Sand Angel Page 0,62
guide the bike. Together they secured it.
After she changed her clothes, putting on a pair of jeans, a thin T-shirt and sandals, she stepped out of the trailer. “I’m ready,” she announced. For some reason he got the feeling she meant more than she was ready to leave the Dunes. The question was, what exactly did she mean?
A lot of the campers had already headed home. After saying their goodbyes and promising to meet up with Josh at Zoë’s exhibition, they were finally on the road. Fifteen minutes of silence passed before he asked, “Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head and instead curled her feet beneath her and leaned against the door. Either she fell asleep or pretended to be, but she said absolutely nothing.
The green fields of Blythe were within sight. He placed a hand on her thigh and gently shook. “Hungry?”
Zoë yawned, stretching her arms out wide. “No. I think we’ll pull in town just about supper time. I’d like to stop by Mom and Dad’s and say hello. I haven’t seen them in a while. You know Mom, she won’t let us leave until we’ve eaten something.” She gazed out the window.
“How about a shower tonight where we can both fit in the stall at once?” He smiled, trying to coax one out of her.
“Huh?” She turned back around to face him.
“The news station is putting me up in an apartment until I decide where I want to buy a house.” He switched on the truck’s blinker and crossed over the lane. “It’s not much, but the sheets are clean and I can promise a long, hot shower and maybe a little lovin’. You game?”
“Tired of my home already?” For a moment, he wondered if there was something more behind her question.
“Nah… Doesn’t a bed without sand sound appealing? And if you wash my back, I’ll wash yours.”
She gave a half-hearted laugh. “Why not? I’ve almost forgotten what an actual bath feels like. The trailer’s water tank holds quite a bit of water but I’ve learned to use it sparingly. Where’s this apartment of yours?”
“About five miles from your family’s home.” He took his eyes off the road to see her smile deepen.
“Did you plan to stake out the house and wait for me to show up?”
“If I had to,” he responded without hesitation. He reached over and grasped her hand and squeezed. If it weren’t for the large console between them, he would have had her sitting next to him.
It was six o’clock when they pulled up along the sidewalk in front of Zoë’s parents’ house. She sat paralyzed in her seat. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen them,” she admitted weakly. “I haven’t been a very good daughter.”
“Baby, they’ll be so glad to see you that time won’t matter.” She knew he was trying to reassure her, but it was useless. She’d hardly called, and more than once she had zoomed through town, never stopping by to even inquire about their health. “Come on, let’s go inside and see what your mom has cooking. I’m starving.”
Zoë moved slower than a turtle, dragging her feet, stopping to look around at the yard and neighborhood. “It looks smaller than it used to.”
He laughed, throwing his arm around her shoulder. “Age makes everything look smaller.” He glanced down at his crotch. “Well, hopefully not everything.”
Her hand froze midway to the doorbell. “I don’t even know what to say to them.”
Drew pressed the button before intertwining his fingers with hers. “Things have a way of working themselves out. Just remember to breathe.”
The door opened and her mother let out a sob somewhere between happiness and relief. She tore open the screen door and embraced Zoë, tears racing down the portly woman’s cheeks. “My baby,” she wept.
Zoë couldn’t breathe. She was swamped with emotions. She hated to see her mother cry. Knew those tears were her fault.
Her mother cupped Zoë’s face. “You’re okay. You’re home. Oh bless the Lord. Charlie,” she yelled. “Our baby is home.” She took one look at Drew and her tears dried along with her excitement.
“Mrs. Davis.” Drew gave a nod.
Wow. Now this wasn’t something Zoë was expecting. If the disgruntled expression on her mother’s face meant anything, she was close to skinning Drew alive. The look her father gave him was even more loathsome as he walked outside. Then he turned to Zoë, his eyes misted, and he jerked her into his arms.
“Daddy,” Zoë cried. The wave of emotion she held back