Page 67 of Indescribable

“He’s been… snappy, to put it mildly. Angry constantly. Thought it was because he realized he screwed up and didn’t want to admit it to himself. He hasn’t come home in a while. I know because I check the apartment. When he does come into work, which isn’t often, he’s short tempered and very distant.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He gives me a look that says I already know the answer. “He’s no longer your concern, Naomi.”

I place a hand on his forearm. “That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is. I’m not saying that to be cruel, and I know you were married but he lost the privilege of having you worry about what he’s up to.”

“Dale.” I poke him in the shoulder. “I’ll always care.”

“I know you will, honey, that’s why you were always too good for him. Where is Wyatt now?”

“At the station. I wanted to talk with you before going over there.”

“My thirty-year-old son who never had a run-in with the cops during his teenage years is now sitting in the slammer because he lost his damn mind?”

“Well, to be fair, I don’t know if they have him actually locked up behind bars or what. This is a first for me, too.”

“They thought it was cocaine?” Dale shakes his head and groans. “My son is now a coke head.”

Leah snorts out a laugh, which is obviously completely inappropriate, so she apologizes immediately. “I’m sorry.” She lets out a giggle. “I’m so sorry. It’s not funny but hearing you say coke head sounded… never mind. I’ll see myself out.”

Dale’s mouth twitches. “No, Leah, it’s all right. I needed a little humor after this news.” He stands up and pulls his keys out of his pocket. “I’m coming with you to the station.”

“You don’t have to. Leah is joining me.”

“The more the merrier. Or something like that. Geez, I did not expect this. What a damn day, huh?”

I smile sympathetically. “It’ll be okay. He’ll get through this… whatever this is.”

He pulls me into him with his arm around my shoulder. “He will. I’ll make sure of it. But this isn’t your responsibility anymore. Remember that.”

The drive to the station is one that we could actually walk because it’s only a few blocks away from the store, but Dale wanted to have his truck there so he could pick up Wyatt and bring him to his house. I reminded him that Wyatt’s car was still parked at my place and he said he’d take care of it later.

When we walk into the police station, Leah lets me know that she’ll be in the lobby if I need her and we’re escorted to the back where we’re told we’ll talk with Charlie and the other officer.

“Well, this is fun,” I comment.

Dale grunts.

“Naomi. Dale. Sorry to see y’all under these circumstances.”

Dale shakes Charlie’s hand and he gestures to us to follow him to an office.

“Let’s get down to it, shall we? I assume Naomi updated you?” he asks Dale who nods. “Good. Good. He became quite belligerent while in the car and was confrontational when we brought him into the station. I tried to help him calm down but he got angrier. He’s being held here and will be brought up on drug possession charges.”

“What?” I whisper.

“He had cocaine on him,” he explains. “We expected as much, after seeing his behavior. The amount he had on him was very minimal and he doesn’t have a record, so he’ll likely only have a fine to pay. There’s a chance of jailtime, but if he agrees to rehab, that chance will go down.”

Dale and I glance at each other then back to Charlie who looks uncomfortable.

“He had cocaine on his person?” Dale growls. “Actual cocaine?”

“Yes. We tested it.”

“Oh my gosh,” I breathe out.

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