Page 111 of Free to Run
“Close to mile nine,” I huff out.
“What, are you crawling the damn thing? Phil, Ali must be on crutches doing this half marathon. It’s almost nine-fifteen in the morning and she’s only on mile nine,” Cassidy calls out to my brother.
I giggle through the tears. “The race didn’t start until eight, Cass.”
“Sadistic bastards down there, Ali. Must be the humidity messing with their brain. It’s why you need to come home.” Now, it’s her voice breaking. “You hear me? It’s time for you to come home.”
Snot mingles with my tears, and I wipe both away on my running shirt. “I hear you. I’m mostly packed.”
“Good. Now, tell Jared you don’t hate him for us finally figuring out where you are, and you’ll get a few more calls during your last few miles,” Cassidy tells me.
“I don’t—oomph!” I stumble.
“Ali! Are you okay?” Cassidy yells.
“Yeah. Just stumbled over a tree root.” Probably because I can’t see through my tears. “Put Jared on.”
There’s shuffling noise over the phone line, and finally, Jared says, “I swear, I didn’t say a word.”
I slow down to walk. “I know. You’ve been the best boss anyone could ask for, but as my attorney, you’re officially fired.” I pause. “Wait, am I on speaker?”
“No.”
“I need to tell Keene about the baby before everyone else, Jared. I had planned to originally.” I start running again, and my voice comes out breathless. “So, from that aspect, you’re still under privilege.”
He laughs. “Duly noted, counselor. What’s your pace?”
“Nine-minute miles or so. I’m trying to keep cool. Running through trees is helping with keeping me shaded, and I’m drinking a lot,” I tell him.
“I’d expect calls from these lunatics every nine minutes, then,” Jared says wryly, before disconnecting the call.
Suddenly, I want this race time to be my worst ever. I want it to last forever so I can hear from all of my family.
And maybe, if I’m being blessed with a second chance, I’ll hear from Keene too.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I head into the next shaded section of the course.
* * *
“The way I figure it,you owe me a new phone. You said you were going to call me, so since you didn’t manage that, a new phone will do. Rose gold, please.” Corinna’s drawl comes through the line, along with a roomful of people laughing. Mile eleven was going to be the joke mile. “Besides, I’ve been getting calls from annoying rodents, so I need to change my number.”
“Huh?” I’m confused but then again, so much information has been thrown at me at once I’m on sensory overload.
“Colby.” Holly pipes in. Ah, I open my mouth to suggest she should give him a chance when Corinna continues.
“Like I said; the rats are calling. I need a new phone. You will provide it. Win, win for me.”
At this point, each member of the family has called and put me on speakerphone to hear each other’s antics. Phil called me at mile ten, daring me to stop along I-95 at one of the titty bars and see if they’d let me put my pole dancing classes to use. Everyone screamed at him for that. “Jesus Christ, Phil. We’re trying to get her home, not get her picked up for solicitation!” Em yelled.
I begged Holly to tell me she was getting this on camera. She promised me she was.
Now, I hear the babies cry. I start sniffling when Caleb gets on the line and says, “Auntie Ali, I’d like for you to meet Jonathan. He’s an impatient little guy who always wants to be sucking on Mommy’s boob.”
“Sounds just like his daddy,” Phil yells in the background. Then, “Ow, Jason. That hurt, damnit.”
I half giggle, half sob when I hear Cassidy say, “Laura is much politer. It must be the Marshall genes coming through.”
“Please. Keene loves nipple play more than the average toddler,” I say without thinking. The other end of the line goes silent. I hiss out, “Fuck.”
