Page 12 of Wrecked By You

Silence settled upon the group. Everyone knew about what had happened with her father. And how her mother blamed her. Which was ridiculous. Stupid and ridiculous.

McCrae asked, “What are you gonna do, Police Chief?”

I pulled back and shrugged, not understanding. “What do you mean, what am I going to do? She left my office. She said it wasn’t going to work.”

McCrae sputtered out a laugh. “Just because someone tells you it’s not going to work, that doesn’t mean it can’t work.”

My father chuckled and took a drink of water. “Exactly. You know how many times I had to propose to your mother before she said yes? How many times she told me we would never work out? Now it’s been nearly thirty years.”

The tension broke, and all of us laughed.

“I wasn’t proposing, Dad,” I said, trying to sound lighthearted. Truly, I felt miserable. I didn’t know what to do.

My father cocked an eyebrow. “No, you weren’t, but you two were best friends most of your life, and you were with her through a very hard time, and then …”

The past was hard to face. Good thing I didn’t have to face it all tonight.

Trent called out, “Dad! Come put us to bed.”

I stood and began walking around the island with my plate. “Coming!”

My mother intercepted me. “Go put them to bed. Then go to bed yourself. I’ve got this.”

I pulled my mom in for a hug and said, “Thanks. I’m grateful for you.” I turned to my dad and the rest of my family. “I’m grateful for all of you, too.”

My dad grunted and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Sure, you’re grateful for all of the unsolicited advice that’s going to rain down on you the next couple of days.”

I pulled back. “Guess so.”

As I walked up the stairs to my children, my thoughts were filled with Isla. Where was she? Was she okay? She hadn’t looked okay when she had run out. I would have to investigate this further.

Seven

Isla

The next morning, I got up early, put on my running clothes, and decided to run the property. Most of it was empty besides several stretches of old fence. I’d often found that running helped me keep my head clear.

When I stepped onto the front porch, I could see that more cans of paint had been dropped off there. I decided that I would paint today. Why not? Maybe I would ask Wendy about another job or if she could keep a lookout. Of course, then I would have to explain why the other one hadn’t worked out.

After I got back from my run, I continued wiping walls and taping things off and got my first coat on the inside of the small ranch house. I plugged in the small boom box that I had found in the barn, tuning into a country music station. Perfect.

I continued washing walls and taping off. I had painted my last condo and was familiar with how to do it. I took the time to tape everything, making sure my lines were straight. I knew that taping was the key to a proper paint job.

I was about three hours into the work when there was a knock at the door. I hadn’t heard anyone on the gravel driveway, but that wasn’t surprising because I had the music blasting.

I was hesitant, and I peered through the peephole to see who was there. A handful of women stood there, waiting for me to answer.

I pulled open the door. “Hello?” Then I realized it was Damon’s mother, Nora; his sister, Kayla; and his sister-in-law Ella, who I hadn’t seen in a long time.

His mother smiled and held out a box of food. The words “Food Bank” had been written on it. “I hope you don’t mind. I was talking to Mayor Wendy this morning at the food bank, and she mentioned that you might be in need of some food. We’ve had extra come in, and if we don’t use it, then we must throw it away.”

Now, I was getting ticked off at being a pity case. “I’m good.” I said, and I didn’t let them in.

“Isla, aren’t you going to say hi?” Kayla held open her arms.

I stayed in the doorway. “Hi. And hi, Ella. And hi, Mrs. Armstrong. I’m not a charity case.”

Kayla put her arms down and frowned. “We didn’t think you were. We just heard that you might need a few things.”