Page 102 of The Kidnapped

“Hey, you left your phone at home.”

Hollis turned to see Ripley, Kenna’s wife, approaching them.

“Shit. I did?” Kenna said.

“Yes. And now, I’m late for an appointment,” Ripley replied. “I called your office.”

“I’ve been out here and on stage before that. Sorry,” Kenna said. “And thank you for bringing it here.”

“We have Aaliyah’s game tonight, so if I didn’t, you’d have no GPS to get you there,” Ripley said. “Hi, Hollis.”

“Hi,” Hollis greeted.

“I could’ve printed directions,” Kenna replied, tucking the phone into the pocket of her dark-green pants. “And I’m sorry I’ve made you late. I’ll walk you out?”

“Fine. But you’re taking her for ice cream after, and I’m going home to soak in a bath for, like, an hour before you both run into the house.”

Kenna laughed and said, “We’ll pick up dinner and ice cream, and I’ll even get one for you.”

Ripley’s expression softened before she replied, “Two scoops.”

“Yes, dear,” Kenna said. “I’ll be right back, Hollis.”

“Bye, Ripley,” Hollis spoke.

“Bye, Hollis.”

???

“Ice cream?” Hollis offered when she walked into the house later, finding Raleigh on the sofa, working.

“Ice cream?”

“Yeah. I decided to stop off and get some. I got two different kinds since I don’t really know what kind you like.”

“I’m not picky. It’s ice cream,” Raleigh replied. “And she’s awake, if you want to say hi.”

“Yeah?”

“No ice cream for her, though,” the nurse said as she peeked her head out of the kitchen. “And I’ll be heading out soon.”

“None for Mom. Got it,” Hollis replied, sitting on the sofa next to Raleigh.

Raleigh leaned over then, kissed Hollis, and said, “You know you can kick me out, right?”

“What?” Hollis placed the white paper bag with two containers of ice cream on the coffee table.

“I’ve been staying here a lot.”

“So?”

“So, we just started dating, Hollis. I–”

Hollis’s phone rang, so she said, “Hold that thought.” When she looked at the screen, she saw the number she’d saved from the last time. “It’s my dad’s lawyer.”

“Should I give you some–”

“No, stay. I’ll just tell him the same thing I always do,” Hollis said, placing a hand on Raleigh’s thigh. “Hello?”

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