Page 45
“What?” Cole sat up, rising from his chair entirely, when I took off for the coat rack and wrestled with the strap of my purse.
“What are you doing?” Cole repeated, reaching up to untangle it from the hook.
“Daisy,” I simply said, while slinging the purse over my shoulder.
The faint lines around his eyes twitched as if he were looking for the right words. He could spew them later; the only friend I had in town had just lost her sister and nephew.
“Are you going to drive me, or am I walking?”
He gave another deep exhale and dipped his head in the affirmative.
“Good, I’d like that.” I leaned up and kissed his cheek, “I know he wasn’t your favorite, but he was still a part of your group. I’m sorry for the loss.”
His soulful gaze flicked toward me, and he placed his hand low on my back, before agreeing, “She probably does need you.”
He was a decent driver, even if I wished he would apply the brake a second or two sooner when approaching stop signs. Riding with him was peaceful, even now, when the silence carried the cool early morning breeze.
I reached across the bench of the front seat, placing my hand delicately over his, where it rested near his knee, “Do most of you have– colorful lives like Darla and Chef did?”
The lines around his eyes tightened for a split second then he spread his fingers, capturing mine between his own.
“No.” He sniffed and spoke up, “No, my brother lives by himself. He enjoys working on cars. He’s pretty mild tempered.”
“And you?”
He raised his shoulder subtly, “I’m just a bible-toting biker whose only joy is spending time with you and your boys and opening up on the highway until my thoughts blur right along with that yellow line.”
“I couldn’t never be on a motorcycle like that, I’d panic so badly I’d hurt myself and the driver without even meaning to.”
“Nawl,” he denied, “I wouldn’t ride like that with you. Me and you will go on a nice country cruise when the sky is showing them pretty colors, I’ll show you how to enjoy the road.”
The picture he painted left me thoughtfully smiling, “I’d like that.”
He winked, pulling the car toward the curb in front of Daisy’s house.
“Where are her people… Her kin?” I couldn’t keep the concern or shock out of my tone.
“What people?” he gently whispered, “Honey, all her people except for one just— Well, you know.”
“Oh, my God.” I threw the door open and started for the porch as fast as my legs would carry me.
There was only one window lit up with a gentle glow.
Before I could knock, the door flew open and Daisy rushed out, her hair a mess of long, unrestrained curls.
She shrieked, hurling herself away from me a moment before I expected her to collide with me.
“I-I have to go,” she sobbed, “I-I– I have to get to the hospital. They need me. Eric needs me.” She fumbled with the bag that dangled near her hip.
“You aren’t in any shape to drive. Come on, Cole will drive us up there to be with the boy.”
She froze, a grimace stretching across her mouth while her glistening gaze instantly turned dark.
“He’ll just be the driver; he can stay outside. I can go in and wait on you in the lobby in case you need anything, you won’t have to leave the boy’s side.”
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her chest heaving as she gave the smallest nod and finally permitted me to lead her toward the car.
Daisy’s shuddered breaths were the only things that broke the silence. Cole drove a bit differently, his speed slightly slower than necessary, the stop signs acknowledged way in advance. I inwardly smiled, grateful for his efforts not to upset her further.
