The Best of Me(89)

She forced a smile as she popped the top off a bottle and walked it down to him. As she neared the end of the bar, he called out a question, but headlights suddenly flashed on the door, either from a passing car or someone pulling into the lot, and she found herself glancing toward the entrance. Waiting.

When no one came in, she heaved a sigh of relief.

“Candy?”

His voice brought him back to her. He pushed his shiny black hair off his forehead.

“I’m sorry. What?”

“I asked how your day’s been going so far.”

“Peachy,” she answered with a sigh. “Just peachy.”



Frank sat in a chair across from her, still slightly swaying, his gaze unfocused. Amanda did her best to pretend he wasn’t there.

Other than that, she couldn’t concentrate on anything except her fear and thoughts of Jared. In the silence of the room, entire years of her son’s life were magically compressed. She remembered how small he’d felt when she’d held him in her arms in his first weeks of life. She remembered combing his hair and packing a sandwich in a Jurassic Park lunch box on his first day of kindergarten. She recalled his nervousness before his first middle school dance; the way he drank milk from the carton, no matter how many times she’d asked him not to. Every now and then, she’d be startled from her memories by the sounds of the hospital and remember where she was and what was happening. And then the dread would take hold of her once again.

Before he’d left, the doctor had told them the surgery might take hours, might even last until midnight, but she wondered whether someone would give them an update before then. She wanted to know what was happening. She wanted someone to explain it to her in a way she’d understand, but what she really wanted was for someone to hold her and promise that her little boy—even if he was now almost a man—was going to be okay.



Abee stood in Candy’s bedroom, his lips forming a tight line as he took it all in.

Her closet was empty. Her drawers were empty. The damn bathroom vanity was empty.

No wonder she hadn’t answered the phone earlier. Candy had been busy packing her things. And when she had finally answered the phone? Why, she must have forgotten to mention anything about her little plans to leave town.

But no one left Abee Cole. No one.

And what if it was because of that new boyfriend of hers? What if they planned to run off together?

The idea was enough to make him bolt out the shattered back door. Rounding the house, he hurried to the truck, knowing he had to get to the Tidewater now.

Candy and her little boy were going to learn a lesson tonight. Both of them. The kind of lesson neither was likely to forget.





20




The night was as dark as any Dawson could remember. No moon, only endless black above, punctuated by the faint flicker of stars.

He was getting close to Oriental now and couldn’t escape the feeling that he was somehow making a mistake by returning. He’d have to pass through the town to reach Tuck’s, and he knew his cousins could be waiting for him anywhere.

Up ahead, beyond the curve where his life had changed forever, Dawson noticed the glow of Oriental’s lights, rising beyond the tree line. If he was going to change his mind, he needed to do it now.

Unconsciously, he eased his foot off the pedal, and it was then, as the car slowed down, that Dawson felt suddenly that he was being watched.



Abee squeezed the wheel tight as the truck roared through town, tires squealing. He took a hard left into the parking lot of the Tidewater, sending the truck skidding as he slammed on the brakes in a handicapped spot. For the first time since smashing up the Stingray, even Ted was showing signs of life, the anticipation of violence heavy in the truck.

The truck had barely come to a halt before Abee leapt out, Ted close behind. Abee couldn’t get his mind around the fact that Candy had been lying to him. She’d obviously been planning her little escape for some time and believed that he wouldn’t find out. It was time to teach her just who made the rules around here. Because you see, Candy, it sure as hell ain’t you.

As he stormed toward the entrance, Abee noticed that Candy’s Mustang convertible wasn’t in the lot, which meant she’d probably parked it somewhere else. At some guy’s house, both of them probably laughing behind Abee’s back. He could just hear Candy laughing at what a fool Abee was, and the thought made him want to blast through the door, aim the gun in the direction of the bar, and just start pulling the trigger.

But he wasn’t going to do that. Oh, no. Because first, she had to understand exactly what was going on. She had to understand that he made the rules.

Beside him Ted was remarkably steady on his feet, almost excited. Faint strains of music from the jukebox came from inside, the neon rope that spelled out the name of the bar painting their faces with a reddish glow.