Page 28 of Instant Heat
I was smiling so hard, me cheeks ached. Glancing at the digital clock on me truck's radio, I figured I had about ten minutes before I had to head into the station. Me thumbs started moving across the screen.
Me:Miss me bad, huh?
Her reply came immediately.
Rae:Maybe*winky face emoji*
I still couldn't believe how fast things had escalated with this woman nor could I explain how everything felt as if it was meant to happen this way. The only certainty was that it had been a long time since I'd felt happiness like this.
If ever.
Me:I miss you too, Rae.
An engine roaring past me had me looking up from me phone. I scanned me surroundings and caught a glimpse of me reflection in the rearview mirror. Shaking me head, I muttered,"You've got it bad." The words had barely left me lips when me phone sounded again. I couldn't look at the thing fast enough which just proved me point.
Rae:My friends would like to meet you; would that be OK?
It was more than okay, and I told her that in me next reply. When me phone started ringing, I assumed it was Rae who wanted to tell me where and when I would be meeting her friends.
"Do I need protection?" I asked when I pressed the device against me ear.
"Griffin?" Me blood turned to ice as Mildred's voice filtered through the line.
I am not proud to admit I briefly entertained the idea of hanging up and powering down me phone. I didn't, though."I'm here, Mildred." The strain in me voice burned me throat or maybe it was shame.
The woman at the other end of the line took in a few sharp breaths."You just left without saying goodbye."
I hung me head and pinched the bridge of me nose."I know."
"Do you know how it felt when I knocked on your door only to find the place empty?" The hurt in her voice almost did me in. I deserved the sting I felt in me chest and in the back of me eyes.
"I'm sorry." Me reply was lame, but I meant it."I was—am—having a hard time. With so much loss surrounding me, I was losing myself too."
"You should have talked to us, Griffin." There was a moment of silence and then,"I am not mad that you left like you did. I'm hurt that you didn't trust us enough to share your pain. I don't care that you're not my blood; you're my son too."
Well, shite. What was I supposed to say to that? That ache in the left side of me chest got so painful that I had to rub the spot through the material of me shirt. Me nose burned and the back of me eyes stung something fierce.
"I'm an idiot because I didn't want to burden you or Heath. I know how difficult it's been for you." And that was putting it mildly. When Adam and Zoe were younger, some things had come out that just about ripped the family apart. As a result, Zoe started acting out. The more her parents tried to reel her in, the more out of control she became.
Then there was the fire.
At the time, they'd lived in Texas City, but when tragedy struck, they moved to Sault Point to be with their son.
"Your troubles will never burden us." Mildred's soft words pulled me back to our conversation."Don't apologize for putting yourself first."
I pinched me eyes and cleared me throat,"How is he?"
"Not good. He's scared the nurse away, and he doesn't want me or Heath living there with him." The pain in her voice was so raw, it felt like a hand had reached through the phone and squeezed me chest.
After the fire, Adam had refused to leave the house. Soon it had escalated to him holing himself up in the bedroom. Every time the Carlisles hired someone to take care of him and the house, he'd find a way to run them off.
"He'll get better," I promised."Maybe not now, but he will."
Mildred sniffled."I have to believe you're right." There was a short pause and when she spoke again her tone was cautious."When are you off again?"
"I'm just about ready to start a new shift, so in twenty-four hours, I suppose."
"Do you think you'll be coming back to Sault Point anytime soon?" she asked hopefully."Just to visit, of course."
