“Not really. If I remember correctly, what you did is you got in your car and drove all the way to Louisiana to pull my head out of my ass. You and only you knew the buttons to push to make me wake up and take a cold, hard look at myself. And you stayed with my parents while you were there, even waiting until I showed up as proof that you’d been successful in getting your point across. You said ‘I wish you well,’ and went on your way.”
Cristie’s eyes had shifted from their beautiful brown to the gold of her Panther as she glared at him. “You renounced me,” she said accusingly, through clenched teeth.
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did!” she yelled.
Remi shook his head. “I did not. I was floundering. I crawled in a hole and pulled the hole in after me. I cut everyone off. I never once said the words, I renounce you. Not one single time.”
“I told you I was leaving and you had a limited time. You never came to see me.”
“Exactly. Hole. Pulled it in after I crawled in it.”
“That was your chance. It’s no longer an option.”
“I disagree.”
“Why would you doubt my boundaries?!”
“Because you came and pulled me out of that hole.”
“Your head out of your ass,” she corrected.
“Same thing. Anyway, you came to pull me out of the hole I’d dug after I didn’t come see you when you said you were leaving. You made another trip especially to save me.”
“So?!” she demanded, both hands coming up in question, one holding her Stanley cup full of coffee.
“So, no one does that for someone they’ve completely written off. You still care, or you wouldn’t have bothered.”
“I didn’t want to see Uncle Daniel and Aunt Avaleigh hurt by your self pity.”
“I thought about that, but I decided to tune that possibility out.”
Cristie’s eye started twitching again.
“Anyway, I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere any time soon. Uncle Riley granted me sanctuary, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do for permanent work yet, but for the moment, I’m helping Richie, so I really need to get back to work.” He looked at the coffee in her hand and realized she didn’t have a breakfast sandwich in the other. “You want a sandwich? You forgot to get one from the store. Sausage, right? You always liked breakfast sausage better than bacon.” He grabbed a croissant and slicedit open. He put a sausage patty on it, then soft scrambled eggs and slice of cheese before wrapping it in foil and pressed it into her other hand with a smile. “I wasn’t lying, it’s really good to see you again. Maybe later we can grab dinner and try to talk a little.”
Cristie vigorously shook her head back and forth as her mouth bobbed opened and closed as she searched for the right words that just wouldn’t come. “No!” she finally blurted out.
“Well, maybe after dinner.”
“You won’t be here!” she yelled, as she spun on her heel and headed for the swinging doors that would lead her from the kitchen back into the dining room.
“Sure I will! Just let me know when it’s convenient. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be hanging around here or there.”
“You’re leaving! I’m going to speak to my father right this instant!”
“Don’t you need to go to the animal hospital, though?” Remi asked.
“Stop knowing things about me!” she shouted angrily as she stomped out of the restaurant and made a beeline toward the house.
~~~
“Aw, shit,” Riley cursed, glancing out of the kitchen window on the side of the house that looked out over the parking lot between the house, the restaurant, and store.
“What’s wrong?” Maia asked.
“She’s coming back.”
