“Right. Where do you keep the spoons?”
She pulled one out from the drawer in front of her and handed it to me. I doctored my coffee and grabbed Penny’s mug.
She gave me a look. “I could handle that.”
I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t argue. “I’m sure you could, but this morning, I’ve got it.”
Raegan came back into the kitchen. “Okay, Mom, what’s it gonna be today? There’s still some boiled eggs in the fridge, or I can poach a couple for you.”
Penny sighed. “Over easy with a side of bacon.”
Raegan gave Penny an impatient look. “You know better, Mom. Or I could put together some yogurt and granola for you... it might get you prepared for the tofu lunch Clint’s bringing you next week.”
Penny’s smile was fake. “Thanks, but no thanks, my dear. I suppose I’ll go with poached eggs if it isn’t any trouble.”
“It never is,” she said to the pan she filled with water. She glanced over her shoulder. “Clint? You want poached eggs? If I thought she’d behave, I’d offer your eggs any way you want them, but I know she’d pull a muscle trying to get your plate if I fixed fried eggs.”
I chuckled. “Be nice, Raegan. If you got any toast, I’ll take two poached eggs.”
“Bread’s in the freezer, Clint. We have rye or whole wheat because my daughter is determined for me to be healthy.”
Raegan whipped her head to Penny. “Mom! You can’t ask him to get his own toast. He’s a guest!”
I opened the freezer. “It’s not a problem, Raegan.”
“If anybody’s a guest around here, it’s you, Rae. He’s had his key for years now, and he comes by once a week, often times more. He’s an able-bodied man, and I’m sure he can operate a toaster.”
That was putting it on a little thick, and my mother was the queen at guilt trips.
“Penny. Leave her be and drink your coffee.”
She glowered at me and I raised my eyebrows at her. I felt Raegan’s eyes on me, but I focused on the bread. “You want any toast, Penny? What about you, Rae?”
Both women said no, so I put two slices down.
Fifteen minutes later, the three of us sat around the kitchen table in an awkward silence.
Raegan looked at me, looked away and looked back to me a couple of times before she finally found the courage to speak.
“I hesitate to ask this, but... do you have any pointers on how I’m gonna get the rental car back? I mean, like I told the officers, the last thing I remember is loading the last bag into the trunk, and nothing.”
Hearing her tell the cops that last night wasn’t easy and it wasn’t any easier hearing her repeat it. I exhaled slowly. “You need to tell the rental company. Didn’t you do that last night?”
Her head wobbled. “Tried. There wasn’t a live person to be found when I called the number on the website for the rental insurance.”
I squinted one eye.
She rolled her eyes. “No, Clint. I didn’t keep the rental agreement separate from the car. I already heard about that mistake from Officer Daniels last night.”
The doorbell rang before I could advise her.
Raegan pushed from the table and I pointed a finger at her. “You stay here. I’ll see who’s at the door.”
It wasn’t likely the bastards who took her yesterday would come back, but stranger shit had happened when I was on the force.
Through the sheet of glass serving as their front door, I saw Tanya with her sons in tow. Just what I didn’t need this morning.
With a smile on my face, I opened the door speaking. “This isn’t really a good time, Tanya. We appreciate your concern, but Ragean’s—”
She cocked her hip as a foot jutted out. “I’m not here for Raegan, though I’m glad she’s fine this morning. It was clear she was gonna be okay last night. We’re here for Penny. Her doctor said she could get out and about, so she has a standing date with us every Thursday morning. I drive her and the boys to the park, then we come back after,” she paused, leaned forward, and lowered her voice to a whisper, “a trip to a drive-through. Whatever Miss Penny’s feelin’ works for me and the boys. But don’t tell Raegan.”
I choked trying to prevent my laughter. When I had it under control, I nodded. “Got it. Penny’s not dressed yet, you want to come inside?”
She shook her head. “Nope. It’ll take me ten minutes before I pull the car around. Tell Penny to come out when she’s ready.”
I wandered back to the kitchen, shaking my head.
“Who was at the door?”
I grinned. “Tanya. She’s here to pick up Penny. They have a standing Thursday morning trip to the park.”
Rae’s brows furrowed. “What? Neither one of them mentioned this.”
“She probably gave it a rest with Wynnie’s death.”
Raegan looked ready to argue. I put my hand on hers and gentled my tone. “Let her go with them, Rae. It will do her good.”
Once Penny left, the look on Raegan’s face spoke volumes. She did not like me being in the house.
“Honey, I hate to break this to you, but I’m not leaving.”
Panic crossed with confusion lit her face. “Why?”
I took a deep breath. “Yesterday, you ran out alone, and didn’t make it back here of your own accord. If you think I’m leaving you alone so those fuckers can strike again, you’re crazy.”
“Clint—”
“No arguments. Take a shower, get dressed, do whatever it is you do in the mornings. When you’re ready, I’ll take you to Target, see if your car is still there. If not, we’ll figure shit out with the rental company.”
Raegan
IN CLINT’S SUV FOR the second time, I wondered why he was doing this.
I was grateful, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t get an Uber to Target to check on the car. Then again, I didn’t have the keys, so maybe that wouldn’t have worked
