Page 84 of Dare You to Run
I pullup outside the McCallan residence at eight thirty in the morning. I took a guess that the kids would be off to school since last time I was here, everyone was out the door by seven forty-five like a whirling dervish.
The gates are closed so I have to use the buzzer to request access. There’s no intercom so I don’t quite know how they’ll see who is wanting in. I press it, the buzzer sounding, and wait for something to happen. My eyes wander and I finally spot a camera planted on the juncture of where the fence meets a brick pillar. I gulp knowing that someone is going to see my face, and that’s it’s possible I won’t be allowed in.
My fears are squashed when the gates begin to slide open, and I slowly move my car forward. The tires crunch over the pea gravel and I park just shy of the front door. I blow out a big breath and wipe off my sweaty hands on my jeans. Just then, the door opens and out steps an angry looking Vaughan.
“It’s now or never, Hendrix,” I tell myself and pull on the handle to let me out.
I slam the door shut behind me and keep eye contact with Vaughan, who I realize is now holding a gun, and stumble back against my car.
“Woah. Mr. McCallan. I just want to talk to you. What’s the gun for?” I hold my trembling hands out in front of me.
“To protect what’s mine. And I don’t mean my house.”
The patter of tiny feet echoes across the tile and I see a bright little face peek out from behind him.
“Hey! I know you.” AJ bounds down the front steps and comes running over to me. “Where’s my stister?” she asks, presumably asking about Dagen.
“Hi AJ. I’m actually going to go visit your sister soon. I just want to talk with your mommy and daddy real quick.”
She pouts, but then shrugs and pulls on my hand. “Okay. C’mon. I wanna show you my new doll. Do you wike dolls…” she searches for my name, but she’s like three years old and probably can’t remember what she had for breakfast, much less the name of a guy she met once.
“Henny. You can call me Henny, little lady.” Her eyes light up, a glowing amber tone and something hits me like a thunderbolt.
“Henny,” she giggles. “Thas funny. Wike a chicken.”
Her little face breaks into more laughter and it makes me laugh.
“Yeah. I guess so.” I look up at Vaughan who watches our interaction with the same stern look he greeted me with. “Is it okay if I come in? I’d really appreciate it if you and your wife could give me just a few minutes of your time.”
“Vaughan,” a voice calls. “Who is at the–Hendrix?”
Cami pushes past Vaughan to find me standing next to her daughter who still holds my hand.
“Good morning, Mrs. McCallan. I apologize for interrupting your morning. I was hoping I could speak with the two of you.”
She looks at Vaughan then notices the gun hanging from his hand.
“Are you kidding me, right now? Give me that goddamn gun, Vaughan.” A spell is broken when he hears his wife’s voice and she yanks the gun from his hand.
Pointing it down, she opens the clip and finds it empty. Her eyes spit fire and I see the man visibly cower. It sends chills down my spine.
Tucking it in the back of her pants, Camille says, “Please come in. And it’s Camille. Remember?”
“Yes ma–Camille.” AJ pulls on me once more and this time I let her lead me into the house.
We reach the front door, which Vaughan still blocks, and Camille tugs him back by his arm, opening up enough room to let me by.
“Cut it out, dammit. Move out of the way,” she bites out
“Aaumm. Mommy. You say a bad word.”
“I know sweetheart.” Camille squats and lifts AJ up in her arms. “Sometimes it’s the only word I can find when Daddy’s being a turd head.”
AJ lets loose another one of her sweet little giggles and Vaughan’s face turns red as Camille walks to the living room and sets her down. A snack and a puzzle gets sat on a small table, and the tv gets turned on. Once the cartoons have stolen the toddlers attention, Camille motions for Vaughan and I to follow her to the kitchen. We do so without question and sit at the kitchen dinette table, the two of them on one side and me on the other.
I fold my hands on the table and inhale some courage. “I owe you an apology for not coming to you once Dagen and I decided we’d like to try a relationship beyond…” I struggle to tell himbeyond fucking, but I think he understands. “I promised to look out for her, and that was my full and only intention. But sometimes life doesn’t always follow the rules.”
Vaughan huffs and turns his head, while Camille pats his shoulder and says, “I think we more than most understand.”
