Page 94 of Against The Tide

“Deep Blue Sea or The Meg.” The excitement in her voice is all I need to make my world right.

When Avery is happy, it doesn’t matter what is going on around us or outside this place because our bubble is perfect.

I let her down and follow her to the couch, grabbing waters from the fridge in case she’s still feeling sick from all the sugar. “Did you want some Pepto-Bismol?”

“Umm…” Taking a pause from arranging the cushions to one side of the couch, she glimpses at me over her shoulder, face screwed up in deliberation before she replies, “No, I think I might need to cut back on the sugar… I feel bloated anyway, so…”

With a shrug she goes back to arranging what Iris likes to call the love boat—the couch and the long footstool pushed together to make a daybed.

“I’ve never heard of The Meg,” I say as she grabs her favorite blanket and waits for me to lie down on the couch before she stretches out on top of me.

Bliss.

It’s what we do on a Sunday evening after Jo and Iris have gone to sleep. Our version of casual date night. I’ve discovered that Avery doesn’t enjoy going on fancy dates. Simple and casual is her vibe, and I like that too. It means having her all to myself, being able to hold her like this as we watch a movie and relax.

It’s true what people say: it is the smallest things in life that can make you the happiest. And this is the happiest I’ve ever been. Even with all the anxiety surrounding us.

The credits for the film start, and she pauses them to give me her lowdown on the trailer she’s no doubt watched a couple times or more already.

“Okay, this is basically a purposeful funny take on the Deep Blue Sea. Or at least that’s what the trailer made me think, but it doesn’t matter because Jason Statham’s in it and I love his accent. Besides, his films are always corny, so it’s a winner whatever happens.”

“Jason Statham, huh?” I peer down at her, and she looks up at me from under long lashes.

“Don’t be jealous, Doc, he might be pretty to look at, but he’s no you.”

With a wink, she plays the movie and pulls the blanket over us before stretching an arm up so she can play with my hair while I rub her back, and we steal another evening alone. Exactly what the doctor ordered.

“Please hold, Dr. Reynolds,” the receptionist tells me again, sounding almost as fed up as I am.

I’m getting pissed with the way Robert’s doctor keeps avoiding my calls. It’s only making me suspect that there really is something amiss. Why else would he refuse to talk to me? Especially after Avery had him send me the records as a matter of urgency.

“Let me guess,” Rowan scoffs, flipping his keys around his finger, “he’s busy?”

The phone line crackles back to life when the hold music halts, and the receptionist says, “I’m really sorry, but Dr. Haas is unavailable. I would be happy to take a message and pass it on so that he can get back to you.”

Broken records. I hate them, and a laugh escapes me at her awkward tone as she delivers the repeated message.

“I’ll call back.”

“Dr. Reynolds⁠—”

“Goodbye.” Without another word, I put the phone down and look over at Rowan. “I think it’s time I pay him a visit.”

“Oh yeah?” he chuckles, getting to his feet as he checks the time. “What makes you think he’ll see you?”

“I’d say I’m pretty hard to miss.” Standing from my chair, I close my MacBook and slip it into my satchel before grabbing my jacket. “I can’t lay this to rest until I’ve figured out what went wrong.”

Pulling the truck keys from my pocket, I follow him out the door. With Carl being around, I can’t risk him confronting Avery when she’s on her own. He’s hurt her enough, and although there’s been no sign of him other than that one instance at the school…I don’t trust him not be lurking in the shadows somewhere.

“Did you talk to Adrian?”

“Yeah, and he confirmed that Carl’s car is still on his drive in Washington. On Thursday morning he saw him go into the house, followed by his girlfriend, and he didn’t see him leave.”

“Well, maybe he’s losing his touch.”

“Rhett, Adrian’s the best of the best. I would trust him with my life and my kids’—fuck, I’ve trusted him with Callie’s. Adrian isn’t losing his touch. We think that Carl has someone helping him.”

“His girlfriend?” I ask as we take the stairs down and head for the car lot.