“Did you say twenty-three cheeseburgers?” the woman asked.
Aden giggled from the back.
“Yes, ma’am. You better make that twenty-six. I’m pretty hungry. Four teas. Sweet, if you have it. And twelve regular fries.”
“Um…that’s going to take us a few minutes.”
“Then, I better order two ice cream cones to hold us over while we wait.”
“Uh, okay.”
Paul shook his head, grinning slightly. I couldn’t help but grin, too. No doubt Jim’s order had sent the kitchen into a state of panic.
She gave him his total, and when he pulled ahead to pay, she had the two cones ready. He turned in his seat and held up the first cone for Paul’s inspection.
“I don’t know…” Jim said. “Liam’s not that hungry, and this seems like a lot.” He opened his mouth and devoured the top of the cone in a single bite before handing it back to an open-mouthed Liam.
“What about you, Aden? You hungry?”
“Yes!”
Jim chuckled and handed the cone back without taking any.
The fear that had flooded the vehicle dissipated enough that the scent of Dad’s sorrow became clear. My humor fled, and I turned in my seat to look back at him as he helped Aden turn his cone.
“I’m fine, Henry,” Dad said softly, without looking up at me. “Not all sorrow is bad.”
I didn’t see how that could be true, but didn’t argue. Jim pulled ahead to a spot to wait for the food and started teasing Liam about eating the rest of his cone.
“Do we know where we’re going yet?” I asked.
“Nah,” he said. “We’re going to wing it for a bit. A road trip, right Liam?”
The boy nodded and crunched into the top part of his cone.
Seriously,I sent Jim.Where are we going?
We’re headed toward Salt Lake. Big city so we can disappear until we’re ready.
Jim’s gaze shifted from Liam to me.
I am sorry about your mom.
I know.I didn’t blame Jim for arriving too late. The blame lay with the Urbat and their crazy-ass leader, Blake. The same lunatic who’d held Michelle and her brothers for years.
When we find Blake, we’ll make him pay for what happened.
That we will,Jim sent back grimly.
JIM…
Winifred’s thoughts cut into my contemplation of what I would like to do to Blake for everything he’d done to Michelle, the rest of the girls, and all the males in this car.
Why have you stopped moving?She sent me.
Aden is starving and everyone needed a minute to think of something other than death.
I understand, but you need to keep moving. Gabby says there are several Urbat nearby. I’m worried.
