Twenty-Seven

Rusty sat on the couch in the family room—another part of the house he tended to avoid. A large photo of his family stared at him. Everyone was smiling and happy. Somehow the photographer had managed to get both boys looking directly into the camera while smiling. It was something Rusty had rarely been able to do.

He stared at their features, wondering what they would look like if they were still with him. Both would be handsome young men, that much was certain. They’d both inherited much of their mother’s features. Everyone always said that if they weren’t two years apart, they could have been twins. He’d only ever been able to see their differences, but now, somehow, he could see what everyone meant.

“So, I told your mom about Laura.” He leaned back against the cushions. “The nice lady who lives next door to your Aunt Mandy. Have you met her up there? I bet you guys would love each other. It’s too bad I never made sure you guys all met here.” 

Rusty sighed, feeling defeated. He’d made so many wrong decisions. If he’d been with them that night… If he’d only swallowed his pride and reconciled with Mandy… 

So many regrets. Too many mistakes.

Everyone he cared about was dead.

Not everyone. Laura’s beautiful smiling face came to mind followed by Brady’s mischievous grin and Kaylie’s spunky laugh. He really did love those kids. And Laura… he definitely had feelings for her. 

Part of him wanted to go back and make sure they were all okay. Between the texts and the vandalisms, he had real reason to worry about Laura. And those kids with Chris, especially if he’d hurt Mandy.

Rusty leaned his head back against the top of the couch. No, they’d all be better off if he stayed away. They would just end up hurt—maybe even killed. It was obvious that was what happened to those he cared about. And besides all that, if he stayed away, maybe the murderer would leave everyone alone.

Everyone would be better off if he stayed away. He sat up and looked back at the picture of his family. If only he could see them one more time. Or even be with them forever. Like it was supposed to be, before that drunk loser took everything from him. From all of them.

But was he any better than the drunk? He was right back there. Except for one major difference. He wasn’t stupid or cruel enough to climb behind a wheel. He wouldn’t take another person’s life.

He studied each one. Lani. Parker. Tommy. Maybe joining them was the answer. It wasn’t like he was doing any good here. He’d just brought more trouble to Laura and those kids. Laura wouldn’t have gotten involved with Travis’s parties. The DNA testing. And maybe Chris would have been more relaxed without Rusty around.

Going there had been a bad idea all around, for everyone. 

Rusty stared into the eyes of each family member in the picture. “I’ll see you guys real soon.” He turned around and headed for his room. The gun was still there. It would bring him to his family.

He stumbled into the bedroom and stared at the picnic. Two empty bottles, two empty glasses. A picture of a beautiful woman and a card declaring her love for him. 

Yes, it was time to complete the family. Bring them all together where they needed to be.

Rusty sat on the bed and opened the drawer in his nightstand. He stared at the loaded gun. It would only take a moment and everything would be made right.

He reached for it and paused. What about his parents? He didn’t even know how they were handling Mandy’s death. Would they be able to survive losing both of their children in the same month?

Sure, his dad was a bit of a jerk, but he wasn’t heartless. For the most part. And his mom… She was kindhearted. Her only fault, really, was going along with Dad because she thought that was what a good wife should do. Rusty was certain she had longed to reconcile with Mandy years ago.

At least she would have Dad. They could get through it together. They’d held each other up after losing the only grandkids they knew.

Maybe he should leave them a note. Then he would know to reach out to the kids. They could focus on them rather than Rusty and Mandy. 

He found a pad of paper and a pen. For a moment, he thought about how to word the note, then he scribbled it down and set it on his pillow. If Travis really was Brady’s father, then Rusty’s parents might have to raise the boy. Chris would have no rights, and it was obvious Travis wanted nothing to do with him.

Rusty picked up the revolver and cradled it, studying it. His pulse raced, sounding like a drum in his ears. Would this really take him to his family, or was he just kidding himself? If nothing else, it should protect Laura from more threats—or worse.

He slid his fingers around to the trigger and took a deep breath. He thumbed the cylinder and released the latch. He cupped his left hand around it and checked for the bullets. Three. Two more than he would need. He slid the cylinder closed and wiggled it. It was all set. He just needed to…

Take a deep breath.

“I can do this,” he muttered.

His cell phone rang, startling him. He dropped the gun and scrambled to catch it. His fingers wrapped around the handle just before it hit the ground. 

Rusty put it on the bed next to him and looked at the phone. It was Laura. She’d be better off without him. He ignored the call and set the phone back down and reached for the revolver. 

The phone rang again.

“Give it up.” He glanced at the phone again. This time it was Kaylie. 

What if something was wrong? Had Brady gotten hurt?

He picked up the phone. “Kaylie?”

“Uncle Rusty!”

“What’s going on?”

Kaylie gasped for air on the other end. “My dad—they just took him to jail. The cops want to send me and Brady to different foster homes. They—”

“Wait. What? Say that again.”

Kaylie repeated herself. He hadn't heard wrong. His heart dropped to the floor. “Why do they want to separate you?”

“Because there’s no relative to take care of us. You’ve got to come over right away.”

He took a deep breath. “It might take a little while. Is there someone I can talk to?”

“Yeah, but where’ve you been all day?”

“I had some stuff to take care of. I thought Laura was going to tell you guys.”

“Looks like something came up.”

“What do you mean?”

“I better let her tell you. Hold on.”

Shuffling noises sounded through the phone. “Rusty?” Laura’s voice was strained.

“What’s going on over there?”

“It’s a long story.” She sounded out of breath. “I need you to talk to the officer, and tell him you’ll be right over to take care of the kids.”

“Right over?”

“I’ve got to get this blood off me. They want my dress for evidence.”

Terror choked him. “What do you mean? What happened?”

“I’ll tell you when you get here. Here, talk to the officer.”

More shuffling noises. “Is this Russell Caldwell?” asked a deep male voice.

“You can call me Rusty. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“Your brother-in-law is heading downtown to be booked and if a relative can’t take them, we will need to contact DHS.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Bring your identification.”

“Where will the kids be?”

“At the station.”

“Can’t you leave them with Laura?” Rusty exclaimed. 

“She’s not a relative. And she will need to be questioned herself.”

“For what?”

“Just get over here. If you’re not here by dark, I’m going to have to put them in foster care.”

“Please, Uncle Rusty!” Brady begged in the background.

Rusty swore. “I’ll be there. Tell them not to worry.” He ended the call and opened the browser app and searched for available flights. The soonest one was on a crappy airline with a reputation for not keeping the planes in good condition. It would have to do. Otherwise, he wouldn’t make it before dark.

He barely had enough time to make it and get through security. If traffic was decent.

Rusty ran through the house to make sure nothing was plugged in that shouldn’t be—the last thing he needed was another fire. Then he threw some clothes into a suitcase and ran to his truck. Just as he put it in reverse, a police cruiser pulled into his driveway.

“Are you kidding me?” Rusty unrolled his window. “Can I help you?”

“We need to look at the crime scene.”

“You don’t need me here, do you? I need to get to my niece and nephew.”

“Go ahead. We’ll call you if anything comes up.”

Rusty pulled out of the driveway, sending gravel flying behind him.

Luckily, traffic was light. He made it to the airport with a few minutes to spare. Parking and security went without a hitch. He’d even managed to pick a suitcase that was small enough to be carried on the plane. Finally, things were going right. For however long that lasted.

He sat by a window and watched planes land and take off. He could barely concentrate, though. 

What had happened to Laura? Why was she covered in blood? Had Chris attacked her? Travis? Could that be why Chris was in jail? Or had he been found guilty of killing Mandy?

How were the kids doing? Probably scared out of their minds.

A flight attendant called for everyone to board the plane. Rusty rose and grabbed his luggage. His mind raced until he got in his seat. Fortunately, he was next to a window. With any luck, he would either end up with no one next to him or someone who didn’t feel like talking.

He just wanted to get back and take care of Laura and the kids. They needed him—and he wanted to be the one to take care of them. He shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if they’d called five minutes later.

Rusty had been wrong. They weren’t better off without him. And he definitely wasn’t better off without them, either. 

The intercom crackled overhead and a tired-sounding woman told everyone to head to their seats and wait for further instructions. Rusty buckled himself in and relaxed. It looked like he’d have the row to himself after all. 

A bronze-toned, bleach-blonde twenty-something sat next to him. She flashed him a wide smile, showing off unnaturally white teeth. “Phew. Barely made it.”

Rusty forced a smile.

She shoved a bright yellow bag into the overhead compartment and sat, leaving the seat in between them empty. Hopefully that was a good sign.

Rusty pulled out his earbuds, hoping she’d catch the hint.

“I’m Haley.” She held out a hand.

He slid the earbuds in and shook her hand. “Rusty.”

Haley looked him over. “Are you an active guy?”

“Yeah. I’m pretty tired, though. I’m going to get some shut-eye before we land. Big night ahead of me.”

“Really?” She arched a perfectly trimmed brow. “I have something that can help you.”

Rusty gave her a double-take. “Come again?”

Haley smiled and dug into her purse. Its pattern had multi-colored C’s pointing in every direction. She pulled out a brochure of some kind. “Have you heard of Aphro-Deity?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

Haley grabbed his arm. “You’re going to love it!” She flipped through her brochure and stopped at a page near the middle. “These are all totally amazing aphrodisiac products. We’ve got lotions, vitamins, energy drinks, shakes, shampoos, and so much more. Even bronzers.” She looked him over again. “The ladies won’t be able to keep their hands off you with a deeper tan. And then you’ll have the stamina of an eighteen-year-old.” She winked. “I think I have a sample of vitamins in here, too.” 

Rusty glanced around for an escape. The plane was already going down the runway. And all the other seats he could see were occupied. The only empty one sat between him and Haley. Great.

A flight attendant came by and asked Haley about something to drink. While she was distracted, Rusty slid the earbuds into place, leaned back against the seat, and closed his eyes.

“So, as I was saying,” Haley said, her voice barely audible over the music in Rusty’s ears. “Hey, there’s no way you’re asleep. Rusty. Rusty!”

He faked a snore and let his head rest on his shoulder. She grabbed his arm and shook. He let his body move back and forth, but gave no indication of being alert. Finally, she gave up.

Would he be able to get to the kids before dark? What had happened to Laura—why was she covered in blood?

Barely an hour earlier, he thought he’d had nothing to live for. But now he knew better. There were three people who he cared very much for. That much was certain.

And now he had Lani’s blessing. He couldn’t get the line from the card out of his mind: I just want you to be happy always and forever.

Holding Laura, Brady, and Kaylie would make him happy. Seeing them, and knowing they would all be okay. And caring about them wasn’t dishonoring Lani or the boys. In a way, maybe that was doing exactly the opposite.