Page 51 of Into the Night

I’m pacing by my truck, trying to decide how much to explain about how I know Kali, when the porch light turns on, and a petite, dark-haired woman appears in the doorway. She folds her arms across her chest and stares at me, waiting. Not unfriendly, just cautious.

Suddenly nervous, I unlatch the gate and then close it behind me before I walk up the path.

She watches my every move as I get closer, taking me in from head to toe, with an assessing gaze.

“Evening, Ma'am.” I take off my hat and hold it in my hands, twisting it, round and round.

Her lips are pressed into a thin line, and I’m expecting her to tell me to clear off until she gives me a wry smile.

“I take it this is about our Kali. I suppose you better come in then.” She turns, leaving the door open for me to follow. “Jim, come downstairs. There’s someone here looking for Kali.”

Feeling like a teenager about to pick up a date for the first time, I follow her sheepishly inside. Adrenaline is still buzzing through my veins after my earlier discovery, so I’m already on edge. Shaking out my hands to get rid of some energy, I step across the threshold and wait in the hall as loud footsteps sound overhead.

“She doesn’t live here anymore.” Her astute gaze fixes on my grazed knuckles, which I hide by folding my hands together. “But you know that already, don’t you?” The resemblance is striking. Apart from the hair colour, Kali’s mother is her carbon copy besides some fine lines around her eyes.

Nodding, I try to look honest and trustworthy enough for them to share her location. “Yes, I met Kali when I moved to Sutton just recently. I’m the new ranger there.”

Scratching the back of my neck, I shift uncomfortably.

“Things were left badly between us before she went missing. My fault. And I know she’s still recovering, but I wanted to apologise in person, if I can find her.” I figure honesty is the best policy here. Chances are, she’s been cursing me to her mother, anyway. “She thinks we’re mates.”

Thud, thud, thud.

“And what do you think?” Kali’s mum asks, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

“This is all new to me. I only realised I wasn’t alone when I met Kali. But I do know that whatever we are, I don’t want to have messed it up for good.”

When the house practically shakes, curiosity gets the better of me, and I turn away from my conversation with Kali’s mum to check out her father, who’s making his way down the stairs.

Big is not an adequate word to describe the man in front of me. When he reaches the bottom step, the spacious hallway suddenly feels cramped.

“Griffin,” I say quickly, extending my hand to the mountain of a man currently looking down his nose at me, like he’s trying to decide whether to swat me like a fly.

“Jim, and this is my wife, Carol.” Jim’s meaty hand wraps around mine, and as he shakes it, feeling like my arm is going to pop out of its socket. “So, this is the guy.”

I freeze, my gaze travelling from Jim to Carol, who nods along with her husband, a grim set to her face, and then back to Jim again. He gives nothing away, just stares at me. Shit. Kali definitely told them about me.

“Let’s hear what he has to say for himself,” Carol says, resting a hand on her husband's arm, and then giving me a reassuring smile.

I feel like there’s a second half of that sentence that she’s not saying. Maybe along the lines of, let’s hear what he has to say for himself before you pound him into the ground.

Reluctantly, Jim waves his arm in the direction of the living room before picking up a walking stick that’s resting against the wall in the hall and then using it to help him lumber across the room awkwardly.

Carol lifts some piles of laundry off the couch and gestures for me to sit.

Jim settles his considerable frame into a large armchair and waits.

Clearing my throat, I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. I may as well just come clean.

“I screwed up. I don’t know what Kali told you, but I need to find her and apologise. Even if she refuses to give me a second chance, I need her to know how much I regret hurting her. And I have to see with my own eyes that she’s okay after the attack.”

Jim and Carol exchange another look before Carol sits beside me, her fingers playing with the faded apron she’s still wearing.

“She didn’t tell us anything.” Her eyes glisten, and I feel like absolute shit for dumping my problems on them, when they’ve just been through hell. But then Carol reaches out and grabs my hand. “Kali’s used to being on her own. This town has worn her down, but she’s gotten some of her spark back lately, and I’m glad she’s left to start a new life. Especially, if she’s found the one. She could do with someone in her corner.”

Carol smiles fondly at Jim, and I can feel the love between them. She’s proud of her daughter for picking herself up and dusting herself off. I am too.

“Was it the curse?” Jim’s deep voice booms out, veering the conversation into darker territory. “Because if you believe that stupid prophecy and treat my daughter badly because of it…” Jim’s chest heaves as he struggles for control, so Carol rests a calming hand on his knee as he looks away.

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