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Chapter Twenty-Five
Vanessa
Vanessa checked Opal’s seatbelt to make sure it was tight. Mari was already in the passenger seat. She turned to face Hunter. “I wish you were coming with us.”
“Me too. We have to get things ready, though.”
“I know, I just hate the idea of being away from you all day.”
“You think you hate it?” He shook his head. “You have your gun on you?”
She nodded and patted her purse, where her handgun was currently stored. “Stay close to your phone?”
“Obviously. We’ll check in often.”
“Okay.” She let out a deep sigh. “Guess I’ll see you tonight then.”
He gave her a long, hard kiss and let her go. She climbed into the car and started it, then put down the window. “Hey,” she said. “Don’t get yourself killed or anything.” She said it in a light tone, but she meant every word.
“You either.” He leaned down to kiss her. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
He stood up and they drove off.
“When did that happen?” Mari asked, a smirk on her face.
Vanessa playfully slapped her. “Shut up.”
“What happened?” Opal asked from the backseat.
“Nothing honey,” Vanessa said.
“Oh, your mommy just fell in love is all.”
Opal grinned. “With Hunter.”
“Do you like him?” Mari asked.
Opal nodded enthusiastically. “I want him to be my new daddy.”
Vanessa beamed. So long as they both made it out of this alive, he just might be.
They turned into Mari’s parents’ farm house some time later. The plan was to spend the day, have some nice quality time together before the big meeting the next day. “Who knows what might go wrong,” Mari had said. “Take the day and enjoy it.”
So, now they were here. Vanessa and Opal would get to meet Mari’s parents, who Opal would stay with that night and the next day. Vanessa didn’t want Opal anywhere near the area when things could be happening. And so many things could happen in the next days. It was better to have her here, safe.
“What should we do first, Mommy?” Opal said excitedly as they got out of the car. “I can show you the swing or we can go for a walk or play a game.”
“Let’s go inside and meet the Snyder first, okay?” Vanessa said and reached out her hand for Opal to take it.
“Okay.”
They went inside and were introduced to Mari’s mom and step-dad. They hugged them both and seemed like the most welcoming and gentle people Vanessa had ever met. No wonder Mari was the way she was. She was just like them.
After a small mid-morning snack of muffins and tea, Vanessa and Opal wandered outside. Opal ran over to the swing and Vanessa stood behind her, pushing her on the swing hung from the giant tree.
“It’s so pretty here,” Vanessa said.
