Page 86 of Healed
“I’m so glad you did. Are you hungry baby?” Avaleigh asked.
“Actually, I really need to pee. Then I’d love some of whatever you have. I’m not particular.”
“You know where the bathroom is. Go right ahead. Take a shower even if you want to after your drive. Make yourself at home.”
“Thank you, Aunt Avaleigh,” Cristie said. She hurried to the bathroom, relieved herself, freshened up a little, though she decided to forgo a shower, and went back out to talk to Daniel and Avaleigh.
They were both in the kitchen, as was Angelle, who was finishing her dinner.
“Hey, Angelle. How are you?”
“I’m okay. How are you?”
“I’m tired,” Cristie said. “It’s a long drive.”
“I could never make a drive like that all by myself,” Angelle said.
“Well, you get used to it, doing things on your own, I mean. And you’d be surprised what you can do when you have to.”
“I guess,” Angelle said.
“Oh, I know you could do whatever you needed to. You might not like it, but you could. Your mom and dad are some of the strongest. I know they taught you to be the same.”
Angelle smiled gently. “They tried. I hope we never have to put it to the test, though.”
“Me, too!” Cristie said.
“You going to talk to Remi?” Angelle asked.
“I’m going to try.”
“We’ll have to find him first,” Daniel said. “I have a few ideas of where to check, though.”
“Have a seat, Cristie. We had leftover roast for dinner. I made you an open-faced sandwich with toast and mayo,” Avaleigh said.
“And lots of gravy?” Cristie asked.
“Of course. I know how you loved it when you were little,” Avaleigh said, placing a plate with two slices of toast slatheredwith mayo, then drowned in tender beef roast and a thick brown gravy. “Root beer?” Avaleigh asked.
“Actually, could I have just ice water?”
“Of course,” Avaleigh said, filling a glass with ice and water and putting it next to her plate.
Cristie took a bite of her food and moaned with her eyes closed. “Just as good as I remember.”
Avaleigh smiled delightedly. “I’m glad.”
“So, Cristie, who told you that Remi is struggling?” Daniel asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
“Bailey. But she didn’t say he was struggling. She said he’s crashing and burning. My words, not hers. But she made it clear that he needs some kind of intervention, and nobody’s stepping in because he and Brandt had a face off and now Remi’s out of the clan.”
“That’s true. I went to see him, found him at his girlfriend’s house and we had a come to Jesus meeting out front right before she marched outside dressed provocatively trying to come on to me. I’m not sure what happened after, but he reached out,” Daniel said, tapping his temple to let her know Remi contacted him telepathically, “and told me he left his phone, his boots, and his wallet at her house. I went back for it and had to practically threaten her to get her to give it to me. I don’t know where he is now. Nobody’s heard from him since.”
“Bailey said that she was hoping that if I speak to him, he’ll listen. If nothing else it’ll give him a wake up call. She said he was so focused on me when I was here for Analise and Havoc’s wedding he couldn’t force himself to look away from me. I’m hoping that rather than react defensively, he’ll actually hear me out.”
“I’m hoping the same thing,” Daniel said.
“Same,” Avaleigh said.
