“Are you safe?”
“Yeah. I am. Where are you?”
“At your place. I came here with Mom to help out with Spike. She’s doing great. Went to sleep like a champ.”
“Thanks … for everything.”
“Of course.”
“Mia went to bed a while ago,” I say, looking at the clock on my dashboard. “What are you doing there now?”
“I’m waiting for you. I figured you might need to talk—or not.”
“You’re the best.” I turn the key and head out of the parking lot.
“I just love you, that’s all.”
“You don’t have to wait around for me. I’ll be okay.”
“And you’d leave my place if the shoe were on the other foot and I were coming home from a day like the one you just lived through?”
I laugh a tired laugh of surrender. “No. I would definitely not. I’d probably stay over.”
“Yep. That’s the plan.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you when I get home.”
“Okay. I’ll be here. Did you eat?”
“No. But I’m not hungry.”
“Broth and toast it is.”
I smile a weary but grateful smile. “Thanks, Ave.”
“Drive safely, mkay?”
“I am.”
We hang up and I stare into the darkness, picturing Greyson in his hospital bed. He’s probably conked out on pain meds right now. He’ll be home tomorrow.Playoffs. We have the Llamacorn playoff game and he won’t even be able to show up, let alone coach.
I pull up in front of my home and park. The porch light is on. I half expect Jonathan to be on his porch, watching me like he so often does, with a smile and a wave.
I open the door to Mom and Avery, curled on the couch together in their pajamas, watching reruns of a drama series we used to watch together.
“Oh, sweetie,” Mom says. “Bless your heart. You look like you got dragged behind a Chevy down a long country road.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Mom.”
“What a day for you,” she continues. “Do you want a shower?”
“Yes. I need one.”
“I’ll get your pajamas out and heat the broth and toast,” Avery says. “You just get in the shower.”
I start to tear up. I’d probably cry at the mailman bringing me junk mail right now.
I shower and change into the pajamas Ave laid out for me. Then I join Mom and her in the living room. A cutting board with a cup of broth and buttered toast is sitting on the coffee table in front of the empty oversized chair.
