around two."

"Don't worry about me," Rebecca said. "Duane won't let anything happen to me."

"I know, but I still worry."

"Get your work done and make some money. I will be here waiting for you when you get back."

"All right." Larry said then kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you."

Joe pulled up in Larry's car. He walked over and got in. He pulled out. Rebecca watched him leave them walked back inside.

Rebecca sat is the lobby checking the pictures on her camera when Larry came in. He noticed her immediately and sat down next to her. "Tell me you weren't in that machine across the street."

"Yes, I was, actually," Rebecca said. "I got some great shots."

"That's good."

"I want to get a couple more. Do you mind?"

"No, but you aren't going back up in that thing, are you?"

"Yes. I am." Rebecca said as she got up. "Do you want to come with me?"

"No." Larry said bluntly.

"Ok. I'll be back soon." Rebecca said then gave him a kiss. She hurried out the door.

Larry watched from the window of the lobby as Rebecca went up on the lift. Shelly walked over next to him and watched. Larry looked like at her. "Is that thing safe?"

"Yes. She has a harness on and a licensed operator is working it. Duane checked them out."

"I guess that's good."

"Don't worry, Mr. Newman." Shelly said. "Here's your messages and mail." She handed him a stack of papers.

"Thanks," Larry said. "She looks fearless."

"Yes, she does." Shelly said. "She's safe up there, Mr. Newman."

"I know," Larry said. Shelly walked away.

Larry watched Rebecca until the lift came down. He looked through the stack of mail. He read the messages. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello, it's Larry Newman. Sorry I missed your call. I was in a business meeting. Yes, we are both at the hotel. We will see you, then." Larry said then hung up. Rebecca came inside and sat down with him. "The chief will be out later. He wants to see us."

"About what?"

"He didn't say."

"All right," Rebecca said. "I'm done here. I have plenty of shots."

"So, you're not going back up in that thing?"

"No. Duane paid the operator and he's leaving."

"Good. Are you ready to go upstairs?"

"Yes. I want to upload these photos."

"Ok." Larry got up and took Rebecca's hand. They walked to the elevator. They went inside.

"Hey, Carl. I'm expecting the chief later."

"Yes sir."

"You looked fearless up in that thing."

"I wasn't scared. I was harnessed in and secured to the rail. It was very safe."

"I'm glad to hear that."

The elevator stopped and they got out. Larry opened the door and they went in. Rebecca went back to her bedroom and sat down at the desk. She plugged her camera into the laptop and started to download the pictures.