How (Not) to Fall in Love(88)

“Am I dreaming?” he whispered.

“No, Dad. It’s not a dream. It’s me.” I loosened my grip and stepped back. My throat tightened as tears rolled down my face.

I’d done it. I’d found him.

Toby had gone into super spaz mode now that he knew who was hidden under the dirty clothes. He pawed at Dad’s jean-clad legs, whimpering, his tail wagging furiously.

“Dude,” said Mophead. “Your daughter? Wicked.”

“It’s a sign,” said Claire. “From the universe.”

Dad looked down at Toby as if he’d just noticed there was a spastic animal attached to his legs. “Toby?” He frowned at me. “The dog. His name is Toby, isn’t it?”

Fear streaked through me like a rocket, lighting every nerve on fire.

“Yes,” I said weakly. “Of course it’s Toby.”

He tilted his head, examining me closely. “You shouldn’t have come, Marilyn.”

Marilyn? He thought I was Mom? Oh my God. Oh my God. Had he gone completely bat-shit crazy? Oh my God.

“Dad.” My voice was strangled by tears. “Dad, it’s me. Darcy.”

His eyes widened. Then it was like a light switched on from the inside. “Darcy! Oh God. Darcy. What are you doing here?”

“I’m—I’m rescuing you. Bringing you home. You have to come home. Dad, please. We need you.” I swallowed. “And you need us.”

“That’s intense,” said Earlobes.

We had to get out of there. I grabbed Dad’s arm. Toby danced around us, barking with excitement. “Come on, Dad. Let’s go.” I tried to smile. “I have the truck. Your Harvest truck.”

He looked at me like I spoke a foreign language.

I looped an arm around his waist and took a step. He didn’t move. I took another step.

“Come on,” I urged him. “We have to go. Get you some food.” His body odor overwhelmed me. “A shower. Clean clothes.”

I took another step. This time he stepped with me.

“Hey Preacher!” Mophead called after us. “You staying? Or going home with your daughter?”

“Home.” Dad whispered so quietly only I could hear him. “Home.”

We sat in the truck with Toby sandwiched between us. Dad wrapped his arm around Toby, petting him rhythmically. I leaned across Dad to hand-crank the window down. He really, really needed a shower.

Hands shaking, I pulled out my phone. Mom answered on the first ring.

“Mom. I found him.”

Silence. Then a scuffling noise, and another voice.

“Darcy! What is it?” J.J.’s voice snapped.

My heart pounded. What was he doing there? I thought he’d given up on Dad.

“I found him, J.J. We’re coming home.”

“What?” he bellowed into the phone. “You found him? Where? Tell me where you are.”

No freaking way.

“Let me talk to Mom, J.J.”

More scuffling noises, then a new voice.

“Darcy. How is he? How are you? Do you want me to come meet you?” Charlie. Just the sound of his voice calmed me a little. Yes, I wanted him to meet me. But I’d come this far by myself. The hard part was over. Now I just needed to point the truck south and drive as fast as I could.

“No,” I said, forcing strength into my voice. “I think we’ll be okay.”

“Where are you?” Charlie asked.

“Blue Spruce. It’s a small town in Wyoming. I think it’s about three or four hours from home.”

Charlie groaned. “How about if I meet you halfway? Or Lucas?”

“No.” I’d made it this far. I wasn’t about to call in the rescue squad now.

“Your mom wants to talk to him,” Charlie said.

I looked at Dad. He stared out the window at the stones, which glowed white under the full moon. I lowered my phone and whispered, “Dad? Mom wants to talk to you.”

He turned to me. His face was dirty, his skin red and chapped where it wasn’t covered by his beard. His eyes watered as he shook his head. I wondered if he was on drugs right now. Maybe that was the problem. Once he sobered up, would he be my normal dad again? Was I going to have two parents in rehab? God.

I closed my eyes against the waves of emotion racking my body. I had to keep it together. Get us food. Drive hundreds of miles. We just needed to get home, then everything would be okay. Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe.

“He’s exhausted,” I told Charlie. “I’ll call you back after we eat.”

Charlie sighed. “All right. Promise you’ll call as soon as you’ve had food.”

I forced a lightness I didn’t feel into my voice. “He kind of looks like you right now. His hair is longer and he has a beard.”

Charlie whistled. “I can’t wait to see that.”

“J.J. will freak out,” I said.

“I’m looking forward to that, too,” said Charlie, in a threatening voice I’d never heard before.

I swallowed. “Charlie? Will you tell Lucas that I found Dad? And that I’m okay?”

The phone rattled with static. I hoped I hadn’t lost the connection.

“Hey, Shaker Girl.”