Page 252 of Restless
“Call Bunny, Meggie,” Mortician instructed after she strapped herself into the passenger seat and CJ was behind the wheel. “Fuck, never mind. She probably with the kids. I’ll tap Digger and Val to get your Lexus back to the club.”
Relaxing against the seat, Meggie closed her eyes.
“Mom?”
“Meggie?”
Meggie lifted her lids. “I trust you, Mort,” she said tiredly. “It’s almost six in the evening. Christopher left at dawn. He might already be home, wondering—”
“Now, Meggie, you know if Prez was around he’d be blowing up our fucking phones looking for you.”
The words turned over in her head and she snapped her eyes open. “Suppose he’s hurt? Do you know where he went, Mort? Oh my god, why haven’t I heard from him more than once today?” Her head started pounding again.
“Mom!” CJ called. “Dad’s fine. Stay calm. Otherwise, I’ll take you back into the ER.”
She glanced at CJ, then at Mort. As her panic increased, so did her dizziness.
“He fine, Meggie. He with Derby.”
“Derby?” she asked, frowning, still terrified for Christopher’s safety. “Why would he spend the day with Derby?”
“Ask him when you see him, Mom,” CJ said. “You left the hospital so you wouldn’t alarm him. If he gets home before us, hewillbe alarmed.”
Meggie nodded.
“You all good, girl?” Mortician asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Mort leaned into the pickup to look at her son. “We’ll head out in two or three minutes, little dude. Once I make the call about Meggie SUV.”
“Okay, Uncle Mort.”
“When we pass the usual turn, slow your speed. The second turn that leads to the back forest is easy to miss. The third turn that’ll bring us to the road for our houses is even harder to see.”
“Do I need a code?”
Mort nodded. “I’ll keep my bike in front of the sensor so you can blaze through. Prez designed it to close quick. That’s why he made it wide enough for a bike and Meggie cars to fit side-by-side.”
Five minutes later, their caravan of two started off. CJ drove in silence, so Meggie closed her eyes, determined to remain calm.
“Mom, we’re here,” CJ said, a little while later.
He opened her door, unstrapped her seatbelt and lifted her into his arms.
At first, confusion muddled Meggie’s brain, then she blinked. Although her head was still hurting, some awareness seeped into her as he started walking and she relaxed against him, trusting him.
“Outlaw isn’t home yet, CJ,” Bunny said.
Meggie lifted her head, smiling as her friend leaned against the gate in front of her house.
“Get Meggie into bed, little dude,” Mortician called, “I’ll be waiting for you, so we can get Prez’s pickup back to the club.”
“I don’t know how you’re going to pull this off,” Bunny said, framed against the Christmas light display in the yard. “Someone’s going to realize Meggie or her Lexus hasn’t come through the gate.”
“Not much Prez can complain about if Meggie safe and sound in the house, Bunny,” Mortician said.
Inside, the warm air circulated the scents of pine, cinnamon, and cedar. The silence surprised her.
