She nodded. “Yes, we’re here.”
“I need to take the rental car back and get to the airport.”
“Want me to go with you?” she offered.
“That’s ok. But thank you.”
I stood to hug her. She seemed frail in my arms. I wondered how much of Garrett’s illness had worn the weight from her limbs. She was thinner than I had ever seen her. She smelled like vanilla. She kept a jar of hand crème next to her bed. It was the same scent she had used since I was old enough to sneak in her room and dab it on my arms.
I let go and looked at her.
“He’s going to be ok, Mom. We all are.”
“I know. I know. Call me when you land in D.C.?”
“I will.” I took my suitcase through the garage entrance.
Thirty minutes later I was in the New Bern airport, waiting in the terminal for my flight home. I left Vaughn a message, explaining that I had found Garrett and was headed back to D.C. I pr
ayed his business trip was over and we could spend the night together. If there was one thing I needed more than anything else in this world after the past two days, it was him.
I tucked the phone in my bag and watched the passengers gather in the picked and worn seats around me.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Uber deposited me on the sidewalk. The driver popped the trunk and I walked to the rear of the car for my bag. My phone buzzed at the same time I dug in my purse for my keys.
I read the text from my father.
Did you make it back?
Just got here
Glad, kiddo. See you in a few weeks.
He was referring to Thanksgiving. It wasn’t much. But it was something. A crumb. A morsel that showed he cared. He was thinking about me now and making plans for the holidays. It was more than I’d had from him before.
I tugged on my suitcase as I reached the top floor of the brownstone. I exhaled. Home.
A place I had made a sanctuary. It wasn’t only an escape from the memories of New Bern, it was a haven for my future. For everything that was ahead of me.
I slipped the key in the lock and realized it was already open. I pushed the door, kicking it out of the way for my bags. I was starving. I thought I might have a box of pasta in the cabinet. At least some rice I could cook.
“Greer?”
She rose from the sofa slowly. Her face stained with tears.
I looked on either side of her. She was surrounded by men in suits. Tall men. Serious men.
“Emily,” she whispered, choking back a sob.
“What’s going on?”
I tried to piece things together, but they quickly spun out of control. I couldn’t grasp it. I couldn’t assemble the fragments fast enough. I could sense her pain and fear. I tried to reach for her. I couldn’t find her. They shuffled me to the right and left. The black suits flanked me.
“Just stop. Stop,” I pleaded.
One of the men grasped my elbow, pulling my arm to my back before taking the other one. I heard the clicking sound of metal. Did he have handcuffs?