Page 36 of Never Fall Again
“What’s not happening?” Meredith stood in the doorway with a smile Cal hadn’t seen on her lips in a while. She came in and scootched Maisy to the side so she could sit beside Mo. He threw an arm around her shoulders, and she ran a hand over his face. “You look fabulous.”
He pinched her arm, and she yelped. “You tricked me.”
“I did what I had to do. I have no regrets,” Meredith intoned solemnly. “Has Mom seen you?”
“Mom cried. Kept patting my cheeks and saying, ‘There he is,my baby boy.’ I felt like such a jerk. I didn’t realize she cared that much.”
Meredith’s eyes welled with unshed tears. “She doesn’t care about the beard or the hair. She cares about what the hair and beard mean.”
Cal held perfectly still. This was dangerous territory.
“I’m not suicidal, Mer. I know everyone thinks I am. But I’m not. I just needed some time. And it was time.”
Cal didn’t buy it. He knew Meredith didn’t either. But it was the first time Mo had acknowledged their fears without losing his temper.
Meredith’s tears broke free. “I need you to be okay.”
“I know. I will be.” Mo squeezed her close and pressed a kiss to her hair. He winked at Cal. What was Mo up to? “So, baby sister, why don’t you tell me and Cal about the time you’ve been spending with Gray?”
Eleven
It was a Quinn family characteristic. When the conversation got too heavy, they changed the subject. If you could change it to a topic that made everyone laugh, that was great. If you could shock everyone to the point that they completely forgot what they’d been talking about? Even better.
With his remark about Gray, Mo had succeeded.
Meredith jerked away from him. “What are you talking about?”
“Yes, Meredith. Whatishe talking about?” Cal pressed.
“I have no idea.” Meredith set her jaw.
“For someone who has no idea what he’s talking about, you sure reacted like someone lit your tail on fire.”
It was Meredith’s turn to throw a pillow at him. Cal now had all the pillows, and they were without ammunition.
“I was on the committee to spruce up the police station. We spent some time choosing paint colors. That’s it.” She lifted her chin. “And he’s going to help me find a location for my next free clinic.”
“Meredi—”
“This isn’t up for discussion.” Meredith held out her hands—one toward Cal, one to Mo’s chest. “I know you’re worried aboutme. I know there’s some sketchy stuff going on higher up the mountain.”
“Sketchy? How about dangerous, illegal, and downright deadly? That’s the kind of stuff going on in the very place you want to go take care of people’s teeth for free.”
“I’m not clueless, Cal. I know that. But if Gray comes along, there’s no need to worry. Gray’s the police chief, for crying out loud. He was a Marine. A bomb tech. He can handle whatever they throw at us.”
“Is that what he said? That he can handle it?” Cal watched Meredith closely.
“Not in so many words.”
“What words did he use?” Mo asked. “His exact words.”
Meredith huffed. “His exact words were that if I was foolish enough to go up there, he would have to go with me. Or I’d mess around and get myself killed, and he hadn’t been chief long enough for his career to survive if he let the town’s princess get blown up in a meth lab.”
That sounded about right. Before Cal or Mo could express their opinions, Meredith put on a dazzling smile and said, “Enough about me. Let’s talk about you, Cal. When I left the tent, Landry was deep in conversation with Aunt Carol.”
Cal dropped his head. First his dad. Now his mom. He was doomed.
“Was she now?” Mo, the traitor, feigned intense fascination. “What were they discussing?”