Chapter 23

“Yes.” She threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Dad.”

He turned to Joe. “One week.”

Joe nodded. “You don’t need to worry. It’s a pretty safe little town.”

“I’ve got her cell number, but I’ll need to know how to get in touch with you, too.”

Joe found some paper and wrote down his and Ed’s cell numbers. “We can make the road trip to return her, if you want.”

“That would make your mother happy.”

Really? He’d never even said good-bye to her. He regretted that. She wasn’t the one who’d called him names. He hadn’t told his father he was leaving either, but at least he would have known why he’d disappeared. What an awkward, miserable situation. He would like to see his mom, but didn’t know what to expect. But he had no respect for and no desire to see his brother. He chewed his lip and nodded.

Jenny bounced. “Dad, there’s a festival this weekend.” She turned to Joe. “What’ll there be at the Mayfield festival?”

“What did Ruby say would be there, Ed?”