made plans for the day.
“Megan, the boys said you needed to go to town today.”
Patty’s smile included her and Vonnie. “Would you two like to go in with me?
There’s a cute coffee shop that just opened. We can spend some girl-time
together.”
“Is that safe?” Megan’s dad set down his fork. He’d barely
made a dent in his plate. He didn’t look well, and his bad hip seemed to be
worse than when she’d seen him years ago.
“We’ll go with, in a separate vehicle.” Trey finished the
final bite of his eggs. “We’ll stay close.”
Megan liked the plan. She’d have time to spend with both the
mothers, and a chance to sneak away from the mothers and buy some supplies at
the pharmacy. She felt her cheeks warm and she glanced at Garret.
He winked.
Focusing on her mother, she smiled. “That sounds nice,
doesn’t it, Mom? Some girl-time?”
Vonnie looked at her husband who nodded.
“I’d love to.” Vonnie sipped her coffee. “I should buy a few
things I forgot, anyway.”
“Good. I’ll let you three get reunited, and I’ll come back
to pick you up in an hour.” Patty rose and grabbed the coffee pot as Inez set a
platter heaping with frosted cinnamon rolls in the middle of the table.
Derrick took the first one. “Best rolls in Texas, Inez.” He
glanced at his boys. “And good nap food.”
Everyone but Megan’s parents laughed, and Derrick leaned
toward her dad. “While the women folk are in town, Brian, I intend to catch up
on my sleep.”
Her dad smiled slightly. “Pass me a roll, then. I noticed a
rather comfy looking couch in the living room of the guest house.”
Patty looked at Vonnie and shook her head. “You married a
sleeper too, huh?”
****
When breakfast ended, and Inez refused to let anyone help
with the dishes, Patty and Derrick drove back to the old homestead.
Megan stood. “We can sit on the porch and talk.”
Her parents followed her out and they chose a grouping of
chairs that overlooked the endless landscape.
“Dad.” She squeezed his hand and released it. “How are you?”
“Your father needs a hip replacement.”
Brian glared at his wife. “I don’t need it right now. I can
still get around just fine.”
Her father hadn’t mentioned it the last time they spoke.
Her mother sat back and laced her fingers together in her
lap, her lips tight.
“Was the flight difficult?” Megan looked between them. “You
really didn’t have to come, you know.”
“We wanted to help.” Her dad shifted in his seat. “We know
we weren’t there for you when the stalker was a problem for you in college, but
we want to make up for that now.”
Megan hadn’t expected them to back down from the censure
they heaped on her for leaving the security of her family and “attracting a
stalker with her vulnerability.”
“When we heard from that man’s parole officer...” Her father
closed his eyes for a few seconds before looking at Megan. “The PO couldn’t
find you, we couldn’t get in touch...” He blinked a few times. “If we ever lost
you, daughter, I don’t know what we’d do.”
Megan’s heart thudded at his mournful look. “I’m sorry. I
should have told you where I was vacationing. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Vonnie leaned forward, her eyes intense. “We want to take
you back with us.”
“Yes, Inez had said you’d mentioned that when you spoke on
the phone yesterday.” Megan smiled softly. “I do appreciate it, but I’ve—”
“Well, just a second.” Her dad held up a hand. “Listen to
what we have planned. We spoke with the McGatlins this morning before you came
downstairs. We discussed the plan your mother and I have.”
Megan bit her tongue. She was thirty years old, and her
parents were making plans for her with her boyfriends and their parents? Just
peachy.
“The local police will help.” Her dad ticked it off on his
finger. “We have a security system in the parish house, and one of the
neighbors offered to be on