Rescue Me(55)

“Erin, dear. I know this is upsetting to you, but honey I just need to know. Is my son all right?”

Shit!

“Emily, I really don’t know what to tell you and I don’t know how much Shelby has told you.”

“She really didn’t tell me anything. Joel contacted us when he got out of prison a few weeks ago. We tried to tell him he could come home, but he said he didn’t want anything to do with us.”

“Emily, how did you even know he was here?” I press the issue.

“I didn’t. I just took a wild guess that he would try and find you and Sierra and I’m right, aren’t I? Oh dear, honey, please tell me he didn’t hurt you. Please. I don’t think I could live with myself if he did.”

Straightening my spine and looking at my sister, I lie.

“He hasn’t hurt me.”

“Oh, thank God,” she gasps. “You have seen him though, right?”

“I have, and he...he looks... oh, Emily. He doesn’t look good at all.”

I close my eyes as I know she has got to be hurting hearing these words. “I really don’t have much more to tell you. I really don’t.”

I hear her sniffling and know that she is crying. “I am so sorry, Emily.”

“God, Erin. I’m the one who’s sorry. I don’t know where I went wrong with him. He’s my son and even though he has done some horrific things in the past, I love him.”

The guilt in her voice is so clear.

“Emily, none of what happened was your fault at all. Joel made his own choices back then and he is making them now. I know you love your son, and I promise if I hear from him again I will let you know.”

I feel a pang of guilt set in because there is no way I will be the one calling her when Joel is found. I get a huge lump in my throat as I finish up my conversation with one of the kindest women I have ever met, and my heart breaks for her in more ways than one.

“You’re a good girl, dear. How is my little granddaughter doing? She must be getting so big.”

“She is getting so big and she loves her new school. This move was the best thing for both of us.”

I chew on my lip and turn my attention to Shelby who is just sitting at the table actually twiddling her thumbs. I stifle a laugh and continue on with my conversation.

“Are you dating anyone Erin?”

“Umm. As a matter of fact, I am.” I kind of put a little too much enthusiasm in the ‘I am’ part.

“That’s wonderful. You deserve to be happy.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more. He’s truly perfect.”

Shelby rolls her eyes at my effervescence.

“Who’s perfect?” Adam asks as he comes around the corner and makes his way to the fridge giving me a picture perfect view of his sculpted ass.

“Hey, Emily. I will keep you posted if we hear from him again, okay?” I tell my ex mother-in-law while never taking my eyes off of the incredible man who is now chugging a bottle of water as he holds my gaze.

“Thank you, Erin. Please give Sierra a hug for us.”

“I will. Take care.”

I sigh deeply as I set the phone down on the counter and jolt when I feel strong arms encircle my waist.

“Joel’s mom?” Adam asks.

“Yes. Apparently Joel called her when he got out and she asked him to come home. Of course he declined, and she wanted to know if we heard from him.”

I spin myself around and put my hands up against his chest. I fill Adam in on the rest of the conversation and all the while out of my peripheral vision I can see Shelby looking down at the floor. Something is up with her and I am going to find out what the heck it is. Adam gives me a short but sweet kiss, and as he starts to walk away he turns back around with a wink and says,

“I’ll show you just how perfect I am later, sweet cheeks.”

Yes, please!

Once Adam is out of sight, I turn to my sister.

“Okay, Shelby. Spill, girl. What is going on with you?”

I pull out a chair and sit down next to her. She shrugs.

“Come on. I know you, sis.”

“Erin, you have been through so much. You don’t need to listen to my bullshit on top of everything else,” she says as she gets up and starts taking items out of the fridge for what I assume is dinner. She has kind of taken over the kitchen since she has been here, which is fine by me.

“Shelby, stop that. Now tell me, what’s going on?”

She sighs and places the vegetables on the counter. “I feel like such a fool telling you this. Then again, nothing is going to come of it, anyway.”

Her face turns a light shade of red. OH MY GOD, my sister is blushing! I know her so well that I know the exact reason, or should I say person, who is causing it.