Was Olivia taking his side or harassing him along with her friends?
It dawned on me that our last interaction had been in the car while on a chase when I’d been delirious with fever. I recalled his concern over my health. My biting words. Gale was insecure when it came to relationships and trust. He admitted he didn’t do well with hostility or confrontation. Was my comment enough to frighten him off? Make him second-guess us?
After five days in bed, I was stir-crazy and felt well enough to venture out of the house. I showered and dressed before slinking to the kitchen, where I found my mother making toast.
“You should be in bed.”
“I’m much better.”
“Oh. How’s your appetite?” She focused on unscrewing the peanut butter jar lid.
“Not hungry. I have to do some running around and check in with the guys.”
Stella sized me up and down. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes. For a bit.”
I waited for her to object, tell me I was too sick to go out, or underdressed for the weather. Instead, she ducked her chin and nodded. No comment. No protest. It was bizarre, but I didn’t question it.
When she slathered peanut butter on the toast and plated it, taking a bite from the top piece before setting it down, I asked, “Want to share a slice? I should eat something, right? Keep my energy up.”
She readily gave up the second piece of toast, a soft smile on her lips, but the sadness in her eyes remained.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“Of course, sweetie.”
“Thank you for taking care of me this week.”
She smiled, but it was weak. “I’ll change your bedding while you’re gone. Freshen up your room. Air it out.”
“I can do it later.”
“No, it’s fine. Gives me something to do.”
“Okay. I’ll be home in a bit.”
Stella sat at the table, her posture slumped. This was usually when she told me to text her, but she didn’t.
I tucked my concern away for later.
Oil Slick greeted me at the car, and I wondered if she’d been hanging outside the house all week, waiting for me to show my face. She meowed and weaved between my legs, as though giving me hell for my long absence.
“Hey, girl.” I hiked her into my arms, and we shared loving. “Don’t give me hell. I was sick. You could have gone to Lex’s or Noah’s. They would have fed you.” She head-butted me, and I laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I missed you too. I was heading out. Do you want to come for a car ride? It’s a long walk to Gale’s.”
Slick didn’t object when I opened the door and encouraged her inside. She wandered the front and back seats before settling on the passenger side and curling into a contented ball.
I aimed for the county road and Gale’s house as a thousand thoughts rolled around my head. I absently petted Slick, and she purred until she fell asleep.
Vern had updated me about their runs in Arkansas. The team had witnessed a tornado, and I was pissed I’d missed it. Vern called it a baby tornado, and his enthusiasm matched, so maybe it wasn’t anything glorious. I was still jealous. At least theaction would make Charles happy. I hoped they recorded decent footage.
It was midweek, so I wasn’t sure if Gale would be home. Apart from photography and his random escapes to multiple campgrounds, he didn’t have a nine-to-five job. I suspected he rarely left the house.
The Jeep was in the driveway, but another car I recognized was parked behind it. Lex’s. Why was Lex here? I debated leaving—my presence might raise questions and spark rumors—but the decision was taken out of my hands. Lex and Gale’s dad were huddled over a riding lawn mower near the barn and glanced up at my arrival.
“Are you waiting here?” I asked the cat.
Slick buried her face under a paw and seemed in no rush to escape.
