Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
The next few minutes are chaos. My sergeant shows up with Colby’s Uncle Raymond. There are hugs and more tears, and when everyone gets in their cars to leave, I help Cassie back into mine.
She’s pretty emotional, even now that the boy has been found. “You didn’t know, Cass. You can’t blame yourself.”
She sniffs. “I know. Can you take me to my car? I feel a migraine coming on.”
I start the car. “You have migraines?”
She nods. “Yeah, and I won’t be able to drive once it gets worse.”
She lays her head back on the seat. I pull out my phone and send a text to my sergeant. I’ve worked for the others plenty of times, and surely someone can cover my shift for me.
Without waiting for a response, I start driving to my house. She doesn’t open her eyes the whole way. My phone dings when I’m almost home, and when I pull into the driveway, Cassie still doesn’t open her eyes. I check my phone and read the text from my sergeant. “We got you covered.”
I walk around to the passenger’s side and open Cassie’s door. She jerks awake and looks around in a daze. “Where… what are you doing, Baker?”
I talk softly to her. “I’m taking you inside.”
I help her out of the car, and she leans her head against my chest. “But you have to work.”
“I got someone to cover for me.”
“Baker… you shouldn’t miss work. If you take me home, I can lie down and I’ll be fine.”
I help her up the stairs and into the house. We bypass the living room, and I take her to my bedroom. After setting her on the bed, I help her take her shoes off. I grab one of my T-shirts and then take her silky shirt off and slide my shirt over her head and arms. I help her lie back, and then I take off her dress pants and then tuck her under the covers. I’m actually worried about how complacent she’s being.
I lean over her. “What do you need?”
She tries to open her eyes and holds her hand over her face. “Can you turn the light off?”
I quickly shut the light off. “Okay, what else?”
“Can you get me some ice? Maybe some ibuprofen?”
“Done.”
I walk softly back to the kitchen and grab everything I need. When I get back into the bedroom, she opens one eye to peek at me. She sounds so sad. “I’m so sorry, Baker. I haven’t had a migraine in so long, but it usually happens when I cry. I have so much to do. I need to grade papers. If I can just rest a few minutes and get the medicine in me, I can get out of your hair.”
I hand her the pills and help her sit up to take them. She takes a big drink of the water, and I set it on the nightstand. I grab the ice pack over my shoulder. “Lie back.”
She lies back, and I lay the ice pack gently across her head.
She gasps, and I ask her, “Is that okay?”
She moans. “It’s heaven.”
“Lie back and rest. I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to get your car from the school.”
She doesn’t argue with me, which tells me how bad she’s feeling. I tiptoe out of the room and then grab my phone. “Dad, you busy?”
Cassie is not going to be happy with me, but I don’t have a lot of choices. And I trust my dad more than anyone.
I drive over to my dad’s, and he’s waiting outside when I pull in.
He tosses a bag into the backseat. “Son, what are you doing?”
I explain everything about Colby and how Cassie was upset and had a migraine. It takes only minutes to get to the school, and I hand my dad the keys. When he gets out, he asks, “Now where am I taking her car to?”
I jut my chin at him, hoping he doesn’t challenge me. “My house. She’s going to stay there until she’s feeling better.”
His voice hardens. “Are you sure about this?”
Confidently, I nod my head.
He sighs and goes to get in Cassie’s car. He follows me to my house. After parking, he comes and gets in my car, handing me her keys. “How come I feel like I’m on some secret mission or something?”
I swallow. “Dad, I’m not asking you to lie to your wife…”
I let my voice trail off. Cassie doesn’t want our family to know, but there’s no doubt my dad knew how I felt that first night. I don’t care who knows, but I also don’t want Brandi causing problems with her daughter.
“I packed clothes and stuff. It’s all in her bag.” He sighs. “I won’t have to lie. Brandi was caught up in something on TV. She probably won’t even know I’m gone.”