Page 107 of Free to Run
One ring. Two. Finally, he answers. “Charlie Henderson.”
“Charlie, it’s Ali.” I listen to him splutter into the line for a minute before I cut him off. “I need your help.”
“Anything, little girl. Whatever you need,” he says immediately.
“I’m sending you a package. And a video. Think you can get them to Cassidy and Keene?” I grin.
His voice is choked up when he replies. “It’ll be my pleasure, little girl. My absolute pleasure.”
I let out the breath I’ve been holding. “I’ve missed you.”
“We’ve been waiting for you to say that, little girl. Now, come home.”
I look out of my office window. “Soon, Charlie. Soon.”
42
Keene
I’ve been turning my conversation with Alison over and over in my head. She sounded scared and afraid. She wouldn’t be if she was here. I bang my steering wheel in frustration.
The impatience I thought I had a handle on is back in full force. The only thing preventing me from tackling Jared and stealing his cell phone at this point is she said she’d be home soon.
Soon.
Then, even if I have to tie her to a chair to force her to listen to me, I’m going to tell her everything that happened. After, if she still wants to walk away… Fuck that. She isn’t going anywhere.
I park my car in the lot at Greenwich Hospital and reach for the stuffed elephant and giraffe sitting in the seat next to me. Cassidy said the twins should be heading home tomorrow. Little Jonathan Ryan and Laura Faith are only a few days old and are already working miracles on everyone’s hearts. Especially mine. Even without Alison here to share this joy, they’re a tangible miracle every time I hold them.
If I’m this bad with my niece and nephew, I can only imagine what I’m going to do with my own child one day. I let out a sigh. Now I just need to get the future mother of my children home.
“Keene! Hold the door! Blasted box is marked fragile,” Charlie grumbles.
I smirk. “You realize Cassidy is going to kill us both, right? The minute we walk through the door with more gifts, we’re both targets.” My sister swore the next person who walked in with a gift was going to get pelted.
“Maybe in your case, boy, but she’ll want mine,” Charlie brags.
“Whatever.” I push the button for the maternity ward, where we ride the elevator in silence. Since both Charlie and I have already been cleared, we’re already wearing the necessary wristbands to enter quickly. “What’s in the box?” I’m curious.
“Don’t know. Came to the house, special delivery. Had to race to get it here on time,” Charlie admits.
I blink at him. “Seriously? Did you check it for a bomb first?” Is he insane, bringing a box like that here where my niece and nephew are?
Just as we’re about to enter Cassidy’s room, he says, “Don’t be a jackass. I know who sent it, of course.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. “Who sent it?” I demand.
“Calm down, Keene. I have a message that goes with it too.” Shoving me aside, he enters the room before stopping so hard, I run right into the back of him. “Holy God, I didn’t need to see that, little mama!”
My sister is breastfeeding Laura, while Caleb is burping Jonathan. I can’t help but laugh. “Should’ve let me go in first and maybe you might not have.” I stroll over to the bed and place the stuffed animals next to my sister before kissing her on the cheek. “Doing okay?”
Cassidy’s face has transformed in awe of new motherhood. “I can’t even describe how I feel, Keene. It’s like, suddenly, there’s this remarkable cord of love that can’t be cut, no matter the time or distance.” Looking at Jonathan in Caleb’s arms, she amends her statement. “Times two.” Realizing Laura is asleep, she pops her nipple out and hands her to me to burp while she adjusts her gown. “I’ve been getting emotional all day thinking about Mama and how she must have felt when I was taken, not much older than they are now.” She shakes her head and turns to Caleb. “Are you sure we can’t LoJack them?”
He laughs out loud. “We will do everything possible, short of putting microchips in them, Pixie.” He brushes his hand down her dark curls.
Turning back to me, she says, “I’m going to be harping on this for some time, you understand.”
“Of course.” Nuzzling my cheek against my niece, I misdirect her somewhat morose thoughts. “But Charlie has a mysterious package for you.”
