Page 17 of Ultimate Freedom

“Because you looked shattered when Whit left without you.”

“I’ll miss him.” She saw the mockery in Glen’s expression and added, “Okay. So, I hated seeing him leave again. But you know I couldn’t go. Not with Harold and Lefty coming.”

“Why not? They’re just a couple old dudes you met once in Vancouver.”

“Oh no, Harold’s much more than that to me. He’s… he’s like the dad I never had.”

Settling in, pouring another cup of coffee, Glen reached to fill hers too. And then spoke. “Tell me.”

And so she did.

Chapter Eleven

The next two days went by so quickly, Demi swore she had whiplash. It all started when a tearful Norrie called her. “Can you come into town? I need you.”

“Of course, I can. What’s up?” Instantly worried, Demi didn’t hesitate.

“Remember I told you about Charlie’s mom, Beth? How she disappears for a few nights sometimes?”

“Yep. Not impressed.”

“Me neither. But this time, she got back, went to work at the Inn, and they figure she took something… probably cocaine. Hell, I don’t know. Sheriff figures whatever it was had to be laced with fentanyl. Thank God, he was in the bar at the time and gave her a shot of naloxone. They brought her to the clinic, but Lexie isn’t sure she’ll make it. Says the woman’s abused her body for years. Charlie’s withdrawn, won’t say anything. Just sits beside her and waits. It’s eerie. I don’t know what to do.”

Stomach sinking with sorrow for the boy, she replied, “Why ask me?”

“Rudy told me you spoke to Glen… about working with kids at a center in Phoenix. Says you might know how to handle a situation like this.”

Demi thought back to the night before when she’d broken her rule and let Glen in on her past. “I’ve had some experience. Just not sure it’ll help in this situation. The kid doesn’t know me.”

“True. But he knows Whit… has asked about him every day. I hope that since he knows you two are involved, he might turn to you.”

Demi didn’t have it in her to refuse. “Could happen. I’m on my way.”

She quickly put away the ingredients she’d taken out to bake bread and headed into town. Soon, she arrived at the store where Norrie had been watching for her. Enfolded in a huge hug, Norrie’s tearful greeting made her stiffen. “What happened?”

“Lexie just called. Beth died.”

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry. Where’s Charlie?”

“She’s bringing him here in a few minutes. Didn’t know what else to do with the kid.”

“Right. Okay. I guess you want me to talk to him.”

“Would you? It’s like he just suffers me. As much as I’ve tried to get close, it’s a no-go. God, I wish Whit were here now.”

“Me, too. He’s still waiting on his test results. Then he’ll know if they’ll accept him into the trials.” Before she finished, they both saw Lexie pull up in front of the store and watched Charlie get out of the passenger seat. Head down and hands in his dirty, ragged coat pockets, he stomped through the falling snow and followed Lexie inside.

Signaling with a shake of her head that he still wasn’t talking, Lexie stepped toward Demi and reached for her hand. “Happy to see you here. I want to introduce Charlie.”

When he hung back, she took his arm to pull him forward, and added, “Charlie, this is Demi Fedora. She’s Whit’s lady, the woman I told you about.”

Sudden interest sparked in a face that had worn only fear. In the past, she’d seen that look many times. Terror of the unknown was still preferred to the horror many escaped from. Poor Charlie had lost his mother. Nothing could be worse than that. Well, other than an empty, frightening future.

Understanding there’d be limitations… that one couldn’t deal with Charlie like a normal kid, she stayed out of his space and just said the words that most others had shied away from.

“I’m sorry about your mom, Charlie. Norrie told me she passed away. It’s tough, I know. Do you have any other family we can call?”

“Just Whit.” Head down, the boy talked to the floor.

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