Finding Him Again by ER Fallon

Author:ER Fallon [Fallon, ER]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2016-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

1998

It was late in the afternoon on the day after King and I had returned to the orchard. Sheriff Charlie’s office was inside a low, tan building behind Main Street, with a small parking lot out back.

Mama parked Daddy’s truck and instructed us kids to hop out. Sunlight poured through the filmy windshield and illuminated Mama’s face in a way that highlighted all her little flaws. She pressed her hands on the dashboard, lost in her private thoughts. Then she watched us step down to the sidewalk.

I peered up, and she still sat in Daddy’s seat.

“You’re coming in with us?” I asked.

Mama breathed out. “I am, sweetheart.” She collected the pocketbook she’d crocheted herself last year and had tucked behind her seat before starting Daddy’s truck back at home. I’d watched Daddy standing in the driveway, where he said he’d remain and wait for Fern, looking on as Mama left with King and me. Daddy hadn’t wanted Mama to take us to the sheriff, and they’d had a loud argument about it as we were preparing to leave. Fern’s blue car parked in the driveway was a visceral reminder of his absence. Where had he gone?

Inside Sheriff Charlie’s building, Mama spoke with a tall, slim woman sitting behind a small, high front desk, her red hair done up in a ponytail with a curl at the front. The woman took us to a large, private office with ‘Sheriff’ emblazoned on the frosted-glass door.

Sheriff Charlie, who socialized with Daddy at the veterans’ organization, sat in a high-backed chair behind a long, shiny, wooden desk. He glanced up at us from writing down notes, thanked the woman who’d escorted us, then gestured for the three of us to sit down.

“Charlie, you know my son Fern?” Mama said, arranging her purse in her lap.

“After all those sports games, how couldn’t I know Fern?” Sheriff Charlie interrupted, ceasing his work and resting his hands behind his head, leaning back.

He smiled at King and me. “Hello, there. Feels good to be home? We’re all real glad for that.” He winked. Then he looked over at Mama again. “What can I do for you?”

“Fern hasn’t come home after going to look for his sister last night.” Mama nodded at me.

“All of us in town were out looking pretty late,” the sheriff said. He grinned my way. “We were sure glad when your daddy found you.”

“But those men returned to their homes, and my son hasn’t,” Mama said, her voice quaking with fear.

“Tell you what. I’ll head out, see what I can find,” Sheriff Charlie said, his voice restrained and comforting. “But you know, Fern’s eighteen. He might’ve just wanted some space. A lot of boys are like that in those years. I remember I—” he said, reminiscing.

“I know my son, and I know he didn’t run away intentionally,” Mama cut in. “Fern’s car’s still at home. He loves that car and wouldn’t leave without it. Listen to what these kids have to say to you.” She nodded at King and me.

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