Page 16 of In It for the Long Ride

He flopped and mumbled but quickly began to drift off again.

I rubbed my face and flipped the covers off of him.

“Up. Time to get up, Blaze.” I shakily tried to think of what my next move was going to be.

The school would be calling soon. I was so set on leaving, and now I wasn’t sure what to do. Sending him to school bought me time. I needed to decide which direction we were heading and finish withdrawing my money from the credit union.

Blaze wobbled into the bathroom, and I made my way toward the kitchen. I paused when I realized the sofa was empty.

“Carl?”

The water continued trickling behind the bathroom door and I heard Blaze spitting a few moments later.

“What the hell,” I quietly murmured, moving to the front door.

I stepped out onto the porch and looked around, but there was no sign of him anywhere. It wasn’t until I turned to go back inside that I realized he wasn’t the only thing missing.

“What the fuck?” I blurted out, turning back to the driveway in search of the vehicle.

The drive and surrounding land both turned up empty.

“Oh, you rotten son of a bitch.” I hissed.

I darted back inside and grabbed my purse.

After a few short moments of digging around I had to accept the fact that my keys were gone.

I flopped down on the sofa with a dejected sigh.

“What’s wrong, Aunt Daisy?” Blaze asked, as he cautiously entered the room and leaned against me.

I swept my hair back and forced a smile for his benefit.

“Nothing, baby.”

“I’m not a baby no more.” He quickly pointed out hefting his weight off me.

“No. You’re my B Man.” I winked.

His scowl immediately turned into a forgiving smile, and he laid his head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around him and rocked him while planting a kiss on the crown of his head.

“Shouldn’t we get breakfast? Are we late for school?” He started firing off questions that left me wanting to sigh again.

I repressed it and shook my head in an attempt to look thoughtful, “Why don’t you stay home today? It could be like camping!”

I wiggled my shoulders like the idea excited me more than I could possibly express, and he instantly bobbed his head in agreement.

“Great. I’ll see what we got to eat.” I patted his leg and shifted to my feet. I moved toward the pantry and silently sent a prayer up for oatmeal or something equally nonperishable.

I found a container of plain oats and a package of sugar in the cabinet. Inside the refrigerator, I located a box of stick butter and marveled over the expiration date.

According to the print, it was still good.

“Watered oats it is,” I grumbled and began to put it all together.

I fed the boy and sat on the porch while he played in the front yard. He was oblivious to my upset, but I couldn’t think of anything else. How on Earth could Carl do this to me? He fucking stole from me!

The birds chirped and sang, only irritating me further as I shifted and huffed on the hard wood rocker.

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