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“So we can take him home?”
“I think so. I don’t know what the hold-up is,” he muttered with a curse. He glared at Linnea. “I also don’t know what blows my mind more—that Ulla has a daughter—or that Taylor ended up dating her! Did you know about this?”
Linnea chewed the pad of her thumb.
“Well!” he spat.
“Well, what! What difference does it make if I knew they were together. You honestly think we could’ve kept them apart?”
“Yes. I do. I would’ve threatened to cut him off or kicked him out.” He cussed again.
She hated Everett. She’d always hated so much about him, but this—this—is what she hated the most. His complete and utter lack of compassion for their son. “Fuck you,” Linnea whispered.
“What did you say?” He barked a dry laugh.
An officer came toward them with a stack of papers. “Take your son home, but don’t let him near the girl. We put a restraining order against him until they decide on charges. He’s getting ticketed for underage drinking and assaulting a police officer.”
“What!” demanded Linnea, trying to recall the blur of events. Of a police officer ripping Taylor from Analise as they put her in the ambulance. Had Taylor kicked him? She covered her face now, remembering the handcuffs after Ulla’s hysterical insistence that Taylor had intentionally pushed Analise. The only reason the cops hadn’t shoved her son into a squad car was because Everett promised he would get him to the station for questioning.
Everett snatched the paperwork. “This is bullshit.”
“He can stay in jail overnight if that’s your preference,” said the officer.
Linnea thanked the man with a tight smile. She entered the room where Taylor sat on the floor in the corner, his long legs outstretched in dust-caked, navy dress pants; his white oxford shirt was un-tucked and stained in blood. He rested his head against the wall with a dead stare.
She hesitated her way over and knelt. She touched his face. He didn’t flinch or acknowledge her. “Tay, honey, let’s go home.”
He shook his head, his voice eerily quiet. “I’m not going home. Take me to the hospital. You promised.”
“Sweetie, I’m sure Isa is okay. You saw it yourself—she was fine when they took her away.”
“No, she wasn’t.”
Linnea looked to Everett for help.
Taylor’s dad cleared his throat. “Get up. We gotta go home. You’re not seeing Isa. Ever. There’s a restraining order against you.”
“Like I fucking care!” Taylor yelled at his dad.
Linnea cupped her forehead. “Taylor, please.”
Everett jabbed a finger at him. “You’d better fucking care after ruining your cousin’s wedding. After what it might cost me to bail you out of any legal shit.”
Linnea whirled in gaping incredulity at Everett. She then turned back to Taylor, urging him to his feet. “Let’s go, we’ll get a cab. You don’t need this.”
Her son stayed rooted. He aimed his vitriol at her. “Is what her mom said true?”
Linnea linked her arm through his. “No, just come home, and I’ll explain everything.”
Taylor pushed her arm away and shifted his narrowed gaze between his parents before his eyes changed. His breathing took off. He fisted his hair and pulled his knees up. Another round of sobs wracked his body.
Everett swore and rolled his eyes. Linnea snarled at him, “Just leave!”
She reached for Taylor again, and this time, he did not push away her arms. They didn’t fit around his lanky adult body but were big enough to hold the small boy who clung to her, his cries echoing far beyond these four stark walls.
Part VI
From: Isa and Taylor
