Chapter 28
Murphy
It was Saturday, one of my favorite days whenever I had Lux.
We would visit my parents, have dinner, maybe a bonfire with s’mores and movies.
I was having a hard time pretending that I was okay.
For some reason, it almost felt like I was losing Odette all over again.
She’d finally let me in the smallest amount, and I knew my truths would ruin that.
I ran my hand through my hair, and I watched my dad push my daughter on the swing while she giggled uncontrollably. Part of my heart was trying it’s best not to panic at the height, but I also knew that my dad did this with her all the time, and that helped ease some of my anxiety.
A hand came into view, holding a glass of lemonade. “Lemonade for your thoughts?” my mom asked.
“Ha ha. Very funny.” I took the glass from her and managed to take a small sip, giving her a smile in appreciation.
She gave me a look, letting me know she was serious about wanting to know my thoughts.
“Honestly, I’m thinking that Dad is pushing Lux too high…”
She laughed. “I used to think the same thing with you boys, always had to excuse myself to go do some gardening or something.” She shook her head at reliving her own memories, and I couldn’t help but smile, it felt like the first one in days.
“There it is.” She nudged me. She must have been thinking the same thing.
I heard my phone ring from somewhere inside, but since it wasn’t the ringtone I had for Odette, I didn’t really care who it was. Voicemail was a beautiful thing; it was probably a new client inquiring about some kind of piece. After a few seconds, the ringing stopped.
“Not going to get that?” Mom inquired.
“No, I’m currently making sure my daughter doesn’t fly to the moon…”
The ringing started again, and I looked over to the house in mild confusion, only for it to keep ringing.
I felt the start of building dread, so I got up and quickly made my way to find my phone.
Letting the ringing guide me, I found it sitting on the top of the kitchen island counter. Reaching for it, I saw the caller ID.
Wynn.
Three missed calls. Wynn.
I think my heart stopped beating, and my phone buzzing again shocked me out of my stupor. “Wynn?”
Even though she wasn’t speaking to me, I heard her screaming through the line.
“You need to let me off this plane!” she screeched.
I didn’t recognize the voice that answered her. “Ma’am, please sit down. If you don’t calm down, I’ll have to call the airport police, and I don’t want to have to do that.”
“You don’t understand! It’s an emergency. I have to get off this plane!”
What the fuck was happening?
“Wynn!” I yelled loud enough that my mother heard me through the closed door and came running.
“Murphy! Why the fuck didn’t you answer my calls?”
“What’s happening, Wynn?”
I heard her start crying. “I don’t know! I don’t know!” Her anguish and desperation had my body vibrating, and my mom was on the verge of tears, even though we had no idea what was happening.
“I was speaking with Odette...”
Oh god.
“We were on the phone, she was driving to work, and suddenly, I heard crunching metal and screaming. She was screaming. We got disconnected. I can’t get a hold of her, Murphy… Oh god. I can’t get a hold of her.” She screamed, “I have to get off this plane!”
“Where was she, Wynn? Do you know where she was?”
“She was close to HWY 80.”
“I’ll pay your bail,” I told her before I hung up hastily, throwing my mom a look.
“Lux is safe here. Murphy…” Tears streamed down her face.
“Stay here.” I grabbed my keys, and dialing Odette’s number, held my phone to my ear.
Please answer. God, please answer.
Ring…ring…ring…
“Hi! You’ve reached Odette…”
I hung up and tried again.
Ring…ring…ring…
“Hi! You’ve reached Odette…”
I growled in frustration, wanting to toss my phone but refraining because what if she called me back. An almost all-encompassing sinking feeling hit me, knowing she would call back if she could because I had Lux. She would never let two calls go to voicemail.
“A bad pile-up accident off exit eighteen on HWY 80 has traffic backed up to exit…”
My gaze snapped to the radio, and I felt any coloring I had left in my face drain. That’s where Wynn said Odette was.
My heart raced, thinking of the fastest way I could get there. I’m coming, Odette. I’m coming.
I just prayed I wasn’t too late.