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I closed my eyes. As much as I didn’t want to bring him into this, I suddenly needed him in it. I wanted him with me. He would know what to say. What to do. I was sure of it.
The flight attendant opened the door and I stood to pull my luggage from overhead. The plane was small. I exited onto the staircase and walked across the jet way.
A man in front of me dropped his scarf. I stooped to pick it up for him.
“Thank you.” He smiled.
“No problem.” I stopped in front of the retractable doors. I didn’t want to go inside. I didn’t want the nightmare to begin.
Because that’s exactly what was ahead of me.
Chapter Twenty
There was a slight hum inside the airport. There were a few people milling around. It wasn’t far from the gate to the baggage carousel. In only a few steps I would face my father again. A man I hadn’t spent time with in close to a year.
Damn it, Garrett. Damn you for making me do this.
I often wondered if life would have been easier if my father had moved away instead of remaining in town after the divorce. He owned a cabinet business. It was unrealistic to think he would sell the company or try to move it to another location.
And my mom? What ties did she have to New Bern? She made the argument she couldn’t leave because of Garrett and me. But we had been adults far too long to latch on to that last thread of an excuse.
It was her enabling that allowed him to stay on this road. As long as she fed into Garrett’s needs, he would never truly be healthy.
The doors closed behind me. I walked through the terminal angry and bitter. Scared for my brother. Resentful that I had flown here under the most impossible circumstances.
His hands were stuffed in his pockets. I didn’t know why he still wore that floppy golf cap. In a small town like this it had become his signature look.
“How was the flight?” He walked toward me.
“Hi, Dad.” It felt strange to move in for a hug, but I put my arm around him. It was an automatic response.
“I parked by the curb.”
“What about security? Can you do that?”
He waved his hand. “They won’t tow me.”
I pushed down my anger at his arrogance. He didn’t think rules applied to him. Even laws regarding travel security. Maybe in a small town like this he could get away with walking away from his parked car, but anywhere else he would be questioned and his car towed.
I followed him outside.
I stared at the sports car my father walked toward.
“This is yours?”
He patted the top. “She is. I’ve always wanted one.”
It was two-door and red. I pushed the passenger seat forward so I could place my bags in the backseat. I climbed in to the leather upholstery. The engine started with a purr.
“Where are we going first?” I asked.
“Wherever you think we can find your brother.”
“We’re doing this together?” I sounded stunned.
I hadn’t gotten any sleep since he awakened me. My eyes burned. I needed coffee.
“We need to start looking for him. What do you suggest?”
