“Probably has a headache,” Brantley chimed in, his tone somewhat amused. “And he wants his truck back.”
“It’s at a gas station on the interstate,” Toby mumbled.
Cindy sighed, recalling how Toby had insisted they dump the truck and steal another car. She’d managed to convince him that stealing wasn’t necessary when they could call an Uber. Of course, she hadn’t used her own account because that would’ve led everyone right to them, and she’d been hoping to protect Toby for a bit longer. At least until they could figure out how to safely get him out of this mess. So Toby had created a fictional one on the fly like it was a regular, everyday task he was used to. They’d had the driver drop them at the next cabin over, and they’d walked the short distance over to be safe.
“Hugh’s worried about you,” Reese noted.
A hot ball of remorse formed in her belly. “I know.”
“And Jensyn,” he tacked on.
Cindy met her son’s gaze and narrowed her eyes. “You can tell them both that I’m fine.” He could guilt her like the best of them, and the last thing she needed right now was any more piling on her head. When she woke up this morning, she certainly hadn’t expected to be kidnapped by a former lover.
Admittedly, when Reese had called to talk about Toby, she’d been intrigued. The man represented a good time in her life, a time that was filled with love and new experiences. Just thinking about him brought back memories of Thomas, and truth be told, Cindy still missed her husband fiercely. She’d learned to cope without him, but it hadn’t been easy. And while she genuinely cared for Hugh, knew he would make her happy for her remaining time on this earth, no one would ever replace Thomas in her heart. And because Toby was part of the time she’d had with Thomas, she didn’t mind the interruption to her regularly scheduled life.
Granted, the guns and the kidnapping, and the threat of violence weren’t something she was all that keen about, but they did add just a hint of spice to her mundane routine.
Not that she would admit that to Reese, or anyone else for that matter.
“So what’s the plan?” Brantley asked, glancing between them. “You won’t be safe for long. Certainly not here.”
Cindy watched her future son-in-law, saw the concern in his eyes. It wasn’t for Toby’s safety, she figured. No, his concern was for Reese, and ultimately her by proxy. From the day she’d been introduced to the man who had stolen her son’s heart, she’d known he was the very best of them. There was no doubt in her mind that he loved Reese with everything he was. Which meant he was along for whatever roller coaster ride Reese found himself on.
Including this one.
“The first thing we’re gonna do is get you back home where you belong,” Reese said, his tone rife with determination as he peered directly at her.
“I can’t argue with that,” Toby chimed in. “She shouldn’t be here.”
“Then why the fuck did you kidnap her?” Reese snapped.
“I have no excuse, other than I was desperate.” He peered up at Reese. “I needed something good in my life. Even if only for a minute.”
Cindy felt her heart swell with love for this man. Not the forever sort of love but an emotional one all the same.
“Something good?” Reese snorted. “And you’re not above taking by force if you have to, huh?”
“I wasn’t thinking,” Toby muttered.
“No,” Reese agreed. “You weren’t.”
Reaching over, she gripped Toby’s hand and squeezed. “We’ll figure this out.”
Toby glanced her way. “You do have to go home.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help them figure out a way to get you out of this.”
“Maybe it’s meant to be this way,” he said, his lids lowering, more defeat wrinkling his expression. “It might be easier just to let Sabrina take me out.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Reese declared. “We won’tletthat happen.”
She was surprised by his conviction, although she wasn’t sure why she was. Reese was a stand-up guy, a man any mother would be proud of. Then again, all her kids were. She liked to believe she’d played a part in making him that way.
“So what do we do now?” she asked, taking a deep breath, committed to doing whatever was necessary to get this day over with so she could return to her house and the man who loved her. Mundane though it might be, she still loved every minute of the life she’d built.
And truth be told, she got enough drama at school. This was a bit more than she’d bargained for.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
