The Nature of Love (Love in the Spotlight #3)

Chapter 10

Ten

Lord God, no....

Chris turned to the officer as he held Erykah and kept his voice low. “What about her nieces? Were they in the car too?”

“Her sister had children?” Officer Pratt’s face reddened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask the detective on the case. I have his number and can find out.”

“Please. She has two nieces.” Chris thought back to what Erykah had shared with him. “Um, Cheyenne and Ashlynn are their names, I believe.”

Officer Pratt took out a cell, then dialed a number. “Yes, this is Officer Pratt with the Colorado Springs PD. May I speak to Detective Harold Spence?”

Chris listened as Officer Pratt relayed the information to the detective.

“Hold on.” The officer turned to Chris. “There were no kids in the car. They’re going to send an officer to their house to look for them. Do you know if Dr. Kennedy can fly out there and head to the police station?”

“I’ll make sure she’s on the first plane out.” Even if Chris had to buy the plane ticket himself.

E rykah’s cries hadn’t stopped, but they had gone down in volume. She probably wasn’t even aware of what was going on around her.

The officer conveyed the new info, then hung up. “They’ll have to notify CPS but will note that Dr. Kennedy will be out there as soon as possible. Detective Spence asked me to pass along his number.”

Chris pulled out his cell from his inside jacket pocket. “I’m ready.” He typed in the number, then put the phone away.

Sympathy crossed the officer’s face. “I’m sorry to come with such tragic news. I’m glad she has you with her.”

Chris closed his eyes. She was going to have to bury two of her family members. His breath stuck in his chest as he tried to formulate a prayer. Help her, Lord. Please just help her.

“Will they be giving her any further updates, or will she have to wait until we get there?”

“I can pass along your number, but more than likely, they’ll reach out to Dr. Kennedy only.”

Chris gave Officer Pratt his contact info just in case.

“I’ll see myself out.”

After locking the door behind the officer, Chris pulled Erykah back into his arms. She turned her face into his shirt, wetting it with tears. Charlie jumped up on the couch and placed his head on her lap.

“I know, boy. It’s up to us to be here for her.”

He couldn’t see how she would get through this. As far as Chris was aware, Ellynn had been Erykah’s only family. Now she was gone. He had no idea whether her brother-in-law had family. That would be something he’d have to find out and help her navigate.

Chris rubbed Erykah’s back until her cries finally subsided, and she shifted in his arms.

“Please tell me it was a dream.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“ I wish I could,” he spoke softly. “But I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

“I don’t even know where to begin.” She shot up, almost slamming the bottom of his chin with the top of her head in the process.

“What about the girls?” she cried. “Were they in the car?”

“The detective said no one else was in the car. They’re sending someone to the house to get them.” Chris gave her the Lexington police officer’s information.

“I need to go.” She wiped her face, then pulled her cell from the end table, unlocking the device with facial recognition. “I need a plane ticket out of here.”

Actually ... he did know a man who owned a plane. Grier was associated with one of the board members at Gamble on Nature. Sometimes he flew them around Colorado or other areas if needed. Chris would call him and ask for a favor, but first, he needed to get some prayers going.

Chris

My friend just received some tragic news. Pray for her.

Tuck

Wait *her*?

Chris

Not now. I’ll fill you in later.

Lamont

Praying.

Tuck

Sorry, man. Praying.

Chris got up from the couch and found Grier in his contacts. He spoke low into the receiver.

“Gamble, what’s up, man?”

“Hey, Grier. Listen, I need a favor. Any way you can fly a friend out to Lexington, Kentucky, today? Her sister and brother-in-law were killed in a car accident, and now her nieces are without their parents.”

“Oh my word. I’m so sorry, Gamble. Let me check today’s schedule.”

Chris glanced at Erykah, who had tears streaming down her cheeks while she maintained an intense focus on her phone.

“I can fly out at noon. How’s that?”

A quick look at his watch showed 10:00 a.m. “Give me a sec.” He muted the phone and walked toward Erykah. “Any luck with flights?”

“No. There’s nothing going out until midnight.” She bit her bottom lip.

“So I know a guy.” Her gaze fixed on him. “He can fly you out in a couple of hours.”

“Yes. I’ll take it.” Desperation shone in her eyes.

He hated this for her. “Then I’ll get everything handled for you.”

“Thank you so much. Just let me know how much it is.”

Chris nodded, but he had no plans of making her pay for the flight. “Hey, Grier, she’ll be there. Put it on my tab.”

“Nah, man. This is on the house. I’m sorry it’s under such difficult circumstances.”

Chris glanced at Erykah. “Do you have room for one more and a dog?” Could he really let her go by herself? What kind of friend would he be if he let her walk into darkness all alone?

“You coming along?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be late.”

“We won’t.” Chris hung up and walked to Erykah. “Okay, here’s the plan. Go get packed, and I’ll get Charlie’s stuff r eady. Then we’ll make our way to my friend Grier. He can fly us out at noon. By the time you’re packed, and we drive there, we should be right on time. We’ll be in Kentucky about five thirty eastern time.”

She blinked. “We?”

“Is that okay?” Chris held out a hand. “I just want to be a support system for you. I won’t be a nuisance. I promise.”

Fresh tears fell, and she squeezed his hand. “I can’t ask that of you.”

“You’re not. I’m offering. No strings. Just a friend being there for another friend.”

She threw herself into his arms, body shuddering from another wave of tears. “I’ve never had a friend like you before,” she whispered, then withdrew.

“I’m so sorry, Erykah. I don’t want to give you any platitudes, any clichés, because you’ll quickly grow tired of them.” And how he hated that he knew that. “But I’ll be here. I’ll listen to you vent. Let you cry in peace. Whatever you need. I promise I’ll be there.”

She gave a wobbly nod.

His mind scrambled to think of everything they needed. “I hate to ask, but did your sister have a will? Any kind of guardianship paperwork for the girls? I wasn’t sure of the situation with your brother-in-law’s family.”

“Um...” Erykah’s voice trailed off. “I don’t know, but if she did, they’d probably be in her home office. And Asher didn’t have family. His parents were pretty old and died when he was in college. One from a heart attack, I believe, and the other from a stroke.”

So much tragedy all around. “I see.”

She rose to her feet. “Are we driving to your house first, so you can pack?”

“I actually have a go bag in the trunk of the Bronco. Never k now when I’m going to have an animal crisis that requires a change of clothes. Sometimes you get sprayed.” He made a face like What can you do?

A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. “You can’t live on one change of clothes. There must be time for you to go home and back.”

He shook his head. “Grier said not to be late. I don’t want to be responsible for you missing that flight. Besides, I have at least two outfits in there, and I’m sure there are stores in Kentucky.”

He thought about Tuck. Maybe there was a possibility he’d be able to see his friend in person. Though they’d last seen each other in May for the Kentucky Derby, it felt a lot longer than five months.

“I’ll take Charlie for a bathroom break, then be back up.” He motioned to the pup.

“’Kay.”

Chris headed for the elevator, out the front doors, then to the grassy knoll. The pup nosed around the area. “Charlie, you’ll need to be on your best behavior. Erykah needs us. We gotta be there for her.”

The dog watered the leaves and looked at Chris as if saying Duh . Chris cracked a smile.

He pulled out his cell and dialed Tuck.

“Hey, man, what’s going on?”

“Where do I start?” He blew out a breath. “My friend’s sister and brother-in-law were killed in a car accident. We’re flying into Lexington around five thirty your time. Is it possible you could give us a ride to the police station? At least, I’m assuming that’s the first place she needs to go.”

“Absolutely. How is she handling the news?”

“About as well as can be expected.”

“I’m really sorry, man. I’ll be praying. See you later.”

“ Thanks, Tuck.” He pocketed his cell, then looked up into the sky, picturing the Lord watching over him and Erykah. He’d need the Lord’s guidance over the next few days, weeks even, if Chris had to guess. Please help her. Please guide us and see us safely to her nieces.

While Charlie continued to snoop around the bushes, Chris took a moment to let his own emotions out. By the time he composed himself, Charlie was ready to head back up.

Erykah had tears running down her face once more. He rushed to her. “What happened?”

“Detective Spence called. Cheyenne and Ash were at home with a babysitter.” She sniffed. “I know you said they weren’t in the car, but it was such a relief for him to confirm it.”

“Are they staying with the babysitter?”

She shook her head. “They’re calling in a social worker and bringing them to the station. I told him we’d be landing about five thirty. He said he’ll make sure social services knows that.”

“Did they find a will?” Chris asked.

“They won’t search their house for it. We’ll have to do that and file with the court and show any documents to CPS.”

He nodded. “Are you all packed?”

“Almost.”

“All right. Let me get Charlie ready, and we’ll be there for your nieces as soon as possible.”

“I can’t thank you enough.”

“Please, I wouldn’t be able to rest if I didn’t help you. It’s my honor.”

A tremulous smile covered her lips, but the sadness in her eyes nearly undid him. The quicker they could get to Kentucky, the better.