‘ma’am.’ You called me Grammy when you were little.”
Katrina was laughing through tears. “Then Grammy it is. I don’t know where to start.”
“Just talk to me, sugar,” Wanda said. “It doesn’t matter what you talk about. I just want to hear your voice.”
* * *
Charlie went to bed thinking, after all of the chaos and drama, that he wouldn’t sleep. He kept remembering the feel of the young girl’s arms around his neck, and the intent look in her eyes when she told him she would never forget him.
Then he fell asleep to the sound of wind in the pines, and dreamed of Annie making pancakes for breakfast, and how she always sprinkled blueberries on the batter before she flipped them, and made smiley faces on his plate with the syrup.
He woke up sad, feeling lost and empty...like he would never laugh again, then packed up and left Robbers Cave.
There was no hesitation in his decision as he took the highway out of Wilburton, retracing his journey back to Interstate 35 that would take him home to Dallas. The one positive about what had happened at the park was proof that there was no escaping life. As long as you were breathing, you got whatever was on the agenda.
* * *
Tony Dawson was awake and talking. Today they were moving him from ICU into a private room, which meant his mom and dad would no longer be restricted by the visiting hours of ICU.
Macie had gone downtown in Odessa to get her hair done and pick up their laundry, but Baxter was on-site when the move was made. As soon as they got Tony situated in his room, Baxter went in.
Just knowing he and Macie could come and go at will now, and talk without concern of bothering others, was huge. They already knew Tony was aware of his so-called friends’ deception for the trip, and that he remembered falling. He’d told them he had vague memories of crawling into a cave because he heard water. After that, he remembered nothing. They’d told him that the rangers couldn’t find him, and that they’d hired a PI, who ultimately did find him. But Tony hadn’t asked them a single question and they knew he had them.
“How are you with the pain, son?” Baxter asked.
“It’s bearable,” Tony said. “I’m so glad to have a window to see out of...and see sunshine. Where’s Mom?”
“Downtown getting her hair done and picking up our laundry.”
Tony glanced down at his leg...suspended in air with all the pins sticking out. His ribs were sore but healing, and it still hurt to take a deep breath. The staples in his head were healing enough that they were starting to pull and itch, and the bruising on his body was fading to faint purple and green. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever be whole again.
Then he looked up at his dad.
“I have questions, but I didn’t want to ask before because...I think I was afraid of the answers.”
Baxter nodded. “Ask away.”
“How long did it take to find me?”
“Charlie found you on the fourth day,” Baxter said.
“But why, Dad? Randall and Justin saw me fall. They could have led the rangers right to me.”
“They lied to cover their asses. Their story, after they were found out, was that they thought you were dead and didn’t want to get into trouble.”
The shock on Tony’s face was vivid, and then his eyes filled with tears. “Who does that shit?”
“Well, they did. Randall was jealous of you. He wanted to hurt you, and Justin went along.”
Tony was silent for a few seconds, and then he asked, “Has Trish asked about me?”
Baxter reached for Tony’s hand. “Son. That girl has worn out our phones checking on you. She refused to believe you were dead, and then when she found out what happened, completely blamed herself for all of it. She kept saying that if she had told you at the start that she and Randall had once dated, none of it would have happened. Whatever happens between you two is your business. But she told us that all she wanted was for you to be found alive, and that even if you hate her forever, it’s okay, because her prayers for you were answered.”
Tears were running down Tony’s face.
“I didn’t blame her then, and I don’t blame her now, but that’s what made Randall mad. That’s why he swung at me.”
“All I know is that I’m grateful to God that I don’t