Page 43 of Coyote
I looked in one of the bags that Callie had brought and fished out her famous breakfast biscuits, “These are okay for kids, right?” I asked.
“If you look in the other bag, I’ve packed some cereal and fruit. She might be more used to having something like that for breakfast,” Callie answered.
I pulled out a box with mermaids on the cover and Nessa’s eyes lit up, “You like this, Nessa?”
“Fish lady!” Nessa shouted and made swimming actions, yeah, I guess that answered the question. I poured some in a bowl for her and added milk, and then opened the little container with the fruit pieces.
Callie and Breaker just watched as they sipped their coffee, occasionally grinning at each other, no doubt amused at my attempts to get breakfast for a toddler ready. I was just finishing up when my phone rang. Callie took over breakfast preparations and I noticed she’d grabbed a couple of cushions from the living room to put on the kitchen chair for Nessa. I guessed I needed to buy a booster seat pronto. Nodding my thanks at her, I grabbed it from the table, and saw the call was from Mace. I promptly put it on speaker phone so everyone could hear the update.
“Mace, I’m here. What did you find when you went out to Bethany’s place?”
“The cops and firefighters were thick as thieves. I’m guessing because they suspected arson, they were swarming the place. We got close by easing up through the wooded area to the side and overheard them talking about there being an open police case and how the fire was set using an accelerant.”
“Yeah, Thomas told Bethany he smelled gasoline so that fits with what we already know. What else did you find out?
“I saw fresh motorcycle tracks leading from the wooded area to the house. Whoever it was felt brazen enough not to cover his tracks.”
Breaker commented, “That could be a sign that they had no fear, that they are a novice at committing crime, or simply that they aren’t very smart.”
Cyclops immediately rose in my mind. “To my knowledge Rufus has a car, not a motorcycle. I guess that rules him out.”
“Not necessarily,” Mace added, his voice sounding thoughtful. “The day I threw him out of the supermarket, he was riding a motorcycle—well, it was a motor scooter not a bike. The wheels are smaller, but it’s hard to tell with the tracks because there’s some skid.”
“Then I guess he’s still our prime suspect.” I walked over to the doorway and saw Nessa messing around with the television. I noticed she’d left her breakfast untouched, I don’t know what her usual morning routine was, but I guess after the excitement of last night, a bit of morning TV wouldn’t be the end of the world. I switched on the TV and found some cartoons for her to watch, she plopped down on the floor and draped one arm around Ruby, like they were old friends.
When I walked back into the kitchen, Breaker was still talking to Mace on speaker. “Just do the thing I asked you too. I’m a club officer and you’re a prospect. Need I say more?”
“I’m on it,” Mace said, sounding all kinds of worried before hanging up.
“What was that all about,” I asked curiously.
“Not a damn thing,” he responded gruffly.
When I glanced at my sister, she was suddenly drinking her coffee like it was the most fascinating thing in her world. I pointed two fingers at my eyes and then at him in the traditional, ‘I’ve got my eyes on you’ gesture.
He snorted a laugh and took another sip of his coffee. Meanwhile, I dragged my chair over to the doorway so I could keep an eye on Nessa and Ruby while still being close enough to talk to Callie and Breaker. The more I looked at Nessa the more I started to believe that maybe Bethany lied to me about her parentage—or if not outright lied, then certainly omitted a few details.
It hurt me to think of all the reasons she might lie about me being Nessa’s father. Bethany must not think I’m an appropriate role model for her sweet little daughter. That was the most likely reason to my mind. I wasn’t anything special in the general scheme of things, but I was a decent enough person. Nothing anyone should be worried about being around their child. A certain sadness and longing enveloped my chest. I really wanted to be with Bethany and Nessa. I had to double my efforts to show her that I would be a good protector.
Chapter Seventeen
Bethany
I woke up in Coyote’s bed all alone. When I reached out my hand, his side of the bed was stone cold. That meant he must have gotten up long ago. I stretched and sat up, looking around the room. He had a nice place. I’d noticed that the last time I was here.
Memories of last night came flooding back and I don’t know how I could have forgotten even for an instant that Reggie’s house was burned to the ground. Losing every single possession that was near to his heart was going to be devastating. I knew that all too well because it had happened to me when I became homeless all those years ago.
I turned and slid my legs over the side of the bed. My cell phone alarm started chirping. That meant it was nine in the morning. I had my weekend alarm set for three hours later than my weekday alarm because there was no need to get up for work. My first thought always was to check on Nessa. I wanted to get to her before she woke in case she got scared, being in new surroundings. I pushed out of the bed and grabbed some clothing out of my bag and threw them on. When I left Coyote’s bedroom to walk across the hall, I heard cartoons and the soft sound of voices talking. So I wasn’t particularly surprised when I found Nessa’s room empty.
I finger combed my hair as I walked downstairs, remembering that I had forgotten both mine and Nessa’s hairbrushes in the scramble to collect essentials before we left. The aroma of morning coffee and breakfast teased my nostrils. Once I reached the bottom of the stairs I found my daughter, still in her nightgown, watching cartoons with a juice box on her lap. Her new furry friend seemed to be dozing beside her.
When I looked towards the kitchen, I saw Coyote sitting in a chair in the doorway. My heart squeezed to find that he had been dutifully watching over her. I stopped long enough to give her a cuddle and kiss. Then moved on to do the same with Coyote. His smile was something that lit up my whole life. Gazing down into his eyes, I couldn’t believe he’d come for me in the middle of the night when I was scared and needed him the most. Then again, I kind of could believe it because Coyote was just that nice.
A familiar feminine voice spoke from the kitchen. “Aw, you two are cute together.”
I turned around and saw Callie and Breaker sitting at the table drinking coffee. Coyote got up and went to pour me a cup of coffee as I settled into a chair at the table. I turned to Coyote’s sister and her husband, “Wow! Good to see you both, it’s been so long!”
“Three and a half years,” Callie said pointedly, by way of greeting. “You left not long after our oldest little rascal was born, and now she’s almost four. Time flies, how old is Nessa?”