I wetted my lips. “She needs to be feed and watered every day. Played with?” These things were obvious, but he was always gone, always working. I had hesitance I should even be putting out these instructions. I should take my puppy and say to hell with all this.
But then Hershey went over to Dad. She knew him and was letting him take her. He picked her up, rubbing her head. “I know. I had a dog as a boy.”
That surprised me, very surprising about him. I supposed he was a kid once though. I picked up my bag, tossing it over my shoulder. My next move was to pet Hershey, which I did before leaving. I took the stairs in quick time, and Royal stood up the moment I came into the living room. Rosanna was there too, but she held back anything she wanted to say. She simply took Royal’s and her dishes, her smile faint on me before removing herself from the room and the situation. I felt bad I was clearly causing her worry as well, not my intent. I was trying to do something after leaving this room, this town. I needed to know some things.
Those things all remained concealed with the person Rosanna left in this room, Royal when he approached my dad and me. He’d changed out of his suit, in a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt that formed tight over his biceps and shoulders. We’d stopped at his house for some things too, and he rubbed his hands, staring over my shoulder at my dad. “Mr. Lindquist. Hello, sir.”
Dad appeared at my side with my puppy in his arms. He placed Hershey down, and right away, she padded over to Royal. The large boy instantly dropped to a knee, always a fan of her. He made her do her dog smile when he ran his large hands all over her head and face. Her affection caused him to smile too, and he had such a nice o
ne of those. He really didn’t do that a lot, more pain I saw through his eyes than anything. He’d been through a lot, most of which I probably would never know. He kept a lot of himself away, even now after we’d gotten together.
Dad and I were silent, watching as Royal played with the dog that always saw something in him. Hershey loved him, even before I knew I did.
Dad shoved his hands in his suit pockets. “So, December tells me you’re going on some kind of road trip? You know it’s a school night, Royal.”
Royal rose, and coming to my side, he folded a hand behind my arm. “Yes, sir. I do. Trip shouldn’t take very long. We’re going to Corrington Meadows.”
“Corrington Meadows?”
Dirty blond hair crossed over his eyes with his nod. “Yes. Going to pay our respects. For Paige, you know?”
I physically had to keep my breath from expelling. He hadn’t told me we were going there, and honestly, at first listen, I hadn’t made the connection.
We’re going to pay our respects…
My sister had been found in Corrington Meadows. She’d been found there, and that’s how all this began. All too soon, I felt Royal’s hand brace my arm, tucking me back into him. He was holding me tight, keeping me close…
So obviously to keep me upright.
In his own daze, this went unnoticed by my dad, the man playing over the information himself behind his eyes. With this new info, I just knew he’d resist. He’d fight even more on top of his issues with Royal.
Dad dampened his lips, but broke out of his haze at a nudge to his shin. Hershey was trying to get his attention, nudging him. Getting on her hind legs, she pressed paws to his leg, and my dad hunkered down, picking her up. Dad’s jaw tightened. “So if I make a call to the school… forty-eight hours would be good for a trip?”
I stared up, to his eyes. He was serious, and just as much as he stood there before us.
Removing his hand from my arm, Royal placed his together. “I believe that would be appropriate. If it takes any longer…”
“I’ll text,” I came in with.
Dad swallowed. “You’ll call.”
“I’ll call.” The least I could do with him being so cool about this, taking Hershey.
With a nod, Dad cleared the doorframe for us, and Royal, the gentleman he was, took my bag off my shoulder. He gave Hershey a little pat, and after I did too, the pair of us passed my dad. Dad followed us into the foyer, watching on as Royal opened the door for me.
“Make sure you take care of her, Royal.”
Royal turned at the door, lifting his chin. “Will do, sir. I’ll take real good care. I promise.” Royal started to go but faced Dad again after stepping a foot outside. “That’s a nice ride you have out there. Is it new?”
I hadn’t noticed Dad pull up in anything different but when I gazed outside to the driveway a sparkling blue Aston Martin was parked next to Royal’s sleek Audi. It must have been new. I’d never seen it.
Dad cradled Hershey. “It is new, but it’s going back. It’s a gift, but I’m not accepting it.”
Must have been a good friend to give him something so nice. I faced Dad and noticed he exchanged a glanced with Royal, but Royal didn’t give much acknowledgment to it. Instead, Royal asked me if I was ready, and since I was, I started to follow him out. Dad touched my arm, but before I could speak on that, he slid something out of his pocket and into the purse on my arm.
“For protection,” he said. “Use it if you need to.”
Royal had stopped at the base of the house’s steps, but I didn’t think he’d heard Dad. Royal was waiting there, idle with my bag in his hands, and I looked at my dad. “I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry.”