Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
He wheeled his luggage out to the car and popped the trunk to stow his things. Thank goodness he had tip money to fill the tank. He didn’t have any idea where he was going next. Mack stuck his hand into his pocket to grab his keys and felt Grey’s card. Immediately, he shook his head. He couldn’t ask Grey to let him stay in his house.
As if the older man had known he was thinking about him, Grey’s name appeared on his phone. He slid behind the driver’s seat before answering. “Hey, Grey.”
“Something made me call. Are you okay?”
Mack stared at the phone in disbelief. How could he know?
“I know that sounds totally wacky, but I’ve learned to listen to the alert in my head when something isn’t right.”
“That must come in handy in the courtroom,” Mack said, avoiding the question.
“More than you think.”
“Could you just go already?”
The strident woman’s voice made him look up from his phone. Joanie stood red-faced at his car door with her hands on her hips. Anger was etched on her features. John appeared next to her and pulled gently on her arm to urge her away.
“I’m not going until he leaves. Don’t you get it? You’re done leeching off us now. Go away,” she yelled.
Mack saw John’s eyes dart to the side and followed them to notice several neighbors now watching the show. Crap! Could this get any worse?
Thud! His car shook as he looked back at Joanie, who was poised to kick his car again.
“I’m leaving, Joanie. Step back so I don’t hurt you,” Mack yelled through the glass as he started the car. He saw John drop her arm and loop his arm around her waist to drag her away. Immediately, Mack turned on the car and pulled away from the curb.
He’d made it a block and a half when he realized Grey was still on the phone. “Sorry, Grey. My life is a train wreck now. I’d run the other way if I were you.”
“I’ve never been a runner, Mack. Can you bring up my address on your phone? Come here and we’ll figure out what to do,” Grey directed.
“I really don’t want to drag you into this.”
“Three. Pull over in the next parking lot.”
A minute later, Mack announced, “I’m in a parking spot.”
“Check your phone for my address. Select it and tell me how long it will take for you to get here.”
“You know, you’re not my Daddy. You don’t get to spank me, and you don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“Four. Take a few deep breaths, Mack. Do you want to check for damage on your car?”
“No. There’s not much she could do to this car. That was one of the reasons she wanted me gone. Joanie didn’t want the neighbors to think they were subversive. John’s as clean-cut as possible. I didn’t fit in with her view of what suburbia was supposed to be.”
“Sounds like John’s marriage isn’t going to last long. You ready to merge back into traffic?”
“Yeah. I’m going to fill up my tank at the gas station and then I’ll be there.”
“Good idea. I’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks, Grey. I needed a friend.”
“You need much more than that.”
In ten minutes, he was back on the road with a candy bar and a soft drink. He could eat it later when he figured out where to stay tonight. Navigating out of the suburbs, Mack discovered a whole new area he’d never seen before. It wasn’t inner city or mid-town. Grey lived in a revitalized section of town that consisted of quaint, Victorian houses, rustic cottages, and sleek tradesman homes.
Spotting Grey on the front lawn, he followed the older man’s directions to pull into the driveway. He loved the look—high-pitched roof with gables, brick, chiseled stone, and some decorative beams. Of course, Grey lived in a Tudor-style home.
Pulling himself back to reality, he lowered the window. “This car leaks oil sometimes. I’ll park it in the street so it doesn’t make a mess on your driveway.”
“Pull it into the garage. There’s an empty bay with a mat on top of the coated floor. It’s protected in there.”
Done making decisions, Mack followed his directions. Getting out of the car, he apologized. “I’m so…”
“Stop right there. I’m glad to have you here. Let’s grab your stuff and take it in. I’ve got soup on the stove. I’m hungry now. I bet you are, too.”
“I don’t have to stay here. I can find somewhere else,” Mack lied.
“Five. Come on in. I wouldn’t ask you here if I didn’t want you to be here. Okay?”
“Okay.”
They emptied his car in a jiffy. Mack gave Grey the light suitcase and hefted the one with all his clothes inside out of the trunk. Grey led him inside. The house was beautifully decorated. It wasn’t fancy, but comfortable with big leather couches and a giant TV in the family room where the garage door connected. A big kitchen with a huge island was made for cooking.