“Sure.” I hear him pull in a breath, imagine him bracing for the answer to the question he’s about to ask. “You planning on driving somewhere?”
“No.” My reply is short. Sharp. And I drag in my own deep breath before continuing. “A friend needs it.”
Laughter rumbles in my ear. “Okay, who is this and what have you done with my nephew?”
“Funny.” In spite of myself, I smile.
“No. Seriously, Felix, you don’t have friends. You have online acquaintances you’ve never met in person, but friends? Nope. None of those since high school.”
“What do you know about Riley Rose?” I change the subject even though I know it gives away who I want the truck for. “She lived in Winter Lake with her aunt.”
“Name sounds familiar but I can’t recall?—”
“Her aunt’s name is Bethany. Or was, she died a few weeks ago.”
“Bethany Sanders?”
“I’m not sure. Riley has lived with her since she was a toddler.”
“Oh, yeah, I think I know who you’re talking about. Her parents died in a freak accident on the mountain when she was no more than a baby.”
“Maybe.”
“Why are you asking about her?”
I’ve never lied to my uncle and while I want to because I’m worried he’ll head over here or ask how she came to be here, I can’t keep her presence a secret. “She here. With me.”
The silence over the line is so complete I pull the phone away from my ear to check we haven’t lost connection.
Bringing it back, I explain, “Bethany’s son, Warren, dropped her off here yesterday afternoon.”
“And you didn’t call me?”
Uncle Granger knows how much I hate visitors and before he goes off half-cocked, I rush out, “I knew she was coming.”
“You knew…” I can easily imagine the exasperated, confused look on his face as he shakes his head. This isn’t the first time I’ve shocked him with my actions, although I haven’t done much in recent years.
“It’s a long story,” I continue. “One I don’t want to get into now.”
“Do you want me to come get you? Get her?”
“No, I’m okay.We’reokay.”
“I can be there in ten. Back here in twenty.”
“No need. But thanks.”
“Will you tell me what’s going on?”
“Soon. When this storm moves on, bring the truck over and we’ll tell you everything.” I need to sort things out with Riley before I tell him anything else. We both expected her to stay, sure we had different ideas of what that stay would be like, but the outcome was the same. Riley living with me.
“I’m going to worry until then.”
“I’ll check in morning and night.”
“Make sure you do.”
“Talk late?—”
