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All I can think of right now is Charlotte’s Web, and I’m clearly not going to be able to explain my train of thought. Grabbing the garbage bags and dropped gloves, he turns out the light, and we are plunged into darkness. In the dark as I blink to get my night vision back, I murmur, “This really was a pretty great date, Orion.”
Orion is already walking towards the car, unbothered by the transition from light to dark. Looking over his shoulder, he responds, “Thanks for the first kiss,” before walking to the car quickly.
Holy shit… this man. Blinking in surprise, I decide it makes perfect sense for someone that’s shunned emotional connection. This man is going to pull me through the wringer of emotions as we explore each other while looking for Lennon, and I’m not mad about it. Pieces of my heart also start to heal, the pieces that I thought Carrie had broken forever. A part of me really believed I deserved every moment of torture she gave me. I never saw it the way Orion presented it before.
Walking back to the car, deep in thought, I think about what the next few days will entail. It’s time to get my head in the game, every minute in the presence of my father will be a deciding factor as to whether or not I get to see my mother and possibly a glimpse at Lennon.
21
DEREK
Struggling not to pull the collar of my suffocating suit, I smile at the woman in front of me. She’s a politician’s wife, and has been telling me all about the importance of increasing reading competency in Kentucky schools. Miss Marcy is correct, all of this is super important, but all I can think about is surviving tonight.
I hate stuffy parties, especially when I can see my father’s smirk out of the corner of my eye when he sees who I’m speaking to. Miss Marcy is a talker, and I tend to get waylaid by them often.
Not that I was headed anywhere but the bar for a drink. I’ve been drinking soda water on the rocks to give the appearance of drinking because it looks odd not to at one of these things. The bartender probably thinks Grant Williams’ son is a recovering alcoholic. However, I’m not. I just want to have every advantage while I’m forced to be here. And a clear head is necessary.
“Derek, I’m having a benefit next week for the children of Trivet County Schools to raise money for the music program. It’s been shown that children who are exposed to music from an early age are more creative and perform better in school. Most of these schools are in poorer areas, and it would greatly benefit them. The reason I mention it is because your father hasn’t confirmed if he’s attending. Do you think you could help me with this?” Miss Marcy pleads and my smile becomes more real.
What better way to use my social media management position than this?My father will also fucking hate it. As she said, it’s for thechildren.If it’ll serve a good cause and piss off my father, I’m in.
“I’ll absolutely put this on his schedule,” I tell her saccharinely. “He told me just the other day how he was looking to add additional items to his platform when he runs for governor this upcoming term. I think this will fit nicely. Thank you for speaking to me about this opportunity.”
Miss Marcy stares at me as if I’m heaven sent, but I know my sins well. I’m merely using her as a pawn to put a little thorn in my father’s side. I’m also going to make sure he doesn’t duck out early. Excusing myself with a smile, I move towards the bar, which also gives me a good view of the room.
Raising the smaller camera I brought for this event, I zoom in on my father. He’s speaking intently to a group of men and they’re all nodding and smiling. Taking this for the good photo opportunity it is, I snap photos for his social media. While I dislike this job, I won’t half-ass this because any fallout will mean he’ll find a way to punish my mother.
I spent all yesterday deep diving into his competition and his social media, finding all of the skeletons, slipping them under the door of his office when I was done.
Watching my father move through the crowd, I refill my drink with the bartender.
“I haven’t seen you at one of these,” the bartender says with a grin.
Shrugging, my eyes canvas the room before returning to his. “I was working another job, and my contract ended,” I lie. “So I came home to help my father with his campaign.”
Keeping details on the light side, I turn the conversation towards him. By the time I receive my drink, I know he’s in college and working to help with expenses. The entire time, I’ve been watching my father to make sure he doesn’t leave without me seeing.
Why am I so worried? Orion realized this would be a good time to break into my father’s office at the house. I interrupted him when he went to set the alarm by reminding Dad to grab something he needed for tonight, and then he walked out the door and reminded me to lock the door behind him.
It also helps that we would have been late if we didn’t leave at that moment. Timing was just in our favor.
There are many reasons why I need to keep my father out of the house. Drew is schmoozing and chatting with people, so I’m not necessarily worried. But Greg is trying to hack into Dad’s computer tonight too, so while Orion is going through paperwork in my father’s office, he’s plugging in a drive that’ll allow Greg easier access to his computer system.
We can only hope it’s connected in some way to the hospital or his work computer. However, my father is a sly fox most days, and probably has everything separated out. If we can’t find anything tonight, we’ll have to wait until Monday when I go see my mother.
The hurry up and wait pattern we’re stuck in is making me crazy. All I want is to get Lennon and my mother out of that damn hell they’re in, and I’m stuck.
“Have a great night,” the bartender says, and there’s a slight hint of malice in his eyes that appears and disappears so quickly that I can almost convince myself I imagined it.
This whole place never fails to amaze me in the worst of ways.
Making sure I have a neutral expression on my face as I dismiss the bartender, I walk over to my father who is speaking to Drew. The fucker is still living in our guest room, which is why tonight was the best time for Orion’s break in. Just because he set up the alarm and all of Dad’s security, doesn’t mean he didn’t change all the pass codes the moment he was able to.
My father is fucking paranoid. While it keeps him ahead of the law and he looks like an upstanding citizen, it’s unhelpful for our sleuthing.
“There you are, Derek. Have you been making the rounds then?” my father asks.
Nodding, I drop my mini bomb and networking results on him. “I did, Sir. Mr. Kilpatrick would like to make an appointment with you this week to talk about your experience with farming and how you’re going to help them when you run. And Miss Marcy would like you to confirm your attendance to the benefit she’s put together for children’s education in her county. It’ll look great for optics on your image if you attend as well, and I can spotlight it in your social media pages,” I explain gently.
