Chapter 27 #2
Tess gave her a sympathetic smile. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t. But it doesn’t have to be on you to explain. That’s the beauty of cell phones, right?”
Kelsey smiled. “True. Did he, uh, tell you where he’s going?”
“No, he only asked me to back you up till he got back.”
“He didn’t tell me either, obviously.”
“I wouldn’t sweat it, if I were you. I’ve known Kurt forever. He’s a man of actions, not words, but I know he’s got it bad for you. Even William refers to you as ‘the’ girl.” She made air quotes at the last part.
“Thanks, that’s nice to hear. Everything’s still so new, you know? Look, if you’re good, I’ll get Sara and William settled and be back in a few minutes.”
Tess gave her a thumbs-up before dipping into the treat pouch belted around her waist for another bite of turkey and asking Louie to sit at attention.
Kelsey headed downstairs and met Sara and William as they headed in the front door. The house was relatively quiet because the dogs had settled down after their morning meal and exercise time.
William nodded a hello, and Sara pulled Kelsey into an easy hug.
“Kurt stepped out,” William confirmed. It wasn’t a question. He’d noticed the missing red Mustang out front.
Kelsey nodded, gnawing on her lip. “Yeah. I’m not sure when he’ll be back, but make yourself at home…or at rehab, anyway.”
“I’m just dropping him off and borrowing the truck for the day, but I wanted to see those little puppies brightening up your shelter’s Facebook page. William told me how Kurt brought a stillborn back to life,” Sara said.
“It was amazing to watch. I think a full five minutes passed before the puppy started breathing, but you wouldn’t know it to look at her. She’s the biggest of the bunch and super energetic.”
William followed them up for a second look. He’d been here the previous afternoon and had spent a few minutes watching the puppies cuddle, squirm, and nurse, chuckling the whole time. Even someone with an exterior as toughened as his could be melted by fuzzy newborn puppies.
For Sara, who seemed to be the exact opposite of her father in terms of holding back emotion, it took one quick look to be smitten.
“Pepper’s a great mom,” Kelsey said. “And she doesn’t seem bothered with us holding them. We’ve been staying in here where she can see us though. Let me know which one you want to hold.”
Sara chose the pup who seemed to be part coonhound, giggling over his long ears. With his stern look softening, William spent a minute stroking a silky ear before heading back downstairs to work.
“Your father’s really transforming this house,” Kelsey said after he was gone.
“I think he’s finally realized there’s life outside the military.
I think he’d have been just as happy being a carpenter, and that might have been for the best for all of us.
But I guess you can’t turn back the clock.
” She smiled at the pup who was curled against her, belly exposed.
He stopped whining quickly and dozed off at her soft touch.
“I know we don’t each know other that well, but I know how much Kurt thinks of you.
Has he been okay? He’s been ignoring me lately.
Kelsey sucked in her cheek in debate. He’d clearly had some issues with his mom, but things had seemed better between them lately. Her having breast cancer had to have put things in a different perspective. “He’s okay. He’s been a little quiet, but okay.”
Sara sank onto the bed. “I’ve been rethinking showing him that letter.”
Kelsey tightened her ponytail and looked away.
“He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“No. Whatever it is, he didn’t.” From across the hall, Louie barked twice and Kelsey heard Tess’s muffled praise. “But I suspect he’s trying to work through it.”
“I found his father. For so many years, it didn’t seem like a possibility. But then, all of a sudden, it is.”
Kelsey’s jaw dropped, and she forced it closed. “Do you think he’s going to see him?”
Sara blinked. “You mean he’s gone gone?”
Kelsey shrugged helplessly. “He left last night. He hasn’t said where he’s going, only that there’s something he needed to do. Tess is helping with the dogs until he gets back. She doesn’t know anything either, but we both took it that he’d be gone a few days.”
“He didn’t take the letter, didn’t open it even.
So that’s not it. Last night he called me late, after ten.
I knew something was up; I just didn’t know what.
He was asking questions about my mom. It’s really why I came along today.
I wanted to see him.” She fell quiet, stroking the puppy, her eyebrows furrowed tightly together.
After a minute, she shifted the puppy in her arms and pulled out her phone. “Can you take him?”
Kelsey took the puppy while Sara focused full attention on her phone.
“His phone used to be my mom’s. All our phones were tracking enabled at the store when we bought them.
I think I know where he’s going, but this will tell me for sure.
” After a bit more searching, Sara closed her eyes.
“He’s such a Crawford, I swear.” She stood up and slipped her phone into her pocket and crossed over to the window.
“The little turd is already halfway across Nebraska.”
“Nebraska?”
Sara let out a soft sigh. “It’s okay. You don’t need to worry. None of us need to worry. Even if that crazy car breaks down, he’ll be okay. He’s a Crawford, and Crawfords endure. But the thing is, I think this is his way of trying to do more than that.”
Kelsey felt like the pieces weren’t clicking. “Do you know where he’s headed?”
“Yeah, I do. The Oregon coast. It seems my son is seeking a bit of closure.”
Kelsey blinked, remembering the book she’d spotted by his closet and how her fishing float had been moved off the windowsill and set on the counter.
“Why there?”
“The best I can explain is that he was supposed to go a long time ago, and life got in the way.”