Page 265 of Love in Riverbend
Mom pulls Marilyn into a hug and whispers something in her ear. As Marilyn pulls away, she nods and smiles.
“Are you going to tell me what you’re saying?” I ask.
“No,” both ladies say at the same time.
Marilyn reaches for my hand, but I pull it back.
“Um,” Marilyn says. “Todd and Jill are headed back to Carmel. I’ve decided to email my supervisor and let them know I won’t be in tomorrow. I can stay overnight, at least.”
“Don’t do that.”
“I want to stay, for Devan and for you.”
I shake my head. “Devan has all of fucking Riverbend.”
Her eyes widen. “Then for you.”
“You have a job, an important job. Devan will understand. Besides, you can come back on the weekend, and hopefully, Justin will be up for visitors.”
Marilyn swallows. I sense her feeling me pulling away. The thing she doesn’t understand is that it’s killing me.
“Okay,” she says. “I guess I’ll go back with them.”
Mom reaches for Marilyn’s hand. “Honey, it’s good to see you.”
She gives my mom a half smile. “Take care of Devan.”
“We will.”
I turn to Mom. “Can I stay at your place in town, or do you think I should stay out with Devan?”
“Why don’t you ask your sister?”
“I’ll do that.” I nod to Marilyn. “See you later.”
“Bye,” Marilyn says, turning away.
I can’t watch her leave. Instead, I look for my sister.
Chapter 26
Marilyn
After hugging Devan and asking her to keep me updated, no matter the time of day or night, I look around the waiting room. Ricky said he was going to ask Devan where he should stay, but he’s nowhere to be found.
Jill bumps my shoulder. “Are you sure you want to go back?”
Swallowing, I nod.
I can’t quell the feeling of sadness that’s come over me. I tell myself it is about Justin and for Devan, but I know it’s Ricky. There was something in his voice that makes me uneasy.
“Are you going to say goodbye to Ricky?” Jill asks.
Pressing my lips together, I shake my head. “We already said bye. I don’t know where he is.”
Settling in Todd and Jill’s back seat, I pull out my phone, ready to send Ricky a text message, when I remember that he doesn’t have his phone. With a sigh, I push my phone back into my purse. Our ride is relatively quiet. There isn’t a lot to say when one of your friends is hurt and another is hurting.
“Todd?” I ask. His gaze goes to the rearview mirror. “I know you weren’t really part of the farming in Riverbend.”
