“Oh, my God. Did they freeze all your accounts again?” She places a hand on her chest.
I smile and shake my head. “No, Mama. I just miss the work.”
“Praise be to God. I’ve been praying you’d find your passion again. Even before what happened, you’ve been a dull version of the woman I know you were meant to be. I know you said everything was fine. But I can’t help but wonder if something else went on.”
I reach across the table and grab her hand and look and meet my father’s questing gaze. “There was nothing else. I’m not a battered wife. The only thing I was hiding was discontent. I promise.”
She sighs, and I see the anxiety leave her chocolate-brown eyes. “Okay. I had to ask,” she says.
“We’re here for you whatever you need, Sweet pea. You know that, right?” my father says.
The self-doubt I see in his eyes is a mule kick to the gut. “I do know, Daddy. Pride is a sin for a reason. I didn’t want anyone to know my perfect looking family was anything but. He was never cruel before that night. He didn’t hit me or push me. We just drifted apart until oceans lay between us. I don’t know why he did what he did. I’m not hiding some deep dark secret that would make sense of this mess. I’m just trying to recover from it one day at a time. I have my good days, and I have my bad ones.”
“So this mess we hear around town about you dating the wrong kind of man is just gossip?” Daddy’s asks.
I glance at the ceiling and sigh. This is one thing I will never miss about life in a small town. Everyone knew everyone’s business.
“Some might look down on Jagger. He rides a motorcycle and belongs to a motorcycle club. They own quite a few business in San Mateo and the surrounding areas. Bars and Grills, Pawn shops, small places like that.” I decide to leave out the Strip Club and the Medical Marijuana Dispensary.
“You don’t think it’s a bit too soon to have a gentleman caller?” my father asks.
“I did. We were friends first. We liked to go to different local restaurants together. Then we found we enjoyed our time together so much we branched out to doing other things like hiking or going to amusement parks. Before we knew it, we were dating. I thought about waiting, because like you said, it seemed soon. Then I thought about how all the worries, caution, and proper etiquette did nothing to save me from Brooks. Tragedy comes for us all regardless of how many rules we follow. I trust Jagger as much as I can trust anyone these days. We have fun, and he treats me well. It’s new, and we’re still figuring things out. That’s why I haven’t mentioned him yet. That’s all I have to say about the topic really.”
My mother frowns but holds her tongue when Daddy shoots her a look. He’s always been a fan of allowing me to make my own decisions.
“That’s good enough for us. I knew James was a windbag. He and that sharp-tongued Harpie of his, have been doing everything they can to paint their over indulged murderous son of a bitch son into a better light. If they had told the brat no and tanned his hide a few times growing up, he wouldn’t be this way.”
My jaw drops. A godly man, I can count the number of times I’ve heard my daddy cuss.
“Daddy! Virgil,” My mother and I chime.
“A man has his limits too,” he mumbles, standing from the table. “I’m going to enjoy a smoke on the front porch before I call it a night.”
“I think I’m going to get ready for bed too. All that driving has tuckered me out.”
“Okay, baby, sweet dreams and we’ll see you in the morning.”
I kiss her cheek on the way to my room. My phone vibrates. I pull it from my pocket and frown. It’s a California number I don’t recognize it. Maybe Jagger is calling from the club?
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Birling?”
“Yes,” I say trying to place the smooth alto.
“This is Detective Russel.”
“Oh, God. Did you get him?” I ask. Excitement and fear slam together to make a gravity altering cocktail. I stumble in the hallway and lean against the wall. My body trembles and my legs weaken. I dig my heels in and balance my weight to remain standing.
“No, Ma’am. We’ve received an anonymous tip. He was allegedly spotted in San Diego. We think maybe he’d been hiding in Mexico and crossed back over to the United States.”
“Oh, My God.”
“We can send an officer by your home if you’d like.”
“Um. No. I’m not there. I’m actually on vacation in Tennessee.”
“That’s probably for the best. This could be a wild goose chase, but I always prefer to be safe rather than sorry, so I wanted to warn you to be extra cautious. I’ll have some men patrol in your area to keep an eye on your place. I also want you to contact me when you return.”