On that note she backed out and drove through the neighborhood to the main street leading to the freeway. Claire had no intention of going to her parents’. As long as she had this much time off, she’d take the more scenic route to Houston on 290 and see the layout of the two companies she could work for.
She’d been to Houston quite a few times over the years, but never dreamed she might be working there. While she was at it, she’d look at a couple of neighborhoods. She had to start paying down her student loan, but she still had enough money saved to put a down payment on a condo. Nothing fancy. Just livable and close to her work. Whichever company she chose, she probably wouldn’t be with them for more than four or five years before looking for something more challenging.
If she went with the job that would pay for her to get her PhD, she’d need to find housing that was equidistant to the university and the company.
Once she reached Houston, she used the GPS to find the addresses and spent the next two hours driving around, making notes. But she couldn’t summon even a modicum of enthusiasm for any of it. Her heart was too heavy.
At seven thirty she stopped for a hamburger and filled up with gas before driving back to Austin. The Friday night traffic was atrocious. By the time she entered the garage and saw Vic’s car, it was ten after ten. Her pulse picked up speed because she didn’t know what she was coming home to. Jeremy ought to be in bed, but today hadn’t been an ordinary day for him.
She reached for the diorama, then locked the car and entered the kitchen through the door from the garage. The house sounded too quiet. Claire put the diorama on the counter and went to the sink for a glass of water. When she turned around, she discovered Vic had walked into the kitchen.
He picked up Jeremy’s school project to inspect it. “I heard the garage door.” Vic spoke in a low tone of voice.
“Did it disturb Jeremy?” she whispered.
“No. He had another long crying spell before falling asleep.”
She bit her lip. “How did the session go?”
“I wasn’t asked to join them, but I received an email from Dr. King after I got home with him.”
Claire was almost afraid to hear what it said.
“She indicated that Jeremy wanted to talk about your leaving rather than the kidnapping incident. He’s angry with me, but she believes that feeling will pass. She’s made another appointment for next Friday, but she’s not overly concerned and told me that getting him a pet might provide a good distraction.”
“Did you tell him your plans for tomorrow?”
“Not yet. He was too upset to listen to me.”
She put a hand to her throat. “Maybe she’s not overly concerned, but I am.” In the next breath she told him about her conversation in the car with Jeremy after school. “I got the strangest feeling that he had a motive for wanting to go over to Nate’s house.”
Vic’s features looked bleak. “Explain.”
“I wish I could. Twice now he’s mentioned running away. We both know why, but maybe he’s more serious about it than we realize. You’d think that after the horror of the kidnapping, it would be the last thing he’d want to do.”
She felt his hard-muscled body stiffen even though they weren’t touching. “If it were anyone but you, I might not take it as seriously. You think he has a plan?”
“I don’t know, but I’m glad you want to buy him that miniature horse. Surely he wouldn’t want to run away when he’s got a new pet to take care of. Is it still for sale?”
He nodded. “I told them to expect us in the morning.”
“I’ll get up early to fix breakfast. Then you can tell him your surprise.”
“Let’s pray this works.”
“I haven’t stopped praying since the moment he didn’t come running out to the car on Monday.”
She looked away, consumed by guilt because the fact that she was leaving their household had brought on this latest crisis. But Vic had no intention of supplying the solution that would turn everything around. Because he’s not in love with you, Claire.
Emotionally exhausted, she moved toward the hallway before looking back at him. “I can’t believe that was only five days ago. So much has gone on, it seems like we’ve lived a nightmare that has gone on for a century. It’s turned out for the best that your boss told you to take time off from work. Jeremy needs you desperately, as if you didn’t already know. Good night, Vic.”
* * *
VIC AWOKE BEFORE JEREMY. He’d slept in a sleeping bag on the floor near the door inside his son’s room. The possibility that his boy might take it into his head to run away in order to punish Vic was a sobering thought that had kept him awake for a long time. Claire had uncanny instincts. For the next week Vic intended to stay vigilant.
He got to his feet and carried the bag into his bedroom. Once he’d showered and shaved, he pulled on jeans and a T-shirt. As he left his bedroom he could hear voices coming from the kitchen. When he saw what Claire had put on the table, he realized she’d gone all out for his son.
Jeremy sat there enjoying his favorite Lucky Charms cereal. It was a treat he didn’t get to eat all the time, but today was a special day.