Page 74 of Reckoning

She’d been expecting his call, and when it came, she answered on the first ring. “Hello, it’s me. Is that you?” She heard a soft chuckle in her ear, and then that deep raspy voice.

“Yes, baby, it’s me, missing you. It’s been a rough day. Tell me something good.”

She frowned. He almost sounded despondent. “Are you okay?”

“No…but I will be. I’m trying to shake the side effects of seeing the truth of a child who’d been caught in human trafficking. He’s going to be a long time getting better.”

“Oh my God…Tate. How awful. I’m so sorry.”

“I have to be able to let this go to do what I want to do. I’ll be okay. I promise. There’s something I need to tell you. For a whole lot of reasons, most of which involve me being me. My family and a cousin who showed up out of the blue today are taking me back to Tennessee to meet the elders. We’re leaving the day after tomorrow and we’ll be gone about five days, counting the drive there and back. Leaving you even that long feels like I’m losing a limb. I guess it’s practice for when the real thing finally happens.”

Briar sighed. “Maybe tomorrow will help ease that,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“Dad and his lawyer have to go to the county courthouse tomorrow for a mediation meeting. It has to do with their divorce. Mom will be there, and he’s dreading it. But it’s going to wind up being a day off for me. No work crews for at least two more days. Most everything has been repaired. Just waiting for a couple of appliance and furniture deliveries. If you want, you can—”

“I want. God, I want.”

She shivered. “So, do I, Tate. You’ve already given me a taste of a world I didn’t know, and now I can’t quit thinking about it and about you. Tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes. I’ll text first to make sure plans didn’t change,” he said. “I love you, Briar.”

“Love you more,” she said, and then he was gone.

Five days, knowing he was no longer within reach. The fact that she felt panic was a sign of how much they had depended on each other.

This is how life works. Time to grow up, girl.

Then she turned off the TV, pulled the covers up to her ears and closed her eyes.

Across town, Tate was already sliding between the covers. The sooner tomorrow came, the sooner he could see Briar.

* * *

Back in Savannah, Mariah was trying to decide what to wear to the courthouse tomorrow, and what attitude to take with her. Her lawyer advised Mariah to let him do all the talking, but Mariah had never let a man have the last word in her entire life and wasn’t going to start now.

* * *

Lilith and Abel were excited about going home and seeing family, but for the first time, they had no idea how Tate felt about any of it, only that he’d agreed to go.

Micah called home after he went to his bedroom. His dad, William, answered.

“Pops, it’s me. Tell the elders he’s coming. Abel and Lilith are bringing him. I’ll still be here tomorrow, and then we’ll all head home the next day.”

“That’s good news, Micah. Lilith will likely call her folks, and Abel will let his family know. Will they stay?” Will asked.

“Not this trip, but I’m told they’re packing to move back to Tennessee during Tate’s Christmas break. I’m also told that he’s graduating early. Turns out he has some kind of genius IQ,” Micah said.

“Who does he look like?”

Micah smiled as he answered. “A Bandy. A great big version of Abel.”

“Well then, safe travels, and thanks for letting me know,” Will said.

“Sure thing, Dad. See you soon.” Satisfied that he’d notified the clan, Micah was more than ready to call it a night.

* * *