Page 93 of Enraged

I’ll go help Daddy with the animals. That should be more than enough to distract me.

After throwing on a hoodie I had stolen from Jace years ago, I pulled my hair into a messy bun.

I didn’t smell breakfast, meaning Mama must have slept in, so I tiptoed quietly down the stairs. Daddy was sitting at the kitchen table, a half empty coffee mug nearby. When I walked in the kitchen, he looked up in surprise.

“Lee Lee, good mornin’… are you okay?” He looked worried.

Bless his heart.

“Good mornin’, Daddy! I’m okay. I just wanted to help you out this mornin!”

Okay, don’t oversell it, you dumb bitch.

“I don’t believe that for a second, but I’ll be glad to let you help.”

I poured myself a cup of coffee. “Thanks.”

He put down the morning paper. “Your Mama is at the hospital with Arlene Roberts. Her sister passed away in a housefire last night and one of Arlene’s nephews is badly burned.”

That would be the house on Parrish Street…

“I heard about that.”

His brow furrowed. “Jace?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, sir. Dak. He called this mornin’ and he was pretty shaken up about it.” He folded up the paper before laying it on the table.

“I bet he was. Arlene told your Mama they left a candle burnin’ and the cat wound up knockin’ the curtain into it. From my understandin’, it was pretty out of control by the time a neighbor called it in.”

That’s so damn sad.

I took a sip of my coffee. “I listened to the scanner for a bit. I didn’t hear whose house it was, but I did hear Dakota call for the coroner.”

He nodded. “Hopefully, you talked him through it. That mess will stay with you if you let it.”

Well, Dad, I didn’t because I am as confused as Ronnie Milsap with a Where’s Waldo book.

“I didn’t really know what to say,” I admitted. “Jace never talked about it at all. He would tell me they had fatalities, but he wouldn’t talk about it beyond that. He always said he left it at work.”

“Some men aren’t big talkers.” He got up to pour himself more coffee.

“I guess I just didn’t understand why Dakota called me.”

He sat down, looking confused. “Why wouldn’t he call you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said you don’t understand why he called you…why wouldn’t he? Y’all have been friends since y’all were kids.”

You’re making me sound even more ridiculous.

“I know that… but he’s never done it before.”

“Things aren’t like they used to be before,” he pointed out.

“Cassie is still at his house, Daddy,” my voice wavered. He noticed immediately.

He put down his cup and focused on me. “Did you ask him if he decided to stay with her?”

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