Page 13 of Freedom to Love

Kat leaned back and stared out the windshield at a darkening afternoon sky. Brynn had been the one to call and check on her; she was almost certain of it. It sparked warmth inside her, and she was desperate to know how she was, where she was. But Murph knew little, which meant Brynn was hiding out. She had an idea where, but she was too tired to think about it. Too weak to focus.

“She saved my life,” she whispered and Murph drove on, to where, she didn’t know, and at the moment, she didn’t care.

Kat awoke as Murphy pulled in her driveway. She was groggy but still insistent, this time about Damien.

“I want to see Damien.”

Murph sighed. “Another time, Kat. You can hardly walk as it is. Isn’t it enough that I brought you home?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just simply killed the engine and opened his door.

“Then tell me what you’re hiding.” Kat closed her eyes, fought light-headedness, and before she knew it, she was startled at Murph opening her door.

“Jesus, Murph, you’re like a ninja.” She waved him off and did her best to rise from the car. But halfway up she needed help, and Murph eased her to a stand without saying a word. She thanked him, hating that she needed the help. They headed toward the driveway door, Murph guiding her carefully while carrying her belongings.

“You just need to rest. I’ll keep you updated on Damien. Right now, there’s nothing new to report.”

Behind them, a Chrysler 300 pulled in with Margie behind the windshield.

“You called her,” she said, knowing Murph all too well.

“You shouldn’t be alone.”

“Says who?” But truthfully, she was grateful. She loved Margie, and Margie was an even bigger softie than Murph. Margie would be her ticket to Damien.

Kat turned again as another vehicle pulled along the curb. A news van. People spilled out, and a reporter was running straight for her. Thankfully, Margie headed her off, giving Murph time to unlock the door and help Kat inside. Immediately, she smiled and called for Gunner. When he didn’t come, she felt her face fall and her stomach tighten.

“Where’s my dog?” She looked to Murph and then Margie who entered and locked the door behind her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, reading her face.

“My dog. Where is he?”

They looked at each other in silence.

“You don’t know?”

Kat tried to brace herself, but she was falling fast, and Margie and Murph helped her to her living room chair. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. Her heart was racing and she was sweating again. She desperately needed a pain pill, but she knew she wouldn’t take it. She’d rather bite through the pain than have an opioid in her system.

“Maybe a friend has him?” Margie said.

Kat opened her eyes, Brynn Williams face in her mind. She’d asked Brynn to take him, but had she really done so? Was she a woman of her word? Would she really risk everything to come get Gunner?

“I’m sure that’s it,” Kat said, no longer wanting to sound alarmed. She needed to talk to Brynn on her own to find out for sure. If she had been nice enough to care for Gunner, she didn’t want her to suffer any trouble for it.

“I can make some phone calls,” Murph said. “Go and get him.”

Kat stood. “No. I mean, thanks, but I got it. Maybe a couple of days without him would be best right now. I’m not moving so well.” She forced a smile.

She shuffled through her home, curious about Brynn’s presence. What had she thought when she’d walked through? Where all had she gone? The living room was undisturbed and decorated in lakeside country charm with nautical blue walls, a cream-colored Clausen sofa, and sun washed tan grand chair. The reclaimed barn wood floors were antique softwood white. Her rug was Safavieh vintage turquoise. And most of her accents were beach woodcrafts she’d found on her visit to the coast. She loved decorating her home, and she found herself secretly hoping that Brynn had liked what she’d done. She continued to walk through, running her fingers lightly across her furniture, her thoughts lost in Brynn Williams and the idea of her presence.

She eyed the table in her kitchen and the last pile of mail she’d received. And her sink held a dirty coffee mug and a plate where she’d last had her egg whites and toast. She should’ve tidied up better, but she had been running late that morning, unaware that her life would be shortly changed forever.

Murph took her walking around as her needing something, and he searched her distressed white cabinets for a glass and poured her some juice. She waved it off, asking him to leave it on the table for later and headed for her bedroom. She knew it seemed silly, but thinking of Brynn in her home drew her there, and she stood and stared at her white duvet, blue distressed dresser and night table, and the large abstract painting she had hung above her bed. A half-empty bottle of water sat on her nightstand, along with a small stack of romance novels. Her skin warmed as she thought of Brynn thumbing through them. Not many people in town knew she preferred women to men, and she wondered what someone like Brynn would think. The thought stirred her inside in a way that she’d never felt before. Brynn possibly knew her secret. What would that mean? And how had it moved Brynn? Kat searched her mind, but she couldn’t come up with a reasonable answer. She couldn’t recall Brynn dating—ever. What did that mean? And more importantly, why did she care?

“Everything okay?” Murph asked, entering the room, hands in pockets. Despite trying to sound casual, he still looked worried. God bless him.

“Yeah,” she breathed. “Great.”

“I feel really bad about Gunner. To be honest, I forgot you had him.”

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