“Yes. I’ll walk you through it. FaceTime my phone.”
“Okay.”
And a few seconds later, the FaceTime bubbling sound rang through the air. I swiped to accept the call, and immediately had to fight my smile away. Her face was big on the screen, and the messy bun on the top of her head had unraveled, slipping from the clip and allowing curls to caress her cheeks.
She was so pretty.
Even at a terrible camera angle.
“Hi.”
She didn’t smile, immediately flipping the camera to face her path as she walked through the barnyard. The girls were around her feet, skipping along. The camera adjusted, refocusing in the dark corridor. “Okay. I’m in the barn.”
For the next hour, I stayed on the phone with Hollie, walking her through every step and wondering when it would be appropriate to beg her to forgive me.
As soon as I laid eyes on Tag early Sunday morning, I knew he hadn’t slept a wink. His face looked pale, eyes glazy. He stumbled out of the Peterbilt, lids still half-open. His curls were a mess, his shirt on inside-out. My stomach pitched at the sight of him.
Perhaps I’d gotten too comfortable with things the way they were at Meadowbrook. In the last two years, there’d been a lot of peace, growth, and healing for everyone. But, the anxiety on Tag’s face was a stark reminder: demons always revisit at one point or another.
The demons in Tag and Cooper’s life were their parents, and the fact that Cooper had disappeared after talking to one launched Tag into his own spiral. His grey eyes brewed like a stormy tempest, his jaw tense. “Mornin’,” he mumbled, not making eye contact with me or Cade.
Cade, my morning grump, frowned at the grass with his arms across his chest.
Without a word, we crossed the gravel semi lot and headed toward the corrals near the arena. There we’d feed and check on all the animals then start our hectic day. In stride with Tag, I whispered, “Did you hear from him?”
Wordlessly, Tag pulled his phone out of his back pocket, swiped up, then smacked it into my palm. I stopped on the gravel to read the text exchange.
10:23 p.m.
Cooper
Stop calling me. I’m fine. I had to do something real quick, and I’m stopping by the house to see Mom. I’ll tell her you said hi.
Tag
Please do not go there Coop.
Call me and we can talk about whatever happened. Did you see Greg?
10:41 p.m.
Tag
Cooper?
Please call me. I’m worried about you.
If youre in trouble, you can tell me.
10:58 p.m.
Tag
Going to Janice’s house is not a good idea. Please just come back home.
If I don’t hear from you by breakfast tomorrow, I’m calling the cops and sending them to mom’s to pick you up.
12:27 a.m.
