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I step out of the shower, the penthouse is quiet. I figure that Lilly has gone to sleep since we drove most of the day to get here, I’m exhausted and I don’t doubt that she is too. When I head into the bedroom the bed is empty. I pad over to the other rooms in the penthouse, no sign of Lilly. Her bag is still here, the Rolls key is gone from the bar and so is her purse. Maybe she went to grab a bite to eat and will be back in a few minutes, when she’s calmed down.
I hadn’t thought she would think that me wanting to give her some of my money, take her on a romantic getaway, and make love to her as me wanting something from her. I just want her to see the love. I wait in the living area and a half hour passes.
I’m getting more nervous by the minute. I decide to call Chris and see if Lilly called Kathy recently. Our conversation is short, but she hasn’t called Kathy which worries me. An hour has gone by and no sign of Lilly. It’s getting close to five in the morning I pull out my phone and schedule a flight to Abilene it leaves at five and it’ll land in Abilene shortly after noon.
I pack up the few things that I’d unpacked and dress for the flight. I grab our bags and head down to the main lobby. I’ve called a cab and it shows up shortly thereafter.
The ride to the airport is a short one and I can’t get Lilly off my mind. I’m worried sick about her. She hasn’t slept in almost a day so she’s a hazard to herself and other drivers. Once I’ve checked the bags and got my ticket I dial up Chris’ number while running to the gate where they are starting to board the plane.
“Hello?” He must have fallen back asleep after my first call.
“It’s me Chris.” I say to him getting a sleepy yawn from him.
“Have you heard from Lilly?” I ask I’m sure my voice is laced with worry.
“No I still haven’t heard anything from her.” He informs me that she still hasn’t called Kathy or himself. He also informs me that he tried to call her a few times and she didn’t answer.
“I’m catching the red eye to Abilene I’ll be there around noon. Do you think you could pick me up?” I ask my best friend.
“Yes, you should beat her here. Do you want me to put an all points bulletin out on her?” He asks but I know he’s ready to do it for me.
“No, I want to give her time to get home before I really start to worry.” I answer him, but I know that my voice is giving away the fact that I am already worried about her.
I board the flight and take my seat I’m so anxious to get to Abilene that I practically wish the plane would take off right at this moment, it seems to take hours to go through the pre-flight bull shit, but finally we are in the air and all I can do is say a prayer that Lilly will arrive safely at home tonight.
I manage to doze off while the plane cruises to Houston. There I have about an hour layover and then on to Abilene, there is nothing I can do in the air aside from pray and sleep.
I wake up just as we are starting our decent to Houston. I hear the stewardess telling us the temperature and thanking us for flying their airline and all of the end of flight bull shit. When we land I try to be one of the first people off of the plane. Once off the plane I check to see where my next flight is going to be taking off from. Just my luck its completely across the airport from where I landed.
I start walking towards the gate that my flight is scheduled to take off from. My one hour lay over is now down to forty five minutes, it took fifteen to land, deplane, and find where I needed to be. Now I’m speed walking while powering my phone back on to see if I have any missed calls.
None. Fuck. She is really pissed at me. I take the next moment to call Chris and get a check up from him. He hasn’t heard from Lilly either. I let him know where I’m at and what flight I’m coming in on.
Just as I get to the gate they are starting to board the plane, and of course I’m on one of the first rows to be seated. I’m out of breath and I have to sit and wait while the plane boards. That’s going to be a fun thirty minutes. Oh well, I’ll try to call Lilly. It rings and rings and finally goes to voice mail. At least I know that her phone is on. She’s either not answering because she’s driving and doesn’t want to be distracted, or she’s pissed. I kind of bet on both.
My second flight finally takes off and a short time later we are in Abilene. It’s just after noon I rush and wait for my two bags at the carousel. As I head out of the airport Chris is standing by his cruiser waiting on me. When he spots me he walks over and helps me with the luggage. This would have been a shit ton easier if she hadn’t of made me chase her across three states, well when a man does this for a woman she’s gotta be worth it.
Chris questions me on what happened in Las Vegas, I try to explain about the way she read into my actions of the whole day. The truth is that yesterday was the only day that I could get all the lawyers, judge and her together in order to get the paperwork moving so she could start getting her money. Money that I wanted her to have. I didn’t want to give her money for sex.
I’m beating myself up for being so stupid and not realizing that she would think that I was paying her for sex. Chris has been talking to me trying to help me realize that what a woman who had always had great relationships would see my actions as, and what Lilly had been through made her look for the bad in everyone. He’s trying to help me not to blame myself for her reactions, but I can’t help but kick myself in the ass.
He drops me off at my house and then returns to his place to catch some sleep before his night shift. I walk into the house and obviously she’s not there by my calculation she’ll be home later this evening. I’m going to have to wait. The house feels so empty without her in it. I pace the house watching the time go by at a snails pace.
I’ve made some decisions by the time that three in the afternoon has struck. I’ve been on the phone with Billy since shortly after two. Billy has gotten both my permission and the rental company’s permission to track the Rolls. It’s moving towards Abilene. Right now she’s in New Mexico. She’s driving the speed limit so I know that she’s somewhat safe. Billy has to charge his cell phone so he and I disconnect the call with his promise to update me if the signal goes in the wrong direction, or stops for too long. I wonder what he considers too long. She’s been awake for over twenty four hours, she could stop for a nap if she wants to, or get a hotel room. I guess if it stopped at a hotel he would let me know so that I know she’s safe, but if she just stops how long is too long? This question starts to nag at me.
I’ve decided that if she’s not home by sunrise I’m going to have to put out an all points bulletin for the car and her. I don’t want to do that to her. Not only would she likely be pulled over, and I know how she feels about most cops, plus they may pull their sidearms on her, something that I know she’s seen down the barrel of more than once. The other things I’d have to do is start to look for her, and tell Luke that his mom is missing. Something I don’t look forward to doing either.