Page 12 of Stopped

“What time?”

“Six to nine. Free food and drinks and I have to give aspeech.” He shuddered with a crinkle to his nose.

My eyes crinkled with the wattage of my grin. “I get off at five. I can swing by right after work and help set up. You can practice your big speech on me.”

“Sounds like a plan, Will.” His legs squeezed around my ankle and sent the butterflies into another flurry.

We finished our meal, relaxed and buoyed by the easy flow of conversation that spanned all the years we were apart. He told me stories from college and work at the capital. I regaled him with tales from the police academy and funny stories from my time on the force. We chatted about locals and tourists and what felt like a million other little topics, pointedly avoiding heavier things so we didn't ruin this fragile thing blossoming between us. It was the most optimistic and hopeful I had felt in ages. Naturally, reality had to come crashing back to remind me why I couldn't have nice things.

My cell chimed with an alert from the security cameras I'd installed on all the exits of my house. It was like a bucket of ice water cascading over my body as I apologized and pulledmy phone from my pocket to open up the feed. Even more ice flooded my veins as I watched the video. There on the screen was my dad, wearing only shorts and flip flops with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. The ninety second clip showed him trudging down the steps and across the lawn. Of course, he'd left the front door wide open.

“Shit…” I sat up straighter, tugging my leg from EJ’s hold. “I’m sorry.”

“Everything okay?” His brow furrowed with a frown.

“Yeah. No. I'm sorry.” I shut off the phone and dropped it to the table with a clatter before scrubbing my face with my hands. “I have to go. I can drop you back at home—”

“It’s fine, Will. Mom can give me a ride back later.” He leaned forward and touched my elbow. “What's up?”

“It's just something at home. I need to get back.” I couldn't bring myself to explain the details of my chaotic life, not after such an amazing day filled with so much promise. I refused to let my family issues ruin what we had again.

“Sure. Okay. Can I text you later?” His voice cracked with the apprehension I knew he still kept as a protective layer around his heart.

“Yes, please. I'd love that, EJ.” Desperate to keep the connection alive, I blanketed his hand on the table with my palm. “I'm sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. We’re okay. Go deal with whatever it is.” He smiled and my hopeless self clung to the expression and his reassurances like a drowning man would cling to a life preserver.

“Thank you. I'll see you around.” I scooted from the booth and climbed to my feet. “Definitely text. Please?”

Yes, I sounded pathetic and desperate, but Iwaspathetic and desperate. Like a glutton, I hoarded every single sign and signal of hope.

“I will. Home safe, Will.” His eyes lifted up to mine with an open and earnest expression. I wanted to believe he was just as hopeful as I was.

“Home safe, EJ.” Impulsively, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his forehead. “I'll talk to you soon.”

I jogged all the way through town, dodging pedestrians on the sidewalk in my haste to get home. Once I landed in the driver’s seat, I took off. Naturally, Dad wasn't answering his cell. Chances were high that he didn't even have the damn phone on him. I swore under my breath and punched the gas once I cleared the town limits. With any luck, he would stick to the road. He'd never wandered off before, but I knew this day was coming. Defeated and battling a sense of unease, I slowed the truck down once I got about halfway home. For as addled as my father's mind was, he still had stamina and determination on his side. There was no telling how far he'd managed to get.

I scanned the shoulder of the road before casting my gaze further. On one side, the gently swaying grasses of a hayfield bobbed in the warm breeze. Opposite, the sunlight filtered in dappled patterns through the canopy of maple leaves overhead. My truck crept along the winding country road as my eyes swung back and forth and back again for any sign of my father.

A few minutes later, I finally spotted him. Irritation mixed with the lingering fear as I pulled the truck further into the shoulder of the road and threw it into park. I opened the door, but didn't climb all the way out. Instead, I stood on the running board so I could look out over the roof into the field beyond. Dad was making a bee-line through the grass, headed in the direction of town, so far off I almost missed his shirtless form amid the undulating waves of golden green hay.

“Dad!” I cupped my hands around my mouth and bellowed. “Dad!”

He didn't even bother looking up. There was a fifty-fifty chance he either didn't hear me, or was too off in his head to realizehewas the target of the shouting.

“God damn it,” I muttered, reaching into the cab of the truck to lay on the horn. The belligerent ass was definitely ignoring me. I collapsed back into the seat, slammed the door shut, threw it in drive and pulled a U-turn that had the tires chirping on the hot asphalt. If I moved quickly, I could cut him off at the access road alongside the field once he popped out.

Dust billowed behind the truck in clouds of rust red clay. The whole effect was like a cheesy cartoon as I bounced and bobbled along the rutted dirt track before skidding to a halt about halfway down. Just as I'd predicted, Dad popped out of the field with a glower of disdain, his wiry torso streaked with sweat, dust, and tufts of grass seed.

“The hell are you doing, Dad?” I hopped from the driver’s seat and moved to stand in front of him.

“Going to town,” he swatted at me with a scowl. “Get.”

“Nah, Dad. You can't walk all that way. You aren't even dressed.” I sidestepped to match his evasive maneuver. “Hey, come on. Get in the truck. I can get you whatever it is you need.”

“I want to go to town!”

“Okay, okay. At least let me drive you. We can head home, grab you a shirt, and we’ll take a drive in together.”

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