Page 120 of Legacy of Danger
Chapter 35
Exhausted from his attempts to physically exercise the stupid out of his body all day, Vaughn settled on taking a cold shower that evening. Maybe he could finish the purge by scouring the bad decision-making off of his skin. Then he'd figure out what to do about Mariah.
What he had done to her went beyond wrong. He thunked his head against the tile and stayed in that position for several minutes, the chilly spray pinging off his back.
He would crawl back to her, but that was no guarantee of success.
First, though, he needed to check on Dad. Then he could confront his mistakes head on.
After drying off, he pulled on clean clothes and went down to the kitchen. With Ruth and Odie hovering nearby, Dad leaned on his walker as he cooked a simple dinner. Vaughn didn't care if they called the activity "occupational therapy"—he called it a damned miracle.
Zach, Garrison's son, flitted around them like a deranged hummingbird. The running monologue from the kid numbed Vaughn's brain.
"Hi, Uncle Vaughn!" His nephew waved.
Vaughn gave a half-hearted wave and surreptitiously studied Zach. No evidence of strange behavior. Maybe Garrison would get his wish and the development of an ability would skip a generation.
"Where's your dad?" He tousled Zach's dark red hair.
"In the living room, reading with Ms. Lopez."
If Sara had returned, then Garrison must have eaten a bucketful of crow.
Vaughn could take some lessons.
"Hi, son." One side of his dad's mouth didn't move, so the smile came out crooked, but happiness glowed in his watery blue eyes. Vaughn wanted to hug him but didn't want to break his dad's concentration.
"How's it going?"
Dad clanked a plate. "Pretty good." His voice came out slurred but understandable. Improved, even, over the past few days. Amazing.
"I'll say. He's doing great." Odie waggled his brows. "We'll have him cooking proper gumbo soon. I don't know how you people can live without okra here at the end of the Earth."
Vaughn squeezed his dad's shoulder. "Way to go. Dinner smells great."
"It's because I'm helping!" Zach reminded him.
"Sssecret ingredient." Dad pointed a spatula toward his grandson.
"What's the time for dinner?" Vaughn asked, unwilling to examine the knot that had formed in his throat.
Ruth leaned a hip against the counter but kept his dad in her line of sight. "Soon. Around seven, give or take. Your brothers and sister are waiting for you in the living room."
Family meeting. Great. Just what he didn't want.
"Shouldn't you go as well,chérie?" Odie asked.
"Shush," she said.
Yes, why would Ruth want to attend a family meeting? "Do you have something to add regarding the creature we're up against?" Vaughn asked.
She flicked a glance at Odie and shook her head. "As I mentioned yesterday, we've heard stories over the years."
"Stories?"
"People experiencing... similar things as you have described."
Now if that wasn't an evasive answer. "If you know anything that might help..."
