I also really want to strangle my son.
All the ways Marcel and I could’ve handled this differently scroll through my head on an annoying loop as I stalk through the woods back to my house.
Months ago. I should’ve forced him to do this months ago. In a planned, controlled, more compassionate way. Not just blurting it out over fucking coffee cake.
Heaviness pulls at me as I step onto the porch. “I’m too old for this shit,” I grumble.
I catch Charlotte’s upbeat tone as I open the front door but can’t make out her words.
Hope’s anxious eyes land on me first. “Are they okay?” she mouths.
I shake my head.
“Well, that could’ve gone better,” Marcel smirks as I walk into the house.
It takes a few seconds for his words to sink in.
Don’t punch him. “Gee, ya think?”
My gaze lands on his anguished eyes. His smirk disappears. The ass chewing I planned to hand him evaporates.
“Is Heidi okay?” he asks.
Heidi’s eager voice asking if I was also her father haunts me. Crushing that seed of hope before it took root hurt like a bitch. “Don’t know. They left.”
He frowns and pushes his chair away from the dining table. “Why’d you let them leave?”
“Are you shittin’ me?” I approach fast and Hope hurries to place herself between the two of us.
“Rock.” Her tone’s firm, like she’s trying to tame an attack dog. Any other time, her voice would soothe my irritation. Not today. Not after that scene.
Charlotte stands behind Marcel, resting her hands on his shoulders. Whether she’s trying to offer him support or keep his ass in the chair, I can’t tell.
“Did they say where they were going?” she asks.
“No.” Why didn’t I see this coming? Heidi taking it hard was a given. Murphy? I knew he’d be pissed at Teller for upsetting Heidi. Maybe offended that we waited so long to tell them. But that’s not all I deciphered from our heated exchange.
You don’t get to tell me what to do, Rock. You’re not my father.
“Heidi’s not the only reason you’ve wanted to keep this under wraps for so damn long, is she?” I ask, taking Hope’s hand and approaching the table with a cooler head.
“No, not really. I don’t know.” Marcel shakes his head, misery falling around him like a cloak.
I tap his phone, sitting on the table. “You call them?”
“About a hundred times. Keeps going to voicemail.”
No surprise there. “What about you?” I ask Charlotte.
Her eyes widen. She glances at Marcel, then Hope. “I can try…”
“She’s not answering my calls either,” Hope says.
“Where do you think they went?” Marcel asks me.
“How the fuck would I know?” I snap.
“You didn’t ask?” Marcel’s snide tone rubs my last nerve.
“He wasn’t in the mood to hand me his itinerary.” I blow out an annoyed breath. Don’t strangle him. “They’re together. He won’t do anything stupid while Heidi and Alexa are with him. They have each other. They’ll be okay.” Who am I trying to reassure?
“They just need some time,” Hope says.
“It’s okay,” Charlotte adds. “It’s done. It’s out in the open. That’s what’s important. We’ll repair things when they get back. Everything will be okay.” Seems like Charlotte’s trying to reassure herself as well.
This is it. The worst happened. The truth is finally out. But I don’t feel any relief.
“Everything will be okay,” Charlotte says again.
Now there’s nothing left to do except lie to ourselves some more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Murphy
The stuffy resort we stayed at last time we were here doesn’t have any rooms available. I stalk out to the parking lot to give Heidi the bad news.
“That’s okay,” she assures me as I climb into the truck. “We weren’t totally comfortable here anyway. And I bet they’re not kid-friendly.”
I don’t know how she can stay so upbeat when our whole world’s been turned upside down.
“Let me find someplace.” She pulls out her phone and holds it up. “The signal sucks up here.”
“Let’s get out of this place. If you get more bars, tell me and I’ll pull over.”
We’re at the bottom of a hill when she yelps, “Got it!”
“Really? Here?” The road’s surrounded by trees and rocky hillside. I pull off onto a half-circle of dirt meant for travelers to stretch their legs and enjoy the view.
“Yup. Still good.” Heidi leans over her phone, tapping on the screen. “Not a lot of options on Expedia,” she murmurs.
“I’m not surprised.” Rural New York is full of places untouched by technology or time. “Find something nice. Doesn’t matter how much.”
“Oh! Here’s something…” Her excitement fades from her voice. “You might not like it, though.”
“What is it?”
“The Tall Pines Lodge and Waterpark has a suite available. I always wanted to go there when I was a kid, but it’s probably—”
“Let’s do it.” I shift the truck into drive, flip my blinker on, and pull onto the road.
“Are you sure? It’s probably crowded and full of annoying families and kids.”
“We’re with our kid,” I point out.
“Yeah, but she’s not annoying. Other people’s kids are.”
When I stop laughing, I glance over at my beautiful, now-smiling wife. “Book it. Alexa will be thrilled.”
“We don’t have bathing suits…or anything. Shoot. I don’t even have a toothbrush with me.”
“There’s a huge shopping center right near there. We’ll get what we need.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yup.” I glance over again. Her fingers are still hovering over the screen. “Hurry up and book the room. My wallet’s in the console.” I bump my elbow against the middle section of the seat.
“Okay.” She lifts the lid and pulls out my wallet, plucking out a black credit card. While she reads through the terms and conditions of booking the room for two days, I navigate our way back to the Northway and head south.
“Sorry we came all the way up here just to drive two hours back.” She opens the console lid again and tosses my wallet inside.
“I don’t mind driving. I’m with you. That’s all that matters.” If anything, the long ride has helped calm me down. Hard to be pissed when I’m focused on the road and keeping my girls safe.
“We can check in any time after five.”
“Perfect.” I reach over and curl my hand around hers. “Gives us time to do some shopping and get what we need.”
HEIDI
As Blake predicted, Alexa’s enchanted with the water park. She fussed when we woke her up to go shopping. But a glittery white bathing suit, new sandals, a unicorn beach towel, and water toys cheered her up.