Page 100 of Love Takes Home

I do as he asks, blowing a big breath out. It helps a little, but I’m so keyed up, I’m not sure anything could stop this.

“Better?”

“Not really.”

He chuckles. “Can you wait for me?”

“No. I have to go. Please understand that I have to see this with my own two eyes. I have to be there before anything else happens. I need you to understand.” I hear my voice quivering, the emotion taking over.

“Your cello was there, wasn’t it?” he asks gently.

“One of them. My Eastman.”

“I’m so sorry, Gin.”

“It’s not your fault, but I have to go.”

“I understand, but be careful.”

“I will.”

“And call Joker and let him know?”

“He’s my next call.”

I hang up with Tiny and call Joker. He answers on the first ring.

“You know, everybody answers on the first ring, but nobody is actually available,” I say, not even waiting for him to say hello.

“What’s wrong?”

“My classroom has been destroyed. Roger called. Everything is gone.”

“Oh, Beautiful, I’m so sorry.”

“I have to go.”

“How far away are you?”

“Five minutes. How close are you?

“I’m twenty minutes away. I need you to wait for me.”

“How are you so close?”

“We finished faster than I thought. Daniel has the family in his SUV. I’m riding with Aiden. We’ve already adjusted course and are heading directly to you. Ginny, I need you to wait for me.”

“Joker, please understand that I don’t think I can.”

“Virginia.”

“Harrison.”

“Baby, I know how important this is, but please, wait for me.”

“Don’t you understand I can’t? What if they come back and make it disappear? I have to do this. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

I hang up on him as the first tear falls. I know he’s going to be mad at me, but why can’t anyone understand? I know the smart thing is to wait. What’s five or ten more minutes? Logically, I know this. I’ve seen enough horror movies to know you don’t walk into an empty building or a dark basement. But this is real life. This ismylife. I need to see it, like a physical thing pushing on my body to go into the building. I have to see it now.

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