Page 27 of Hope in his Darkness
“Babe, is everything alright? Who’s on the phone?” I swat him away with my hand as I try to process the fact that my dad is the physic ward.
“Um...why is he...why is he in for an evaluation?” I mean I know my dad’s crazy, but I never thought he’d actually get put in a hospital for it.
“Seems your father called the cops hollering about wild animals in his house. He was found running around the trailer park screaming ‘they’re going to eat me’. Your father claims that three men broke into his home and turned into giant cats.” Don’t laugh, whatever you do Hope do not laugh. Brody on the other hand I can feel his shoulders shaking against me as he listens. Why do I have a feeling that Rooster has something to do with my dad’s visitors? I take a minute to compose myself before responding.
“My dad’s an alcoholic Ms. Leonard, could that cause him to hallucinate? He’s never had hallucinations before, but maybe he started doing harder stuff since I moved out six months ago.” I know the truth, but I’m not going to say ‘oh yeah, those were my future in-laws just trying to scare the piss out of him’.
“When he was arrested they took him to the hospital to get checked out to see if he had any drugs in his system. All his tests came back negative for drugs so the doctor there had him sent to us for evaluation. It’s possible that his alcoholism has caused some brain damage. We’ll know more once we finish our evaluation. My call is mainly to let you know that your father is in our facility. If you have any further questions you can direct them to Dr. Hanover, he’s overseeing your father’s evaluation.” She explains as I sit here thinking there is no way in hell I’m going to be calling, but I can’t bring myself to say that to this nice lady.
“Alright, well thank you Ms. Leonard. I appreciate your call.” After I hung up I sit there starring down at my phone in shock. Maybe my dad will finally get the help with his addiction he needs. He’ll at least be forced to be sober for the next three days. Brody wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him.
“Are you mad?” He asks hesitantly, his lips against my neck, gently kissing my pulse point. Should I be mad? I don’t feel mad. All I feel is relief he can’t cause me problems while he’s in there. Does that make me a bad daughter? Probably. Do I really care? No, not even a little, but Brody doesn’t have to know that. I decide to make him squirm a little for keeping me out of the loop. I know I’m a bad girl, sue me.
“Mad? Why would I be mad? What possible reason could I have to be mad at you? It’s not like you had your bestie, along with some of his biker buddies, go over to my dad’s place, and shift into their animals just scare the piss out of my dad. Right?” I ask like I don’t already know the answer, because it’s the only answer that makes sense. Brody looks like he swallowed a frog, as he gives me a sheepish look.
“Well that’s not exactly what I did.” He hedges, as I give him that look that says I don’t believe him for a second.
“It was more like I told Rooster what that rat bastard threatened to do. You know how Rooster gets when someone threatens someone he thinks of as family. He didn’t tell me what he was going to do, only that he would take care of the situation. It could be worse, he could have killed him.” Brody tries to placate me by rubbing my back and placing soft kisses against my neck. If he keeps it up I’m going to forgot why we are having this conversation completely.
“Mmmmhmmm...I’m honestly surprised he left Georgia’s side. He’s been extra protective since Elaina was born. Even Georgia was complaining he wouldn’t let her out of the house without three of the guys as guards.” Brody rubs the back of his neck cringing.
“Yeah, about that. See, I asked him to take care of your dad months ago. Matter of fact the day I drove out there to take care of him myself. He decided to wait till Elaina was born, because Georgia threatened to do unforgiveable things to his manly bits if he left her while she was a beached whale, her words not mine.” I can’t help but laugh at Georgia’s actions, that girl is something else.
“Okay, that still doesn’t explain how you got him to leave Elaina and Georgia to deal with my dad.” A smile breaks out on Brody’s lips as if he is remembering something funny.
“Well, Georgia took off a few days ago, without letting Rooster know where she was going. She snuck out with Elaina in tow and didn’t even leave a note.” I let out a little gasp because I can just imagine how frantic Rooster must have been.
“Where did she go? Did he find her? Why are you leaving me in suspense?” I glare at him and he just smiles back at me. I might have to take some lessons from Georgia in dealing with these shifter men.
“She’s fine, she went to his dad, Sawyers place. Rooster was fit to be tied though. Anyway, Rooster hauled ass up here from Texas, along with a couple of his brothers. He decided to kill two birds with one stone. Take care of your dad, and get his woman back. Now can we either fuck or go back to sleep please.” He asks giving me his puppy dog eyes, which makes me huff out a laugh. He’s lucky I love him and I give zero fucks about my dad.
“So does that mean I get to meet Elaina tomorrow since they’re in town?” He groans, gripping my waist as he flings himself back onto the bed. We flop down beside each other, and before I can ask him what he’s doing his lips are on mine in a searing kiss. Whatever else I was going to ask him quickly vanishes from my head as he takes me to those blissful heights that only he can take me. Whatever the future may hold for us, I know one things for certain, we will face it together.
