Page 20 of Liam James
“He has cancer, now let’s get inside before we are spotted,” James said. We’ll take Dad’s truck, and the guy can follow us around for a while. I hope you ditch this guy.”
“We will. This is Jenny and Poppy. These two YoYos are my brothers. James Henry and Troy James.”
I watched Jenny and Poppy try not to laugh, but they couldn't help it, and that was exactly what I wanted.
“So all of you are named after your father, and your last names are also James?” Jenny asked.
“He didn’t want any of us to get our feelings hurt,” James said. I caught Troy as his legs collapsed. Jenny didn’t hesitate; she took over.
"You should be in a hospital,” she said, looking at Troy. She asked him a dozen questions. “I want you to go see my partner. I’ll call ahead. That way, you will get right in.”
“So you’re a doctor? I asked, looking at her.
“Yes, I’m a cancer specialist.”
I hugged both of my brothers before they left in my Dad’s old truck. I was no longer so angry at my brother. I was thankful he did what he did.
“Do you think he’ll make it?” I asked.
“Yes, he’ll be his old self in no time,” Jenny said, hugging me, and then Poppy hugged me too.
15
Liam
The second I hung up with Forest, I knew the clock had started ticking.
Jenny watched me from across the booth, Poppy leaning against her shoulder with wide, tired eyes. I didn’t say anything yet—not until we were back on the road.
But she read my face anyway.
“What did they find?” she asked.
I looked at Poppy, then back at Jenny. “He was close.”
Jenny’s hand tightened around her coffee mug. Poppy went still beside her like she already knew what that meant.
“Close enough to see us?” Jenny asked, her voice thin.
“Close enough to know the truck,” I said. But my brothers are now driving the truck. I’ll call and tell them what is going on.”
And there it was—the flicker in her eyes. That mix of fear and anger that came from being hunted when all you wanted was a normal life.
I hated seeing it.
Hated him for putting it there.
“We leave in ten,” I said, sliding out of the booth.
Jenny
Poppy didn’t say a word while we packed up.
Not when we left the diner, not when we got back on the road, not even when Liam stopped at a gas station to grab water and snacks.
She just sat in the back seat, her hands clenched in her lap like she was holding herself together by force.
Finally, she whispered, “He’s coming, isn’t he?”
