“How do we know you’ll be back?”
“I give you my word.”
“And I’m giving you the finger,” Rawlins shouted into the phone.
Rye sighed. “Figured that if you caught up to me, you’d be a prick, so I left something for you in the driver’s seat of that SUV. It’s your guarantee that I’ll be back.”
“What is it?”
“My pilot’s license.”
Violet
7:37 p.m.
When I saw the blue-and-white lights flashing outside my window, I thought it must be an ambulance coming to take me to the hospital because my special day with Elsa and the mayor had tired me out.
Honestly, I wish I could have watched Frozen on my new TV with Cy, and my brothers, and Mom and Dad. The mayor’s breath wasn’t nice, and Elsa didn’t sing as good as the one in the movie. But she was nice and didn’t talk about cancer and how adorable I am. If I have another special day, I hope they bring Taylor Swift or Alicia Keys.
After the mayor and Elsa left, and all the TV people in the yard went home, I didn’t feel good.
Mostly I was sad over Dr. O’Neal leaving without even saying hi.
There’s another nurse now instead of Jill. She doesn’t have braids or shoes with lights on them.
Daddy fed my brothers pizza and sent them to their room to watch a movie. He and Mom keep checking on me. By now, I can tell when they’re just plain worried, and when they’re really worried. They’re really worried.
I heard Mom say to Daddy, “I was afraid this would happen. But Senator and Mrs. Hunt were so generous and kind to do it.”
“How could you say no?”
“I couldn’t, but…”
That’s all I heard. I think they went into the kitchen and called an ambulance.
But now I see that the lights aren’t on an ambulance after all. It’s two policemen on motorcycles and a police car. Have they come to take us back to the airplane with the couch in it? Will we fly back to Atlanta tonight?
I hope not, because I’m really tired. And I want to sleep in my room with Cy another night. I don’t want to cry. When I cry it makes everybody feel bad.
Wait. Dr. O’Neal is getting out of the back seat of the police car! She came back!
The tall man in the old leather jacket came back with her. But not Timmy and not Dr. Lambert, and I’m glad.
Dr. O’Neal and the man are jogging up the walk. Mom and Daddy have gone out to meet them. Mom is hugging Dr. O’Neal. Daddy shakes hands with the tall man.
I think he must be a good friend of Dr. O’Neal’s, because they get into each other’s personal space a lot, but they never say excuse me.
Mom wants them to come inside, but the man is shaking his head no. I think he’s saying something about the police car, because he’s started walking backward toward it. Dr. O’Neal is pulling on his hand, like she doesn’t want him to leave. But he keeps shaking his head.
Mom hugs him. Daddy shakes his hand again, using both hands, and then they come back inside.
Dr. O’Neal and the man just stand there looking at each other, and then they sorta crash together, and hug each other tight, and start kissing like people do in the TV movies that are inappropriate for young audiences. Seriously? I know grown-ups kiss and make babies.
Dr. O’Neal scoots closer to the tall man until they’re touching all up and down. Maybe she wants to marry him. But if they do get married, I hope their kids don’t get cancer.
When they quit kissing, he gives Dr. O’Neal a little push toward the porch.
He starts walking toward the police car. Dr. O’Neal turns and runs up the walk.