“In the flesh,” I joked, knowing she often reacted positively to humor.
“I can’t go in the car.” Her speech was slow, but I was patient. “The last time I went in the car, I got hurt.”
My mother sank onto the couch and started to cry.
“El, that was years ago. You’ve been in the car a lot since then.”
She looked at me, confused, and I knew she was trying to search for those memories inside her head.
“Come on,” I helped her to her feet and handed her a tissue, “I’ll take you to the appointment. I think Mom needs to stay home right now. Let’s just go, you and me.”
“Thank you, John.” My mother was beyond emotionally and physically spent. I wished so much I could do more, but I didn’t know where to start.
By the time I dropped my sister off back at home, it was late. Mom had finished making dinner, and Dad was out in the barn.
“Doctor said she was okay, just to watch her salt intake.” I dropped my sister’s pills on the table and kissed my mom’s cheek. “I’m going to check on Dad.”
I walked across the yard and into the red barn that sat a few yards from the house. It had been our favorite place growing up. Our parents had let us decorate the loft and turn it into a clubhouse. Over the years, it became our place to escape from the world of grownups, and now it was where my father came to escape what was happening in the house. I took the twenty-foot ladder three steps at a time and found him sitting on the edge looking out from the massive barn doors, feet dangling, head back, and beer in his hand.
The white twinkle lights lined the opening, giving a warm glow on chilly nights. Three hens cuddled together in the hay and clucked when I came closer.
“Hey, son,” he greeted me with as much warmth as he had inside of him. Lately, there wasn’t much left.
“Ellie’s appointment went well.”
“Good.” He looked away, but I saw the stress that deepened the crow’s feet around his eyes. His dusty jacket hung open, and bits of hay clung to his sweater.
“I can come by tomorrow if you want and help move the hay.”
“It’s all done. We finished up today.”
“Okay.” I tucked my hands in my pockets. “How’s Mom?”
“Hanging in there, I guess.” He tipped his beer back and finished off the rest of it.
My heart squeezed tight; we were not that kind of family anymore. There was a time we were happy and light and full of life. My father would drop anything he was doing for any of us at any time. Now we were zombies going through the motions of life with no end in sight. Mom carried her emotions on the surface, and Dad carried them deep in his gut. Both as checked-out, just in different ways. Which left me to be the floater. I helped out in any way I could, but I had a job—a very high-stress job. The fact that I loved it helped, but I just didn’t have time for anything else in life anymore. My job and my homelife were all I could handle.
“You want a beer?” Dad pointed to the box of beer. I knew I should get back, but I could tell he needed company.
“Sure.”
Chapter Six
Sloane
I checked the mirror one last time. My black sweater hugged me tightly, a soft V-neck, with a dark gray heavier knit that lined the cuffs. My dark slim jeans looked good with the gray suede booties. I admired the chunky high heel and thought John would approve.
My smile fell when I thought of how we had parted ways after our hike. The past two days, it wasn’t lost on me that he was avoiding me. Once again, I wondered what the phone call was that had so quickly changed his mood.
Threading a gold-leaf earring through my earlobe, I shrugged off the uncomfortable feeling that came with John. I had really hoped that we were connecting, but now he was once again incredibly guarded around me.
I grabbed my purse, headed downstairs, and checked my watch. Dell had mentioned he was heading into town today, and I was hoping I could hitch a ride with him.
“Morning, Sloane,” Daniel greeted me as he came in from outside. “Where are you off to?”
“Town, actually. I need to get out and thought I’d like to see what Redstone is all about.”
“Dell has just loaded some packages into the trunk if you’d like to go with him.”
“Yes, I would. Thanks.”
As I turned to leave, he spoke again. “I don’t need to remind you of the—”
“House rules?” Mia piped up from behind me. “You have my word, Daniel, that she knows the consequences.”
“Of course.” He smiled warmly. “It’s just a habit.”
“It’s a good one,” I agreed. “I promise.”
Mia pulled her hair into a ponytail as she joined me.
“Thanks, Mia. I appreciate the trust.”
“No problem. Enjoy yourself today.” She gave me a hug.
I found Dell closing the trunk and asked to go along, and he assured me he would be glad to have some company.
“Three checkpoints,” Dell explained as he held up an ID to a guard who scanned it before he waved us through. “In and out, we document everyone. The only time they don’t is when the chopper comes in to pick up Blackstone for a mission. That’s the one exception.” I nodded as he continued to explain a few more things.
Once we got to the open road then into the town, I felt better. I was excited to see what they had for stores and food.
“If you need anything mailed, there’s a UPS.” Dell pulled into a free spot. “I’m warning you, the chick who works there is insane, and I highly recommend that you don’t share you know Cole, Mike, or John.”
“Why?”
“Just ask Savi.”
“Ah, she’s jealous?”
“Understatement.”
“Okay, so, avoid the UPS. Got it.” I pulled my purse onto my lap.
“I’ll be a few hours, but if you need more time, Daniel will be coming back in town tonight, so he can drive you back if you want. You have my number, so just stay in touch.”
“Will do.”
Redstone was beautiful, and as I walked along the street, the most amazing smell of coffee drifted to my nose. I headed that way on autopilot. After a quick trip inside, coffee in hand, I window shopped for hours. I found the softest white sweater and matching Ugg boots. From there, I played around in a few Christmas stores and found my mother a sweet little ornament. It wasn’t until my stomach begged me to stop that I realized I was hungry. Hmm. I whirled around and backtracked to a restaurant I’d spotted earlier.
“Good evening, and welcome to Zack’s,” a young man greeted me as I stepped inside. “Table for…?” He waited for me to finish for him.
“One, please.”
I swore I saw his excitement.
“This is one of the best seats in the house. Zack, the owner, will be over to explain the menu to you. Can I get you something to drink?”
“A glass of Cab, please. Thank you.”
“Adam.” He pointed to himself.
“Sloane.”
After he left, I pulled off my coat and removed an iPad mini from my purse. I fired it up and waited for my email to open. Thirty-two new emails waited to be answered. I scrolled through the ones that weren’t important.