AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just as long as you all make up,” Bones said, his tone easy.
“We could lie, you know,” Joni stated. “And get you to let us out of here.”
“You really don’t want to do that,” Zip said.
“Why not?” Joni asked.
“We’re on a sex strike,” Zip stated.
“What?” Sutton screeched.
“Yep, we’re not putting out until you guys are friends again,” Savage stated.
“You don’t even have on Old Lady in here,” Willa bellowed. “Why are you on strike?”
“Solidarity,” Savage commented.
“Well, we’re fucked,” Willa moaned. “And not in a good way. Savage never gives up sex.”
The women began to speak all at once, throwing accusations and words of anger at each other.
“She wasn’t drunk!” Doc raised her voice to be heard over the cacophony of various fights.
Rach turned to look at Doc as the room got suddenly quiet. “What?”
“She wasn’t drunk,” Doc repeated.
“How can you know that?” Mia asked.
“They drew her blood after the accident and there was nothing in her system. When you got the call they should have told you. I don’t know why they didn’t, but I called today and confirmed it. Blood test was clean.”
Mia blanched. “I dropped my phone as soon as I heard she was gone. I didn’t even think…I just assumed.”
Doc continued, “Cam told me what happened when he woke up. The kids got into an argument and Darcy turned around to stop them from fighting. When she did, she must have turned the wheel and—and they crashed into the barrier between the exit and the interstate. Besides, the night before the wedding Cam got up in the middle of the night and went to the kitchen for a drink of water. Darcy was standing at the sink, pouring out the bottles of liquor. They’re going to run a full tox screen to see if anything else was in her system, but those results could take a while.”
The room was silent.
“Is it possible?” Rach whispered. “That she’d turned the corner and none of us knew?”
Doc ran a hand through her hair. “Can’t we give our friend the benefit of the doubt? Can’t we forgive each other for not being the best versions of ourselves? Can’t we move forward and promise that nothing matters more than each other?”
Rach broke down in tears and Logan immediately wrapped her in her arms. The other Old Ladies moved closer to each other, embracing one another and crying, spouting words of apology and absolution.
I was the only one who sat by, unsure of where I belonged.
But then Rach looked up from Logan’s shoulder and they both reached their hands out to me. I was pulled into the group and became one of them.
“Is that why you don’t drink?” Rach asked. “Because of what happened at your father’s funeral?”
“Yes,” I lied. It was one reason, but not the only reason—and I didn’t feel like sharing yet. I picked up a cube of cheddar from my plate and placed it in my mouth.
Though it was a wake, the oppressive heaviness had lifted, if only marginally. At least the Old Ladies had reknitted the bonds of sisterhood.
I sat with Logan and Rach at the picnic table. Bones and Smoke were talking to Logan’s brother, Chase.
“Your brother looks like he’s holding his own,” I commented.
Logan nodded. “Yep.”
