Page 51 of The Long Way Home
I pull into Anderson and Margo’s driveway around six. The house looks exactly like it should. Warm porch lights glow against the soft blue-gray siding, the scent of grilled something and garlic already thick in the air. Voices drift out from the open windows.
I step out of the truck and stretch, arms overhead until my shoulders pop. Before I can lift my hand to the doorbell, the door swings open. Anderson grins like he has been waiting for me.
“Rhett, good to see you, man.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What, you got a sixth sense now? Or one of those smart-ass doorbells?”
He chuckles. “Neither. Margo said you’d be the first to show, other than Slone. She said you’re either early or dead-on time.”
I shake my head. “Remind me to give Margo shit for calling me predictable.”
“You say that like she’s wrong.”
“She’s not,” I admit, stepping inside.
I follow him down the hall toward the kitchen. Margo pulls a tray of roasted vegetables from the oven. The window above the sink fogs from the heat, and she waves a hand at it.
“Hey, Rhett,” she calls without turning. “You hungry?”
“Come on, Margo, you know I’m always hungry,” I say, setting the bottle of wine I brought on the counter. I add the six-pack next to it. “Figured this might earn me a plate.”
She turns just enough to flash a smile. “It helps. But honestly, you’re family, so I’d feed you either way.”
That lands in my chest the way only Margo’s words can.
Slone steps around the corner with a glass of wine in hand, wearing a flowy dress. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Slone in a dress without a forced reason.
“Hey, Rhett. Long time.”
“Good to see you, Slone. Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
She smiles into her glass. “Yeah, me neither. But I haven’t been here since the wedding, so I figured my brother was due for a sisterly visit. I can’t stay away too long without annoying him in some capacity.”
“Are you staying long? Otis with you?” I lean against the counter, arms crossed loosely. I casually look around, half expecting to see a seventy-five-pound golden retriever following her around.
“Just here for the weekend. And no, he’s home. Lexi is house-sitting and watching him for me. I needed a break from the Charleston heat, and with it being such a short trip, I didn’t want to force O in the car.”
“Smart move,” I say. “Though if Margo finds out Otis isn’t here, she might demand a redo next weekend.”
Slone laughs. “She already asked. Twice.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance down at the screen and see the same unknown number calling.Again?A familiar pressure settles beneath my sternum. This time, I decide I’m going to answer. Maybe then whoever it is will stop calling, or I’ll finally get answers.
“Excuse me for a sec,” I mutter, backing up toward the sliding glass door that leads to the patio. My hand hesitates for a second, then I step outside. My heart ticks a little faster as I lift the phone.
“Hello?”
I’m met with silence. I pull the phone from my ear to check if it’s still connected. My brows pull tight when I see the call continuing.
“Who is this?” I ask, trying not to sound freaked out.
“Hello? Who—” I start, but the words catch in my throat. Then I hear it: a familiar voice cutting through the tension, except it isn’t coming through the phone.
“Thanks for having us.”
I turn and see Rachel hugging Anderson. Relief washes over me in a way I didn’t expect. My grip tightens around the phone for a second before I decide to hang up.
I need to know who was calling, but right now I’m having trouble caring.
