32. Andy
ANDY
I am holding on by a thread as I walk toward the sheriff’s station on Tuesday morning.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jedd asks next to me.
Piper demanded that she be allowed to go to school today even though neither I nor Jedd wanted her to. After an emergency call with her therapist and the reassurance that normal is okay, Jedd and I walked her directly to her classroom.
“Yes,” I say, even though I don’t want to do this. I need to do this. It’s one thing when Alex uses and abuses me, but what she did to Piper, the way she scared her.
That’ll never be okay.
The station door opens, and we step inside. Betty stands from behind the desk and comes over to hug me. I soak in the gesture, oddly touched.
“How’s our girl?” Betty asks when she pulls back.
“Good. She’s at school this morning. You’d think nothing happened with the way she argued her case to be allowed to go today.”
Betty smiles at me. “She gets that sass and fire from you, you know.”
My eyes burn. “Thank you. Can I see Alex?”
Betty glares, but says, “Sure can. Harlan’s waiting in the back for you two. You know the way.”
I do know the way. The path to the station cells is disgustingly familiar.
I round the corner to the vestibule before the cells come into view, and I gasp.
Harlan, Rhett, Duke, Finch, Boone and Hal are all standing there waiting.
I stare dumbly for a few seconds before I speak.
“What are you guys doing here?”
Scoffs and chuckles sound from them. Hal steps forward and wraps me in a hug.
“Jedd told us you wanted to come here this morning. No way on earth we were going to let you do this alone.”
Inexplicably, the urge to cry comes over me, tears burning my eyes.
Of course they would be here. Whether I think I need them or not.
That’s what family does. They show up.
“I love you guys. Thank you,” I say through a throat clogged with emotion.
“Come on.” Harlan leads me through the connecting doorway.
Alex is lying on a cot, just like she was when all of this started. Her back is turned toward the bars. She’s curled in on herself and doesn’t bother turning at the sound of the door.
This may not be the first time I’ve talked to my sister through cell bars, but it’s going to be the last.
“Alex.” I kick the bars. “Wake up.”
Alex rolls over, her eyes glossy and unfocused as she wakes up.
“Andy,” she cries and scrambles up from the cot. “You gotta help me. Please.”
The Calhouns step up behind me. I can practically feel their strength propping me up.
“Why are they all here?” She glares at them.
“They’re here because they’re my family,” I say quietly.
Alex rolls her eyes before she catches herself, painting on the innocent look that no longer holds any sway over me.
Any shred of guilt, any doubts or second thoughts I had over the last month are gone.
I’m truly free.
And it feels great.
But the anger is still there. I lean into it.
“I’m not helping you. I will never help you again.” I pull my purse open and remove a document. “You’re going to sign this. Harlan’s going to witness it, and then we’re going to file it.”
“What?” she asks, the picture of confusion, but I’m not falling for that either.
“You’re going to give Piper to me. And you’re not getting any money for it either. Jedd already canceled the check. You’re going to give her to me because it’s the only thing that can possibly save your ass right now, do you understand me?”
“What do you mean?” Her gaze turns to the guys at my back. None of them say anything, knowing that I need to do this. For me. For Piper. For Alex.
“I mean that if you don’t sign this, Harlan is going to throw the book at you.
He’ll tell them that you are unstable and that she’s not safe.
I’ll testify that you struck her when you were trying to kidnap her.
I will tell them every horrible fucking thing you’ve done to me and that little girl, and then I’ll laugh when they slam the prison bars in your face. ”
Parental kidnapping is a felony in all fifty states. She can’t cajole or manipulate her way out of the trouble she’s in right now.
Fear comes into Alex’s gaze. “You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t do that.”
I laugh, every ounce of mean I possess in my body vibrating through the sound. “I will. I promise you I will. And we both know I keep my promises, don’t we?”
“This isn’t legal. You can’t threaten me. She can’t threaten me.” She looks to Harlan like she’s expecting him to do something to save her. To stop this.
Deliberately, he slowly reaches up, unclips the star that sits on his chest, and drops it on the floor.
“I’m not here as the sheriff. I’m here as her brother. You’ll get nothing from me.” He waves at his brothers and dad. “You’ll get nothing from us. I’d listen to her if I were you.”
They’re never paying for haircuts again as long as I live.
Not that they pay for them now.
But that’s not the point.
God, I love these weirdos.
I definitely need to do something nice for them.
Alex’s eyes widen as she turns back to me.
I don’t give her a chance to speak. “Sign this and Harlan will see what he can do about getting you a plea deal. Maybe you’ll get lucky. Frankly, I don’t care what happens to you. I want you gone. Gone from our lives. I’m through worrying about you. Piper is my only concern now.”
Hope cuts into her gaze. She holds out her hand. “Fine. You win.”
I pass her the paper and watch as she scribbles her signature. I take the document back from her and pass it to Harlan. He disappears with it, taking it to Betty to notarize his witness signature.
“Goodbye, Alex.” I turn to the Calhouns at my back, surrounded by my family and love.