Page 10 of All In Good Time

Like he promised, he still sat there waiting. This time, there was a cigarette in his hand. His face was illuminated by the porch lights, and he watched her run up to his window. He rolled it down and looked up when she reached her hand in.

“Here.”

He took it but didn’t open the folds to read what was inside. He only watched her carefully. “Thanks.”

“Good night.”

He smiled again, a puff of smoke rising from his lips in a way that would soon become very familiar to her. “Good night to you too.”

She watched Derek Stokes drive away from her house at two a.m., and she had no idea if he would ever open that paper.

4

September 1985 | After

The phone rang, going to the answering machine two times. Sure, Marty was an early sleeper, but he had always been good at picking up the phone, no matter what.

Sure enough, on the third try, there was a click, followed by a groan. “Hello?”

His voice was groggy, detached, and hoarse.

“I need your help, Marty.”

“Oh, look who it is. If it isn’t Little Miss I Can’t Make It Because I’m Too Busy Moping About Derek Stokes. You know, I picked out your favorite movie and Nicole and I were left to deal with it alone. I hateThe Karate Kidand you know it.”

Shit.She had completely forgotten she’d had plans with her friends that night. Marty didn’t know what was going on with her, because she couldn’t tell him the full extent of what happened with Derek, but he had tried to make her feel better. Movies made her feel better, so he had invited her over for a movie night to get her mind off stuff.

Then Mal had arrived, and Becca had forgotten.

“Shit,I’m sorry Marty. I totally forgot.”

“Clearly.” He sighed, and she could imagine him running his hand over his face. “So what, did you find that asshole? Still don’t understand why you like being his friend so much, but I’m guessing he’s the reason your phone was busy all night.”

Derekwasthe reason her phone was busy all night. But not because she was talking to him. “That’s actually what I’m calling about.”

“This doesn’t sound promising,” he mumbled.

She ignored him. “I need you to drive me somewhere.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

She hesitated and bit her lip. She knew he wouldn’t take this well. “Madison.”

“The fuck?” he blurted, and there was a muffled rustle on the other end. “Madison? Why the hell do you need to go to Madison at—” there was a pause and the sound of him moving for a second, “—eleven at night?”

“It’s a really huge favor, and I can explain it all, but the faster we get going, the better.”

“Why can’t your pretty little Stokes take you?”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Because that’s where he is, and I need to find him.”

He groaned, sending out a few curses as he did so.

“If that’s too much, can you at least come over and watch Mal and Jane while I find a car or something? I need someone to watch them.”

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