Page 63 of Soaring Free
Daddy
What’s going on, peanut?
Liam
I’m on my way.
Finn
I’ll take over being the best uncle ever, but what happened?
Jack
I’m in meetings in Nashville, but if you need an attorney for whatever is going on, I’m sure Pippa can meet you too.
Me
[Photo of vandalized vehicle]
Me
[Photo of deadsquirrel]
Ryan
What the actual fuck?! I’m coming. I’ll be there in less than ten.
Liam
Don’t touch anything, Sav. Call the non-emergency sheriff number, then call Pippa in case your douche ex had anything to do with it and it was not a random thing.
Ryan
Especially paired with the door thing.
Incoming Call: Liam Callahan
“Hey, I’m not touching anything,” I answer my brother’s call and rub my arm; despite the warm summer temperature, chills run over my entire body and my teeth slightly chatter. My mouth tastes like bile but I’m trying to focus on keeping my breath steady.
“I know, sweetheart. I need you to go back inside the auto shop, okay? I’ll be there in just a couple minutes, but I don’t want you standing next to it, especially alone. Tell Fred what happened and see if he can pull up his surveillance footage for outside his shop. I’ll be right there.”
I nod before realizing he can’t see that. “Okay, thanks Liam, I’ll see you soon.”
I walk back inside, talk to the owner Fred about pulling the surveillance footage, and sit in the waiting area section of the lobby before I debate what to say in a text to Theo. I’m not sure how to convey what happened without him freaking out, but I also need him to know that something happened and it’s a serious situation. I retype the message a few times before settling on one that will get his attention but not immediately freak him out.
Me
Hi. When you’re done in court, can you please call me? I’m ok but I need you.
The bell over the front door of the shop jingles as Liam rushes in. I hadn’t shed a tear when I explained to the auto shop owner what happened, nor when I talked to him about the security tapes. I just felt numb, nauseous, but numb, like my brain doesn’t know how to compute what I saw. But the second my big brother wraps me up in a hug, it’s like the dam is released. My body is full on shaking at this point and I can’t even talk to Liam initially. He holds me and steers me away from the lobby, guiding us into Fred’s office. My brother talks to him about video footage and camera angles, but I can’t follow their discussion.
Why would someone do this to my car? And I’ve been called plenty of names in my life, it comes with having a strong personality, but I have never been called a whore and it’s shocking how demeaning that word makes me feel. The reality that someone not only thought that about me but went as far to write it—let alone write it in animal’s blood—on my vehicle is making my entire body itch. I don’t even think five hot showers would make me feel clean right now. I’m still holding my phone in my hand and I realize it’s been vibrating with an incoming call.
Theo.
I wipe my tears and show the screen to my brother who nods and keeps talking to Fred about logistics of how this could’ve possibly happened. I take a few steps away toward the window to have a little privacy as I answer. “Hi.” I try to take a slow, deep breath to calm my heart and breath enough to explain this all to him, but my ragged breath proves those efforts were in vain.
“Hey baby, what’s up? I saw your text, sorry, just got out of court. Are you okay?” His warm voice is a balm of comfort right now.
