My Beloved: A Thin Love Novella(11)
Keira felt the pinch of tension working its way up her back when she lowered her shoulders. “Leann, it’s three photographers and a few locals who think Kona is here with us. Besides, all the cops are probably out at that school following Kona around.” She looked up at Mark, then to Leann, hoping that she didn’t sound too pathetic and whiny. “We’re gonna have to make a run for it.”
And that’s what they did. Mark in back of her, Leann barging through the small crowd toward the driver holding the car door open until they were all inside of it. She’d attempted polite nods, but couldn’t bring herself to answer their intrusive questions. And when they’d returned to the resort and Keira had still not heard from Ransom or Kona, she worried what sort of crowd they’d run into out on that high school football field. The bridal shop hadn’t been surrounded and the people milling around it were maybe twenty deep, aside from the lingering photographers. Keira worried that Ransom and Kona would be stuck out there unable to get back to the resort.
That worry turned to annoyance when she finally managed to get in touch with her son.
Keira: Haven’t heard from you. What’s going on? she texted Ransom. It took a minute, one that Keira thought stretched as the temperature in the suite rose and not even the cooling breeze wafting in from the balcony could keep the sweat off her skin.
Finally, her cell chirped and Keira read her son’s message.
Ransom: It’s a madhouse over here. You get finished with all your girl stuff?
Keira: Yes. Sort of. Is your dad watching out for you? I heard there’s a crowd.
She didn’t like the pause between his messages or how quickly that paranoid, anxious mother gene of hers kicked in. Ransom was big, just like his father, but Keira still saw him as her little boy. She didn’t like that he was out there with a bunch of strangers crowding around him.
Another chirp, and Keira frowned as she read Ransom’s reply.
Ransom: They’re treating him like a king. It’s crazy. All these people everywhere. Hundreds. It’s freakin hilarious.
The niggling pluck of annoyance grew in Keira’s mind. She sat there worrying about her son, about Kona getting lost in that crowd and Ransom spoke like he was having the time of his life.
Keira: So you’re safe? She texted back, choosing to disregard her son’s king description.
Ransom: Why wouldn’t I be? And then, a few seconds later, before Keira could respond, he shot back, you should get out here and see this shit.
That small flicker of irritation only grew. Mark and Leann had stayed with her at the resort for a while, but then she’d sent them back to their rooms, wanting some time to relax before Kona and Ransom returned. That was hours ago and the waiting and irrational worry for her son’s safety only made the time slow to a snail’s pace. Once again, though Keira hated to admit it to herself, she’d been shuffled to the sidelines as Kona, and now Ransom, enjoyed the spotlight. Frustrated, Keira knew sarcasm and anger didn’t translate well via text, but she still hoped Ransom caught on to her attitude.
Keira: Can’t. Had to dodge a few photographers of our own. The car isn’t available and I’m stuck at the resort.
She was going to stuff her phone into her bag, try ignoring Ransom for a while to let her frustration cool, but the phone rang, vibrated in her hand and Keira relaxed, a little too happy when she saw Kona’s number flash across the screen.
“Hello?”
“Baby?” His voice was loud, as though shouting was the only way he knew he’d be heard over the screaming and laughing voices around him.
“Kona? I can barely hear you.” In her vivid imagination, Keira could see the crowd, faces similar to Kona’s kin, as they slapped his back and shoved footballs and Sharpies into his hand, begging for autographs. Kona’s voice was a faint blip among the hundreds of voices.
“Sorry. There are so many people here. Hundreds. We’re gonna be a while.”
That small excitement Keira felt when she saw Kona’s number buzzing her phone fell a little when she realized he wouldn’t be back anytime soon. “How long is a while?”
“Baby, this crowd is insane. They want to give me a parade. Can you believe that?” Keira wanted to snatch him through the phone, just to shake the amusement out of his voice. “How ridiculous is that?”
“Very.”
“Keira?” The crackle on her phone mixed with the rumble of voices on the other line and Keira leaned back on the sofa, waited for Kona’s voice to come through. “The connection is lousy out here. Are you alright? Did they touch you?”
“I’m fine. Mark and Leann were with me. We ran for it.” She heard his voice, speaking low, talking to someone Keira couldn’t hear and then Kona’s laughter, though to Keira’s ears it sounded forced. It sounded like he was moving and the loud refrain of the crowd started to dim.
“Did you say Mark Burke is with you?”
“Yes, Kona.” Of course he’d focus on that. Keira knew Kona was grateful to Mark for watching over her and Ransom all those years before he had come back into their lives, he’d told her that much. He had even thanked Mark personally when Mark had called Keira from South Sudan a few months back. But Keira knew that Kona still couldn’t quite let go of his annoyance that it was Mark and not him who had taken care of them for years, who had been there for them when no one else was.