“Sonowwe’re heavy on the no scarring?” Mo asked her in a whisper.
She whispered back. “I had to say something. I was afraid they might pass out in the airport if I didn’t give them some good news.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. He’s okay.” Doug’s voice came through the phone, but it was clear he was comforting Jacque. “And it sounds like some good came out of it.” A pause. “Oh.” Then his voice was louder. “Your mother says she’s not crying because you got shot. She’s crying because Bronwyn is with you and you’re talking to each other.”
Twenty-Nine
Mo’s phone beeped with an incoming text. He stared at it in shock.
Bronwyn, eyes puffy and bloodshot, blinked a few times. Then his mom’s voice came through the phone. “I did not say that. I mean, I did. Look, I’m tired, and this has made me very emotional, because it’s not every day your son calls to say he’s been shot.”
“Thank goodness for that,” his dad said in the background.
“But I’ve been praying for so long for the two of you to have some kind of reconciliation, and listening to you over the phone...”
“She’s crying again.” Dad blew out a breath and was back to business. “I assume Gray is all over this.”
“As far as I know. It was a long night. We got up a few minutes ago and there’s been some drama with Bron—” He stopped himself. He’d almost said Bronwyn’s family, but they didn’t deserve that title right now. “With the Pierces, so we haven’t talked to him yet. We’re supposed to have brunch with Papa and Granny in a little while.”
“Your granny will want to see you for herself,” his father said. “Just like your mother will be banging on your door as soon as we roll into town tomorrow.” A loud airport announcement pausedall conversation. “We need to board. We don’t want to miss our flight. They’ve changed our itinerary again.” He sighed heavily. “I’ll forward you the new flight schedule when we settle. And we’ll call when we reach our next stop. And, Mo?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Good job, son. Couldn’t be prouder.”
And now Bronwyn was crying again. Shoot. He might join her if his dad didn’t hang up soon. “Thank you, sir.”
“We love you both so much,” his mom said. “Please be safe. Be careful. And, Bronwyn, I need to see you with my own eyes too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Bronwyn’s response overlaid his.
“Love you, Bronwyn.” His dad’s response caught Mo off guard, although he wasn’t sure why. Especially after what he’d learned this morning.
“Love you too. Both of you.” Bronwyn swallowed hard and swiped at a tear. “Be safe. We’ll see you soon.”
They disconnected the call, and Mo turned to her. “That was...”
“Yeah.” Bronwyn looked around the room for a tissue. “Um, are we in trouble with Granny now?”
“No.” Mo rubbed a hand over his stubble. He needed to shave. “I texted them and Aunt Carol while you were, um, indisposed.” He’d hoped she hadn’t noticed and apparently she hadn’t.
“Oh good. What’s the new plan?”
“The new plan is that you take a quick shower here. I’ll run to my place and shower and shave.” And find some dry clothes because his tear-soaked shirt was starting to annoy him. “I’ll let Aunt Carol know she can come on over. When she’s done with us, we’ll let Granny know. She said she’d hold off on the biscuits until we were en route.”
“Do you want to let Meredith and Aunt Carol know that your parents know? Or should I do that?”
“I’ll do it. Won’t take but a second.” He looked around the room. “Are you okay for me to go? I can wait.”
She swiped a tissue and blew her nose. “No, go on. I’m okay. You have this place locked down like Fort Knox. We’re safe here. And if we get ready at the same time, we can go to Granny’s and then move on with the day.”
“Okay.” He hated to walk away from her. But she was right. And the sooner he got himself pulled together, the sooner he could be back with her.
And, yeah, he knew how bad that sounded, even in his own head. He knew that he and Bronwyn should take things slow, but he didn’t seem to be capable of that. He was in big, big trouble.
Bronwyn kept both hands on the steering wheel of Mo’s Jeep as they drove to Papa and Granny Quinn’s. Her head hurt. Her heart hurt. Her eyes—there was no hope for them. They looked like blistered tomatoes.
Mo pecked away on his phone as she drove. “Okay, everyone’s been notified. Gray says for us to come to the police station after brunch. Meredith says we took one for the team and she’s proud of us. Cal says Landry needs to see you so we’re to let them know when we’re done at Gray’s.”
