I Stand Before You (Judge Me Not #2)(111)

The next night, Monday evening, Kay and I are watching a movie in my living room. My girl is all nestled into me, which I f*cking love, and my arm is draped over her shoulders. The movie we’re watching is a comedy and we find ourselves laughing at all the same parts.

Things are better and brighter today. Father Maridale relayed this morning that Mrs. Wilson will recover completely. She has a long road ahead, but she’ll be fine. Mrs. Wilson’s upgraded status means Doug-f*cking-Wilson is back in Columbus where he belongs. Far away from me equates to very lucky for him. If I ever run into that motherf*cker, he’ll be sorry real fast for keeping his bigger-than-we-realized role in Sarah’s death a secret for so long. I may have told Kay I’d let it go, but I don’t think I really can.

I tense and my girl gives me a questioning look. I shrug it off and try to think of something else. But now that Columbus is on my mind, I can’t help but be reminded of Kay’s mother.

Mrs. Stanton is also back in Columbus. I’m sort of all over the place with that one. We shall see how it all plays out, this mother-daughter reconnection. That lady better not renege on my girl, I can tell you that. So far, though, things look good. Kay’s mother is staying in contact. She called earlier this evening, in fact, and even put Kay’s dad on the phone for a few.

My girl seemed so light and happy afterward, that’s why we went with a comedy for tonight’s movie. I’m glad Kay’s talking to her parents. She needs her family, just like I need mine, even if both our families are pretty much f*cked up.

Speaking of which, just as the movie ends my cell phone rings. I check the screen and groan to Kay, “It’s my mom. Maybe I should let it go to voicemail and call her back tomorrow.”

“What if it’s about Will, though?” Kay says, sitting up.

“Good point,” I respond.

I haven’t heard from my brother since Friday after he blew up over my refusal to allow Cassie to come with him to Ohio.

I answer my cell, and, as usual, my mother is in somewhat of a panic. I only half-listen initially, but when she catches her breath and slows down a little I quickly catch up.

Shit.

I sit up swiftly and glance over meaningfully at Kay. She places her hand supportively on my arm.

“What the hell are you saying?” I ask my mom. “What do you mean Will ran away?” Kay’s little hand tightens and slides down to my wrist to cover my hand.

My mother fills me in on what’s going on. Will was supposedly staying at Cassie’s house this weekend. “So much for being grounded,” I mutter.

Apparently, the day he skipped his flight and went to Cassie’s he did call Mom like I told him to, but instead of demanding he come home, she gave him permission to stay the weekend.

“That was three days ago,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Doesn’t he have to check in with you or something?”

Mom ignores me and continues, explaining that Cassie’s mom was on some weekend business retreat and just returned home today. Of course, this was all news to Mom since she assumed Cassie’s mother was home all weekend. Anyway, Cassie’s car was missing from the driveway, but her mother didn’t think much of it at first. Then, she went into Cassie’s room to gather laundry and noticed a bunch of her daughter’s clothes were missing, as well as a suitcase.

“Cassie’s mother said the room looked like nobody had been in there in days,” my mom says.

Fuck. Where could my brother and Cassie have gone? Would they really run away? Maybe something worse happened with the stepdad that prompted them to leave?

“Has Will called you?” my mom asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“No,” I respond.

Worry creeps up my spine.

My mom kind of sobs, and I ask, “What about the stepdad, Paul? Will said when I talked to him on Friday that the guy was home.” I don’t add that the stepdad had done something to upset Cassie and that’s why Will blew off his flight. Why worry Mom further?

“Where was this Paul-guy all weekend?” I continue. “How could he not notice Will and Cassie weren’t there?”

“I don’t know, Chase,” my mother says, sniffling, a little calmer now, but not much. “I guess he was in and out of the house a lot over the past couple of days. That’s what Cassie’s mother said, anyway. Paul didn’t even notice they weren’t there until this morning.”

Sounds like a great guy, I think sarcastically as I roll my eyes.

Just as my mother is declaring she’s going to call the police—which I agree is the right thing to do—the doorbell rings.

Kay and I look at each other, and I know she’s thinking the same thing I am. “Fuck,” I mumble.

Kay bites her lip. I think about how Will asked if Cassie could come with him to Ohio if he still were to visit me. Next, I calculate how long of a drive it is from Nevada to Ohio. Definitely enough time has passed for the two of them to make it here.

“He wouldn’t,” I mutter.

“What?” my mother on the phone and Kay who’s at my side ask simultaneously.

The doorbell rings again. Shit. I ask my mom to hold on, but I keep the phone at my side. Kay stands up when I do and follows me to the door. When I open it, my brother is standing on the porch.

I raise the cell to my mouth. “He’s here,” I say somberly.