AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, sir,” she said with a little salute. “I’m going to go now and pick up our son. Is that all right with you? Because, statistically speaking, driving a car will be the most dangerous thing I do today.”
“Not if you stand there and push your luck with me, it won’t be,” he said in a completely empty threat.
“Oh, what’re you gonna do?” Annie asked. “Lock me in a tower?”
“Maybe. Do you know of one?”
“No, but if you find one, I want a room with a view,” she teased.
Nick fought a smile. “Because God forbid you should have to mind your own business for a time.”
“What kind of detective would I be if I minded my own business?” she asked, coming back around his desk.
“Well, you’d be safe,” he said, looking up at her. “That’s all I want, ’Toinette. To keep you safe. You can’t fault me for that.”
“I don’t,” she whispered, leaning down to kiss his cheek. As muchas she wished her safety didn’t have to be an issue, she appreciated his concern and his desire to protect her.
That thought brought the memory of Tulsie Parcelle, with her split lip and black eye, cradling her injured arm against her body as she hustled out of the ER, ashamed and afraid.
“I count myself very lucky,” she said. “I’m off now. I’ll see you at the Corners. Try not to be late. This day has been long enough as it is.”
12
He stoodin the upstairshall just outside the door of his old room, a silhouette in the moonlight. Faceless, but she was sure it was him. She recognized his outline, tall and lean, the set of his shoulders, the tilt of his head.
Exhausted, she had fallen asleep in her clothes on his bed. She lay still now, afraid if she moved, he would go. She wanted to hold on to the feeling of relief, to the rare sense that maybe everything would be all right after all. She had thought he was lost, but there he was. The nightmare was over.
“I’m here, Mama,” he said.
“You sound so far away,” B’Lynn murmured.
“I’m right here. With you.”
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Come sit down.”
He made no move to come closer. The wind moved through the branches of the live oak in the backyard, and the moonlight coming in through the hall window rippled over him, and for a split second she thought she could see his face and his sad, sweet smile.
“Where have you been?” she asked. “I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’ve been right here,” he said.
“No,” she said, not to correct him, but to stave off the fear that was rising in her chest. “No, no, no.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t stay.”
“Don’t go,” she said, her heart pounding. “Please don’t leave me. I want to help you. Whatever it is, we can deal with it, Robbie. You can make it this time.”
“You can’t help me now,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry, Mama.”
He took a step back deeper into the shadows.
“No, Robbie, no. Don’t leave me. Not again. Please!”
“I’m sorry, Mama.” He sounded so far away. Miles away. “So, so sorry…”
