I grinned and walked toward her, offering her my hand. “What are you in the bathroom contemplating?”
“Well, at first I was only popping some pain pills,” she admitted. “But then I got to thinking about things I heard Apollo saying as I left, and I just lost track of time.”
When she was fully standing, I gently pulled her toward me, smoothing her messy locks into a semblance of control before asking, “I’m almost afraid to ask what it is that Apollo found out about Audrey.”
“How’d you know about her?”
“I passed them and they were talking about her,” I said. “It was pretty heated, so I assumed she was involved in something that she shouldn’t be.”
“My parents’ thing,” she said. “Her and her dad.”
I blinked, instant disgust coating my tongue. “What? You’re joking.”
“All this time we never thought my parents would have an accomplice, but it makes sense that they would. They all ran the Mother’s Day Out thing together. In all honestly, I think I remember it being Audrey’s idea to form it. I always thought it was because she wanted money and an easy job, but knowing what I know now… We just never thought a young woman and a deacon would be involved in their debauchery.”
“What’d Apollo find?”
“I left before he could get into any great detail,” she admitted. “I didn’t really want to know.”
I didn’t blame her. I had great parents. I couldn’t imagine them being bad people, and having to live with myself knowing that their actions were hurting innocent people. Innocent children.
“Are you ready to go home?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She sounded exhausted. “I thought I’d be okay. I mean, I’ve been sitting for a solid ten days now. But sitting in a hard bench is a little bit different than sitting in a bed.”
“Time to go,” I said. “I’m guessing you heard about your parents’ actions?”
“Well, I heard I had a hit out on me,” she admitted. “Have we confirmed that it was my parents?”
“Well, it looks like the money came out of Audrey’s accounts,” Apollo said as he came to stand in the mouth of the bathroom. “But she was paid the same amount from the church’s coffers.”
“And I’m sure that my parents will make it look like she stole the money and wrote the check to herself.” Eddy wiped at her eyes with her good hand. “I need some sleep.”
“Come on,” I said, curling my arm gently around her. “How are your ribs?”
“They’re okay now,” she said. “I had plenty of time sitting on the toilet for the pain pills to kick in.”
“Weak stomach?” Apollo teased.
“Ribs wouldn’t allow me to stand,” she corrected him. “See you later, Apollo.”
“You’re not even going to wash your hands?” He chuckled.
“I didn’t touch anything. Though, maybe you’re right and I should.”
“Nah.” I guided her out of the room. “You can wash your hands when you get ready for bed at my place.”
Nettie met me at the mouth of the bathroom hallway and asked, “Are you going home?”
“Yes,” she answered. “I’m exhausted.”
“Can I come by tomorrow morning before I leave?”
That last part was directed at me.
“Absolutely,” I answered. “You’re welcome any time.”
An hour later, I was in my kitchen scanning the contents of my refrigerator, wondering where all the ice cream had gone.
