Chapter Thirty-Five
Linx couldn’t believethe text message she received from Grady promising to work things out with her. She glanced at the voice mail icon and missed call from him, but her heart couldn’t take it to hear his voice, pleading for her toreturn.
Once he found out he was unable to gain custody of Jessie, he would regret everything about her. His only chance was for her to leave and admit her guilt. That way, he could work out a deal with thePattersons.
Perhaps they would feel sorry for him that he’d been cheated out of having a say on theadoption.
Or maybe the court would side with him, and Grady and Jessie would live happily ever after—as long as Linx wasn’t around to screw thingsup.
So much like her batshit crazymother.
She had to make a clean break—no looking back. Grady deserved to have a home in Colson’s Corner with his daughter. Eventually, he’d find another woman—one who wasn’t nuts—to settle down with. He could take over the Mountain Dog Rescue Center, and she was sure her father would let Jessie have herhorse.
They would live a good life, one they deserved, while Linx would disappear into the fire lines, fighting forest fires until the flames finally caught up to her, like they did for Salem, and she would simply disappear without atrace.
She should shut off her phone, but text messages came in fast and furious like popcorn over a hotcampfire.
Cedar nuzzled her thigh and whined, wondering why they hadn’t moved from the parkingarea.
“I need to see if Nessa will agree to take care of the rest of the dogs,” Linx said. “Sorry you’ll never see them again, especially littleGinger.”
The tip of Cedar’s tail wagged, and Linx rubbed her furry neck, knowing that she’d selfishly kept Cedar fromGrady.
She scanned the messages and swallowed as she realized she’d never see her siblings and father again. They were all texting her, including Grady’s sister, Cait, pleading with her to comeback.
One message flashed at her like a hot branding iron on bare skin.Call me, my daughter. I canhelp.
FromMinx.
Why was she texting her now, of alltimes?
A while ago, Becca had tracked their mother down, using her attorney skills, and had called her for Christmas. Linx hadn’t wanted to say ‘hi’ and had run away to the artist’s shed to hide out for the rest of theday.
When she’d returned, none of her siblings mentioned the phone call, and Becca had taken her phone and added Mom to the addressbook.
Linx had immediately changed “Mom” to “Minx” and debated deleting thenumber.
But every night for the next two weeks, she had instead pulled out the phone and stared at the number—never ginning up the courage tocall.
Why shouldshe?
Minx hatedher.
What would she say toher?
Tips on how to elude thelaw?
Linx swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She should call Minx and let her know exactly how bad she was and how she’d turned out just likeher.
Before she could change her mind, she hit the green call button and waited breathlessly as a womananswered.
“Hello?”
“It’sLinx.”
“Ah, Linx, I knew you’d call.” The woman’s voice was scratchy, as if she’d been chain smoking since the day sheleft.
“Why did you ask me to call?” Linx said. “Whynow?”
