Page 55 of Wait For Me
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Tessa
“I thought it would be more complicated.” Robin ejected the rounds from the barrel onto Arthur’s front yard.
The smoke in the air seemed to grow thicker and Tessa could taste it on the back of her tongue. She wasn’t sure if it was getting worse or if it was all in her head, but she was ready to leave. Arthur had finished his 200ft fire perimeter and was working on her house next so he didn’t have to worry about that structure catching fire. It had nothing to do with her or Landon he said.
“Yeah. I might have over thought it a bit.” Tessa shrugged as she rubbed her shoulder. That rifle had a serious kick.
“Now you take this and be good for your mom.” There were tears in Sally’s eyes as she gave Mason and Emily each a brown plastic bag saved from the commissary and kissed the tops of their heads.
Tessa jogged over to give her a hug. Her body felt so frail under her arms, but warmth radiated from the woman. She wished there was a way to convince her to come with them.
“You have my dad’s address. If anything happens and you need a place to go, come stay with us please. I’ll have your jars clean and waiting for you.”
“Knock that off.” Sally swatted her away, laughing through the tears. “I want you to check in with us like Arthur told you to. And when Landon comes back, is there anything you want me to say?”
Tessa looked at the sky and wished she could feel the absolute faith that Sally still seemed to carry. “I left him a letter where he keeps the gun safe key. He’ll find it if he comes back.”
“Safe travels then. Now get out of here. You’re wasting daylight.” Sally nodded, deciding not to hear the if, and Tessa couldn’t blame her. She wanted so badly to believe it too.
“Do we have everything?” Tessa glanced around the garage a final time as the kids climbed into the truck. Emily smiled from ear to ear as she clicked the lap belt around her tiny waist. The sight of it made Tessa cringe, but there was barely enough room for the four of them and Moose. The booster seat had to go.
“What about that?” Robin pointed to the Yeti cooler propped next to the beer fridge.
“That stays,” Tessa said firmly. The steaks were probably spoiled. She hadn’t opened it to check.
“Then I think we’re good.” Robin closed the passenger door and Moose settled on the floorboard under the kid’s dangling feet.
“To Grandpa’s house.” Tessa adjusted the pillow under her bottom and gripped the wheel as she backed the truck out of the garage.
“To Grandpa’s house,” Emily echoed, throwing her hands in the air.
“Grandpa’s house,” Mason mumbled and stared straight ahead.
She left the truck idling on the street and ran up the driveway to close the garage door. The house didn’t mean anything to her, it was just another residence in the long line of ones they’d lived in, but she still paused to say goodbye. All her stuff was here and she hoped it still would be if she ever got the chance to come back. A year isn’t so long…
“Tessa!” Robin screamed as soon as the metal garage door touched the ground.
She turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Mason’s frightened stare as Moose leapt from the open door of the truck, barking at the group of neighbors who were marching up her street.
“Get back here,” Tessa growled as the man named Jed pointed the Glock at the dog. Moose gave a low whine, turning to look at her over his shoulder. She ripped the pistol from the fanny pack and aimed it at Jed. “I’ll kill you if you shoot my dog.”
“You’re not killing anyone else, you psychopath.” Olivia stepped from behind Jed’s back, holding her cell phone in the air and recording the street.
“Mommy!” Emily screamed as she yanked against the seatbelt.
“Get them down on the floorboard,” Tessa called to Robin, her eyes never leaving the angry mob. Olivia stood beside Jed. The pregnant woman was nowhere in sight. Charlie and her husband were at the edge of the group. She didn’t recognize anyone else, but they all seemed to know who she was.
“Moose, get Mason,” she commanded. He gave a short bark and raced back to the truck. Tessa took a step closer to her kids.
“Going somewhere?” a heavy-set man breathed out the words as he broke away from the crowd.
“The only place she’s going to is jail after what she did to Carl,” Olivia snarled.
“I don’t want any trouble from you people.” Tessa’s arms remained steady as she took another cautious step. She didn’t want to draw the aim of fire to her kids, but she wanted to get them out of here fast. Jed was the only one holding a gun. If I take him out, will someone else grab it?
“It’s too late for that.” The big man lunged forward just as Jed fired at her feet and missed. The gunshot rang loud in her ears as it mixed with Emily’s panicked screams.