I was so glad she’d had a safe place of her own for so manyyears. After leaving the bastard that never did a thing for me or her—except make our lives miserable—she’d worked hard to finish a degree in interior design that she’d started before getting pregnant.
She ran her own business, made decent money, and was amazing at what she did. I was a proud son for sure.
Excited to hear River’s voice again, I hit the button to connect to Bluetooth. I barely got out a hello before her frantic voice echoed through the car. “I’m so sorry to bother you but I don’t know what to do. Lake isn’t answering her phone and Bronson is working, but I need…”
The woman paused but I knew her well enough to know that she needed something. However, it wasveryhard for her to ask for help.
“Shh, take a breath and tell me what you need. I can help, sweetheart.”
She was too wound up to be shocked at my term of endearment like she normally was if I used one.
When she didn’t say anything, I coaxed her again. “Come on, I’m here for you.”
Relenting, she rattled on breathlessly about how she was downtown at the courthouse in Portland because she was about to take the stand on a case. I knew she had some big work thing, but I didn’t know she had to do something like that.
Wanting to ask and know more, but also knowing it wasn’t the time, I kept my mouth shut and let her explain how both her kids were sitting in the principal's office and would continue until an adult came to retrieve them.
All because Lennon had gotten into a fight.
“This is a nightmare, Huntley, I should be there, but I can’t leave and if he hit someone then whoever it was had to have done something to Breland. She must be so upset.”
Hearing the distress in her voice and discontent over notbeing able to immediately get to them had me pushing my foot down on the pedal a bit harder.
“Tell me where the school is? I’ll go get them.” I’d doanythingto take her worry away.
It was so quiet; I’d thought she hung up.
“W-What, are you sure? I can’t believe you’d do that for me. I know you said you were only one call away.” She laughed but it was more hysterical than happy. “I just didn’t think before I called, I guess or that you meant I can call for anything.”
This was another time when I wanted to speak my mind but held back. Telling her I thought I’d do just about anything for her would scare the crap out of her.
“Of course I want to help. You can call me whenever you need to.”
After telling me where to go, something else dawned on me.
“Wait, where is his truck?”
Lennon loved the older truck that was still in great shape having not been driven much. I didn’t picture the teen without the vehicle.
“He left the light on inside and the battery was dead. We were running behind this morning and I didn’t have jumper cables, so I had to take them and drop them at school. They were supposed to wait for me until later or get a ride with one of Lennon’s friends, but now they can’t leave.”
I heard someone speaking to her in the background but wasn’t sure what was being said. Then she came back and said, “They are calling me in, I have to go. Please make sure they’re okay and Huntley?”
“What, sweetheart?”
“Tell them I’m sorry and I’ll be home as soon as possible. And… please don’t try and get close to Breland or comfort her. Just trust me, okay.”
Before I could think about what her words may insinuate and I still had control of my voice, I rushed to let her know I promised that I would tread carefully and I did trust her. Obviously, whatever happened in Breland’s past had affected her greatly.
“Thank you.” She sighed. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll hurry home as soon as I’m done.”
“Don’t rush and get yourself in any trouble, promise me.” The thought of anything happening to her made me feel physically sick.
“Promise,” she whispered.
“Good girl,” I said.
“What am I five?” she fired back in the way she did when trying to be snarky but really was being amusing.
