chaptereleven
Amber
I got the 9-1-1 text from Callie fifteen minutes ago. I could hear Quinn in the kitchen talking to his sister so I wrote him a quick note, then raced out to Quinn’s truck. Ten minutes later, I pull up to Rory’s house. It’s a ranch-style house, blue with white trim and a great porch that wraps around on one side.
I can hear her animals bleating and whinnying and all the other noises her farm of miniature animals make.
It only takes me a few seconds to find the hidden key where Callie said it would be, and I let myself in.
“Rory,” I call. “It’s Amber. Callie texted me and said you needed some help.”
And then I hear the unmistakable sound of vomiting. Not my favorite, but I took care of granny until she passed and cancer is not kind to the body.
I find poor Rory looking pale and hugging the side of the toilet bowl.
“Oh, sweetie, what can I do to help? Is it food poisoning again? Callie mentioned you had it a while back. Maybe stop eating the grocery story sushi.”
She glares at me waving a hand to indicate I should leave.
“Okay. Well, I am going to go to your kitchen and see what I can find for you. Holler if you need me.” Once in there I find saltines and an electrolyte drink. So clearly this isn’t her first bout with this illness.
“Goddamn Crawfords. How is it even possible for one family to be that attractive? It’s stupid,” Rory mutters as she comes into her kitchen. She lowers herself to a stool at the breakfast bar. “If the thought of eating didn’t make me so sick I’d have a big Crawford boil. I bet the Guidry’s could make it nice and tasty.” Then she snort laughs. “See what I did there?”
I laugh because even sick, she’s still adorable with her ragged red braids and freckled face. “Crawfords—crawfish. Super funny.”
She narrows her eyes at me and points a finger in my direction. “You’ve got a hickey on your neck roughly the size of Rhode Island, I’m guess the eldest Crawford did that to you?”
I self-consciously rub my neck, but can’t stop the smile from spreading. “He did.”
“They’re irresistible, aren’t they?”
My stomach knots. “What?”
“The Crawfords. All of them. So attractive. So damn irresistible.” Then she looks up at me and gives me a weak smile. “I’m pregnant.”
My eyes go wide. “By one of them?”
She wipes at the corners of her mouth, and then nods.
Car doors slam outside and then Quinn and Madison bust inside.
“Angel, I don’t know what you think you heard, but I made my sister come so she could clear up any misunderstanding,” he says. His thick chest heaves with his labored breathing.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about. I got a text from Callie saying that Rory needed help so I took your truck and came right now. I knew y’all were visiting,” I motion to him and Madison. “I didn’t want to take the time to interrupt. So I just left that note.”
“So you didn’t overhear anything?” Madison asks.
“No. Why, what did you say?”
“It doesn’t even matter now. Come’er.” He holds his arms out to me and I don’t hesitate.
He hugs me tight.
“I’m gonna be sick,” Rory mutters, then she’s racing to the bathroom.
“Oh dear, is she okay?” Madison asks.
“She will be. In about nine months,” I say.