Box

53

Trudy Lake.

Because of Darrell’s impendin’ court date, and Daddy’s hearin’, and my continuin’ divorce battle, I tell Gideon to go back to New York, and I’ll meet him in two weeks. With Renee on the watch list of three county police departments, and Cletus and Renfro dead, and Darrell banged up to the point he can’t blink his eyes without shittin’ his pants, I reckon I’ll be safe in Clayton till then.

Gideon wants to put me up in a hotel until my affairs are settled, but for the first time in my life I have an organized plan to move away, and I’m lookin’ forward to packin’ the items I’d like to take.

Gideon’s worried about Daddy, but Daddy’s not an issue. He’s in Logan, bein’ cared for by Renee. So it makes sense for me to stay in my own home for the next two weeks.

“I don’t like it,” he says, imitatin’ Clem, to make me smile.

The hospital doctor works his way to my room around noon, and clears me to check out. An hour later, I’m sittin’ in a wheel chair out front with an orderly at my side, squintin’ against the harsh sunlight, waitin’ for Gideon to drive up in his rental car and whisk me home.

When I’m settled in the car, he says, “Are you up for a short trip?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I need to meet someone.”

“Who?”

“Faith Hemphill.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Yes. Absolutely. Why do you ask?”

I frown. “Is this gonna be a regular thing with you?”

“What?”

“The women, Gideon. Every time I turn around you’re with one woman or another, and either her pants are off, or yours are around your ankles.”

“This meeting’s about you,” he says.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Well I’ve got no interest in meetin’ her!”

“Why not?”

“Did you not drive two full hours a few days ago hopin’ to bang her?”

“Yes. But I learned a valuable lesson that day, with her, Zander, and Renee.”

“To keep your dick in your pants?”

“Yes.”

“Promise it.”

“As long as you’re willing to stay with me, I promise to keep my dick in my pants.”

I laugh.

“What?”

“You just basically promised we’ll never have sex.”

“I did?”

“Rewind it in your head.”

He does. Then says, “That didn’t come out right. I need a mulligan.”

“Too late,” I say. “You already made the promise.”