Page 46 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
“Remedi…” The cracking in Reese’s voice told it all. Tears filled the brims of my eyes as they searched Reese’s. “He-he…” The words couldn’t even form.
“Tell me he didn’t.”
“The oven, Remedi.”
I zoomed to the kitchen and snatched the oven open. My legs turned to noodles, and I dropped straight to the floor. A piercing scream escaped me. This man had placed my damn dog in the oven and turned it on. Sick fuck.
Chapter 18
Khalif
Sunday
After Remedi had left, I waited to hear something back from her, but heard nothing. I tried reaching out to her that night to make sure she was okay, but she didn’t answer the phone. Worry sank in. I ended up stopping by her house the next day, and Reese told me that Remedi’s dog died. I felt so bad for her that I’d sent her several bouquets of roses and sunflowers to help make her feel better, even though I knew that it wouldn’t.
Remedi losing her dog is like someone losing their child. I can imagine how she felt is ’cause I’d lost animals before and it hurt. I didn’t want to pressure her into talking to me, so I was leaving her alone ’til she felt like being bothered.
This morning, I was getting Khali ready for church when my phone chimed. Pulling it from my pocket, I saw it was a message from Remedi.Are you coming to church today?
That’s something that I hadn’t done in forever. Knowing what she was going through, I knew I couldn’t turn her down.For you, yeah.
We needed to be at church in the next thirty minutes, so I didn’t have the time to go in there and find something else to wear. I was wearing these denim jeans and a graphic t-shirt. This was just gon’ have to do. My plans were to come back home and relax ’round the house ’til it was time for me to go over Ma’s for dinner.
“You ready?” I asked Khali when I slipped my phone back into my pocket.
“Yes, Daddy.” She grabbed her lil name initial purse and headed for her bedroom door.
We left out the house, and I opened the back door for her. She climbed up, grabbed her seat belt, and put it on. I shut the door and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Daddy, I want to do something for Remedi.”
I’d told her all ’bout how Remedi’s dog died, and she felt so bad for her.
“Something like what?” I questioned her as I drove to the church.
“I don’t know. What do you think she’ll like?”
Well, that’s a hard question to answer. I’d already bought her all the roses and sunflowers in town. “I don’t know. Maybe you should draw her something. She seems to like your drawings.”
“You’re right! I’ll draw her a picture of Prada.” I looked at Khali through the rear-view mirror, and she smiled from ear to ear.
We pulled into the church parking lot, and I parked my truck. As always, Ma was waiting by the steps for Khali. We got out and walked over to her.
“Hey, Grandma’s baby.” She pulled Khali in for a hug and kissed her on top of the head. “Hey, baby boy.”
“Hey, Ma.”
“Can you bring some flour when you come over to the house later? I don’t feel like stopping by the store just to pick up flour.”
“Daddy is staying at church with us today,” Khali made known, and Ma cocked her head.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. It’s no big deal.” In her eyes, it was. She’d been pulling out all the stops to try and get me in there, and I wasn’t having it.
“What made you change your mind?” I felt arms wrapped ’round me from behind. Remedi’s head poked out, and Ma pursed her lips. “You don’t even have to answer that question.”
“Hey, Mrs. Redwick.”
