Page 102 of Our Broken Pieces
I smile. “True.” I direct my eyes to Audrey. “Next Wednesday afternoon at three?”
“I’ll be there.”
Chapter Seventy
Marcus
Gigi went over to Audrey’s for a while after she told me about the call from her mother. I can’t shake the feeling that this all doesn’t add up; something about that call is throwing red flags. The fact that her mother just pops up out of nowhere after decades could just be an old woman grappling with the guilt of years of motherhood missed, but I’m not sure that’s the case.
I scour the internet for any information I can find for Sarah Kelly. There are a couple of police reports from a few years back, all for public intoxication or possession, but nothing else. When I search for Brandon Kelly, her father, I come up with almost the same result. It’s as if they barely exist in the normal world. No social media, no tags, only a couple of addresses that haven’t been updated in a while.
I pick up my phone and bring up the contact for one of my friends from college, Rory. He moved to Rochester after school and entered the police force, eventually moving up to detective. I hit the call button, but it goes to voicemail. I leave him a message to give me a call and close my laptop.
Saturday evening, we all met at Linc and Melonie’s for dinner. When I walked into the living room, Millie was sitting with some toys. Her little blue eyes found me, then she flopped down to the floor and crawled to my feet. I bent down and picked her up as she squealed.
“Dang, Mills, not only are you mobile, but you’ve found a new volume level.” I rub her back.
“She does that when she’s excited now. So far, it’s only been for blueberries and The Little Mermaid, but I guess we can add Uncle Marcus to the list.” Melonie laughs as she clears the floor of toys.
“I’m honored.”
Gigi walks to me, kissing Millie’s cheek. She looks up at me with a coy smile and whispers, “I squeal when I see you coming, too, prince.”
“Jesus, woman, there is a small child in my arms.” She barks out a laugh and sits on the couch.
We eventually move to the kitchen to eat dinner. As we finish, Millie is falling asleep in my arms. Melonie sets a cheesecake in the middle of the table.
“You guys, Linc and I have some news.”
Linc comes to her side, smiling. “Melonie’s pregnant.”
I smile as the girls all tear up, and Jax hugs Linc.
“Congrats, you two,” I say from my seat.
“And we have some other news.” Linc looks around the table. “We’re moving out of the city.”
Jax looks concerned. “Where are you moving to?”
“Not far.” Melonie looks at me and smiles.
“What?” I say, glancing between her and Linc.
“We bought the house that was for sale three doors down from yours.” Linc beams at me.
“You’ll be our neighbors?”
“We will.” Melonie grins.
“I can have Millie time whenever I want?”
“You can.”
“That’s awesome, you guys.” I smile at Linc and Melonie, standing in front of me.
“This is so perfect! Jax and Audrey, you’re next. Then we can take over the HOA!” Gigi laughs.
I shake my head. “There goes the neighborhood.”
