"Is he real worried about Honey Bear?" Casey asked grudgingly.
"I think so. We need to take her back to him. I need to take her back to him. You two need to get some sleep."
She stood up, reaching out one arm to Casey. When he ducked away from her hug, she settled for ruffling his hair instead. In the doorway, she turned back. "You guys know there's going to be punishment for this."
Casey's jaw stuck out stubbornly. PJ nodded seriously.
"Can I trust you to stay in this room and go to sleep?"
Both boys nodded slowly.
She shut the door and walked downstairs, unable to keep her shoulders from sinking. What was she doing? This thing with Noah was affecting the kids. She hadn't meant for it to happen. She wanted to be his friend, wanted to get him to open up a little so maybe they could have a neighborly relationship.
Tonight was the first time he'd admitted that maybe he wanted more than friendship.I've been thinking about kissing you all day.
But then, he'd had a problem. And he hadn't called her to ask for help. He'd called Aiden.
She was so confused.
She slipped into her boots, but when she opened the door, what had been earlier a little snow obscuring her windshield was now a blizzard with huge flakes and a swirling wind that seemed to come from all directions.
Honey burrowed into her coat with a plaintive meow.
She couldn’t go out in that. She shut the door and called Noah.
He didn't pick up for several rings, and she glanced at the window, where the snow was making small tinking sounds as it blew in. Was she going to have to go out there after all? Had Noah gone out into the elements? Maybe that was why he couldn't hear the phone ringing.
Just as she was getting good and scared, he answered.
"Hello?" His voice sounded muffled and unclear. Was he outside? She knew his phone told him who the caller was. Had he not wanted to answer her call?
"It's Jilly."
"I know." This time his voice came through clearer. Maybe he'd just had his head under a cabinet or been crawling under the bed. "Is it important?" he asked, voice clipped. "I'm busy."
Busy. She knew why, though he didn't know that Aiden had told her.
Her heart gave a sudden, painful thud inside her chest. Even now, when she'd called him, he wasn't going to tell her? Or ask for help?
Ringing filled her ears.
"The boys took Honey," she said quickly, ignoring the sting of tears behind her nose. Which was silly. There was nothing to cry about. Nothing was wrong. "It must've happened in the chaos of rounding up everyone and leaving your place. I didn't know until about ten minutes ago."
He was silent on the other end of the line. Then, "Why would they do that?"
"I think it was Casey. Or maybe he brainwashed PJ a little.”
She swallowed hard, bracing herself for his anger. He had a right to be angry. Her boys had stolen from him, had caused him to panic and worry.
"I—I was going to bring her back to you," she rushed on. "But I opened the front door. It's coming down really hard out there."
"Don't drive over here," he said immediately. "I'll get her tomorrow."
I'll get her.Not,you can bring her. What did that mean?
"Fine." She sniffed, trying to hold her rioting emotions at bay.
"You should get some rest." He hung up without a proper good-bye.
