But when I called, Hunter didn’t pick up.
“Hi, Hunter,” I said to the voicemail, trying to keep my voice steady. “I was just calling to see how you were. And I am so sorry about what happened. I’m working with the FBI to make sure that your father is put away for a long time. I love you. Please call me back.” I hung up.
“Maybe he wanted to pick up but couldn’t get to the phone,” I said, chewing on my lip.
I dialed him again. It went straight to voicemail.
“Hunter,” I pleaded, starting to cry. “I really love you, and I’m sorry, and I want to have a life with you. Please forgive me! I’ll do anything.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Kate said, grabbing the phone from me and disconnecting the call.
I snatched it back from her.
“Don’t you dare!” my friend warned.
I blocked Kate and redialed. “Hunter, please call me back!” I shrieked.
“I’ll buy you cheese fries if you give me the phone!” Kate bribed, trying to steal it from me.
“Hunter, I love you.” I wailed into the phone.
“I’ll have them put chili on them,” Kate wheedled, “and give you an extra side of cheese sauce.” She waved my whiskey glass at me. “Gimme the phone, Meg.”
I handed it over and wiped the snot from my nose.
Kate ended the call.
“I messed up my only chance at a happily ever after,” I cried, sinking to the carpet.
“You don’t know that,” Kate said, patting my shoulder soothingly.
“I do,” I said sadly. “He’s right. I would never forgive him for endangering my sisters. And he’s never going to forgive me.”
78
Hunter
Crawford and Remy returned late the next morning. It was a bittersweet welcome.
The kids all ran to them.
“You did it!” Otis said excitedly. “Dad’s in jail! He tried to kill Meg.”
Remy gave me a concerned look.
“Hunter went to try and save her,” Bruno said, “but she already had it under control, and then he almost got eaten by an alligator!”
“Just another day in small-town America,” I told Remy with a forced smile.
“Between the attempted murder charge of an elected official and all the evidence from the compound,” Greg said smugly, “there’s enough to sink him. I already had a call with the federal prosecutor, and I told her under no uncertain terms that we would be pushing for the maximum punishment, his sentences to be served consecutively, and reminded her of how generous we have been to her reelection campaign.”
Nate tugged on Crawford’s jacket. “Did you find Enola? Or Annie?” he asked in a small voice.
Crawford’s eyes were sad, and his mouth turned down. “No,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”
“Maybe…” Arlo said, twisting his shirt. “Maybe they were hiding? Did you check in the caves nearby?”
“The FBI had dogs out there; I even called in some favors from some buddies of mine,” Crawford said.
