Page 23 of Shaded Amethysts
I didn’t have too long to worry about it because Meg suddenly hopped down from her barstool and said, “I love the smell of an impending arrest in the air.”
With that, she sauntered off with more confidence than any three people should have. Gage and I had no choice but to scurry after the outrageous woman.
19
Avery
After Meg arrested Angie, the tipsy woman became increasingly agitated. She yelled about how unfair this was and accused us of setting her up. It was tempting to tell her that she deserved to rot in prison for the rest of her life, but we still needed something from her.
“Angie,” I said firmly, looking directly into the woman’s droopy eyes, hoping she would realize how important this was. “Where is Scout?”
“Oh, he’s fine,” the woman blew off my concerns with the non-answer.
It took all of my restraint to keep my temper under control as I said, “I sure hope so. Who is watching him tonight?”
“He’s with the lady that runs the motel on the other side of town where I’ve been staying. She’s taking good care of him.”
I wanted to scream at her that she couldn’t possibly know that, but Gage’s warm presence by my side helped calm me as he reached down to take my hand within his large one and said, “Let’s go get him.”
We left Meg to deal with Angie, knowing that the overzealous cop wouldn’t let the inebriated woman get away with anything.
As Gage drove his truck across town to the motel, I wanted to thank him for his help with everything tonight, but couldn’t find strong enough words to properly convey my level of gratitude. After deciding I would find a way later to show my appreciation, I said, “Angie didn’t even know the name of the woman she left Scout with. What kind of horrible mother leaves her child with someone she doesn’t know? I hope he’s okay.”
“He will be, once we return him to where he belongs… with Molly and Grant,” Gage said with utter confidence in his tone.
I tried to let his calm reassurance sink into my bones, but there was still too much on the line to begin to relax.
The woman at the front desk of the motel handed the little boy over to us with very little explanation required on our part, which was concerning in its own right. Scout clapped happily as I picked him up and Gage gathered the child’s belongings.
Once the three of us were settled into Gage’s truck, I pointed up to the magnificent mansion on the cliff that looked out over the ocean and said, “Molly and Grant live up there.”
“Wow,” Gage said, sounding truly impressed.
I nodded before explaining, “The place had fallen into a state of disrepair from years of neglect, but they’ve completely renovated it and made it wheelchair accessible. They’ve brought it back to its former glory, but with modern conveniences and amenities added.”
When Gage started the truck, I hugged Scout tighter to me and said, “Please be careful. We don’t have a car seat. Normally, I would never do this, but this boy needs to be returned to his parents without any delays.”
“These are extenuating circumstances,” Gage agreed before adding, “But I would be careful anyway with the precious cargo I’m carrying. Besides, I sure don’t want Meg to arrest me. She’s scary.”
The surprised laughter erupted from deep in my chest. Scout giggled, too, as if he sensed that all was about to be right in his world once more.
After Gage pulled up their steep, narrow driveway and shut off the truck, I hurried with Scout in my arms to Molly and Grant’s front door. It was late for an unannounced visit, but I knew they’d be delighted by it when they saw their son.
I pounded on the large, wooden door and pressed the doorbell button repeatedly. Scout seemed to want to join in on the fun, so I leaned forward to allow him to use his tiny fist to rap on the door.
Molly opened the door with concern etched into her features. Grant’s chair was just behind her. “Avery, is everything ok––?”
Her question broke off and her mouth fell open as she caught sight of her son in my arms. The boy lunged in her direction. She gladly took him and squeezed her eyes shut as she embraced the little boy.
“Did you kidnap him?” She asked me just before she turned to settle Scout in his father’s lap. Grant squeezed the child as if he’d been gone for a year, rather than just a long, nightmarish day.
I chuckled as I realized what they must be thinking before rushing to explain. Gage spoke from just behind me, filling in some of the details of tonight’s escapade.
Grant and Molly thanked us for not giving up hope and for reuniting their family, then we made plans to meet at the courthouse first thing in the morning to explain the situation to the judge and beg her to change her mind about the custody arrangement.
Once Gage and I were back in his truck, I said, “I hope this works.”
“It will,” he said with a level of confidence I wished my frantic heart could match.
