Long Road Home (The Barker Triplets 4)

“Have you seen my mother?”

“Miss Callie just left to go meet someone, a friend…” He frowned. “Winnie? I think?”

“Right.” Marybeth sighed heavily. “Wednesday is cancer day.” She filled her cup with hot black coffee. “For as long as I can remember, Mama has been volunteering at hospices on Wednesday mornings. Her friend Winnie was just recently moved to one, and I know she’s been worried.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. She didn’t say.”

“Mackie. Grab some breakfast and go sit outside at the gazebo. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll see that annoying woodpecker you like so much.”

The boy jumped at that and grabbed a plate of French toast loaded with syrup, some grits, and even a piece of fruit, at his grandmother’s insistence. He rushed outside without another word. As soon as the boy was gone, Marybeth all but crumpled in front of him and sank to one of the chairs at the long kitchen table.

“Gabby’s in the hospital,” she said huskily, her words catching a bit. “The police called me not more than an hour ago, and Marshall dropped off Mackie and rushed out just as quick.” She stared dully at the mug in her hands. “She’s in Holy Mother, next parish over. Lord knows what she was doing there last night.” A cold, bitter laugh fell from her mouth. “What am I saying? We all know what she was doing and why she’s in the hospital. She overdosed in some back alley. She was half-dressed and…beat up.” Her chin trembled. “What is going to happen to my little Mackie?” Voice louder, she turned to Shane. “Why can’t Gabby see what she’s giving up? Why are those drugs more important than that sweet little boy out there and a husband who would do anything for her?” Her whole body shook as she wailed. “Why don’t we matter?”

Shane set down his mug and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. This was heavy and awful and heartbreaking.

“Marybeth, your daughter is tangled up with a monster that doesn’t give a crap about anything or anybody. It has tentacles that dig in deep. They scratch away at the things a person loves and needs until eventually, that person isn’t the same one she was before. It’s a tough thing to break away from.” He searched for the words that might help. “Right now, Gabby doesn’t see anything but those drugs. She doesn’t want to feel anything but the high they give her, the high that takes away her pain.”

“But what pain?” Marybeth clenched her hands as her body jerked in anger. “She grew up wanting for nothing in a home filled with love. She never knew her daddy, so he was something she never missed, but she had me and Mama. Then she met Marshall, a man any girl would be lucky to be with, and she had that little boy out there, who is all the best parts of her. And I…” Her voice broke, and she turned from Shane. “I don’t understand.”

Shane hesitated for a few reasons, partly because up until a few days ago, he and Marybeth had been complete strangers. But the main one was because he wasn’t sure how to get his point across without insulting or hurting Marybeth. He decided the direct approach was best.

“This isn’t about you or Marshall or Mackie. You don’t have to understand why your daughter does what she does. Honestly, Gabby might not even know what it is inside her that feeds that monster. Right now, the best thing you can do is be there for her, judgment-free. Because trust me, folks with addiction get a lot of judgment thrown their way. We just have to hope that she’s stronger than the addiction, and in a perfect world, she would be. But I’m not going to sugar-coat the situation. I’ve had some friends who fell for the same monster that’s got Gabby by the throat. Some of them didn’t make it.”

Marybeth turned to him, her sad eyes huge in her pale face. “It’s not a guarantee she’ll get better.” It wasn’t a question and he saw the resignation in her eyes.

“I wish it were.” He glanced outside. “I can watch Mackie today if you want to go and be with your daughter. I don’t mind.”

“Would you?” Her relief was palpable.

“Anything to help. I can hang around here instead of heading out to the plantation. Maybe the kid will take me fishing.”

“Thank you. I know Marshall would like the support as well, and I know you’ve only been here a short while, and some folks might frown at the thought of me leaving Mackie here with you, but the need I have to be with my daughter is something fierce. I’m so grateful you’re willing to do this for me.” She surprised him with a hug. “You are a good man, Mr. Gallagher.”

Marybeth left after a word with Mackie, and Shane had his breakfast outside with the boy, patiently answering the one hundred and one questions the little guy had about his motorbike. He promised to take him for a ride around the block after they cleared it with his father, and when Mackie asked if he wanted to go frogging in the back creek, he did that too.

They spent nearly two hours catching frogs and then releasing them, because Mackie said his Nana Callie didn’t like them for eats, and then they had a walk uptown and a visit to the pet store. It was nearly lunchtime when they got back to the B and B, and by then, his little charge was hungry.

Mackie pushed open the door to the house and waved for Shane to follow. “I’m so hungry, my bones is hollow.”

Shane didn’t bother to hide his smile. The kid was bright and inquisitive, and he sure had a way with words.

“Well, that’s good to hear, young man, on account I just laid out some cold meats and cheese and some fresh bread.” Coral moved out of the way so they could walk past her into house. “And there’s fresh peach cobbler for dessert.”

Mackie perked up a that and started off for the kitchen

“Make sure you wash your hands, and the cobbler is dessert, not the main course,” she said after him before turning to Shane. Her expression no longer light, she spoke in hushed tones. “Miss Callie got back not more than ten minutes ago and rushed right off to the hospital.” Coral glanced toward the kitchen, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “She said things don’t look too good for her granddaughter. I swear my heart is just about breaking for all of them.”

Shane’s heart sank at the news as he followed the older woman into the kitchen. Mackie was already dug in eating, and Shane took a moment.

“You hear anything from Bobbi Jo?” he asked quietly, eyes on the boy even as his ears were tuned to Coral.

“I talked to her early this morning, and she’s due back some time this afternoon.”

His mouth tightened, and he didn’t bother to respond. What the fuck?

“I take it you haven’t.”

“Nope.”