Page 78 of Kings Don't Break
Sydney seems to notice the woman’s tears a couple seconds later than I have. The man looks torn between being happy to see Sydney and comforting the woman named Ms. Baxter.
“Sydney, thought you disappeared,” Freddie says. “One day you were my waitress, the next day you were thin air.”
“Sorry about that. After Pop’s passing…”
“No need to explain.”
She frowns, reaching over to place a hand on Ms. Baxter’s shoulder. “Everything okay, Ms. Baxter? Where’s Teysha?”
The woman erupts in a fresh, heartbroken wail and new stream of tears. She buries her face in the handkerchief she’s clutching.
Freddie shakes his head. “It’s a difficult time, Sydney. Teysha’s… missing.”
Sydney gasps, her hands flying to her mouth. “Missing? You mean like…?”
“Taken,” Freddie says amid Ms. Baxter’s wails. “Right from the Sunny Side Up parking lot.”
The rest of us share glances.
Though we’ve got no idea who Teysha is, the news puts a damper on the rest of our lunch. Sydney takes the news hard. She spends most of the time up at the front engaging with Freddie and Ms. Baxter.
By the time we’re walking out toward the truck, she’s clutching missing person flyers she promises she’ll hang up everywhere in Pulsboro. Korine offers to help her.
I put my arm around her in the backseat of Mace’s truck in hopes I’m providing comfort. She mutters thank you and leans into me.
“For being there,” she whispers. Her fingers intertwine with mine in my lap and she snuggles closer.
We stay like this the rest of the ride home. Everybody in the truck’s in silent reflection. Mace peers ahead with his eyes on the road. Sydney clutches her flyers, and Korine seems to be thinking about how much my support means to her.
I’m thinking about all the things I’ve done to protect Korine—and all the things I’m willing to do should Stricklin ever come for her again.
17
KORINE
“Merry Christmas, Mama!” I stride into the bedroom full of energy. A mug of hot chocolate rests in one of my hands and Mama’s medication in the other. I set both down by the nightstand and then move on to prying the curtains apart.
Mama rubs her eyes, squinting at the pale morning light. “It’s Christmas? Oh, right. It is! I didn’t sleep through most of it, did I?”
“It’s a few minutes after nine. I woke you up so you can take your insulin and have some hot cocoa while we open presents.”
My vibrant energy doesn’t let up as I help her through the usual morning routine. Bathroom, medications, slipping on her robe and slippers.
“Morning, Blake!” Mama chirps when we emerge from the bedroom. If she suspects anything has started happening between the two of us, she doesn’t act like it.
Blake’s gaze slides over to mine before he looks back to Mama. It’s telepathic words we share as he picks up on how to behave. “Morning, Sunny. Hope you’re hungry. I’m making omelets.”
“A man who knows his way around the kitchen. How haven’t you been snatched up yet?”
I rub the back of my neck and feel the hot flush prickling over my skin. Thankfully, Blake manages to swoop in with his natural charm.
“Because I’ve been waiting on you, Sunny.”
Mama giggles, sneaking me a glance. “Boy, you couldn’t handle me. But I’ve got a beautiful daughter that’s single.”
“Mama…” I groan.
We move on from breakfast to unwrapping the few presents we’ve accumulated. I gifted Mama and Blake what I could afford—a spa bath set for Mama and new riding gloves for Blake. Both are as grateful as if I’d given them a big ticket item.
