Page 82 of Forgotten Path

CHAPTERFORTY-THREE

Craig’s hands shook as he sat in his car in front of Fred’s electronic gate and pulled up Fred’s telephone number.

From the passenger seat, Dr. King offered a suggestion. “Breathe.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Try it.”

“I am breathing.”

“Take a deliberate, full breath in. And then slowly expel it completely.”

He rolled his eyes again but did as the guy suggested. “Happy?”

“You will be if you keep doing it.”

“You think anything about this will make me happy?”

Dr. King twisted around in the seat to look directly at him. “I think you’ll be pleased that you stood up for your grandmother and your community and did the right thing. That may not bring the sort of giddiness that we usually associate with happiness, but I suspect it will provide you with a deep contentment.”

He almost scoffed. Then he remembered the last thing Gran had said to him before they left the nursery: Listen to Dr. King. He may seem strange, but there’s a method to his madness. She was right. The guy was a weirdo. But there was something oddly comforting about him, weirdness and all.

So, instead of making a smart-aleck remark, he nodded. “It will.”

“Right. So, make the call.”

Craig took another one of those big breaths, exhaled, and then hit the speed dial for Fred’s office. Fred’s assistant patched him through to his ‘uncle’ at home.

“Craig?” Fred’s voice boomed through the car speakers. Craig hoped the tiny recorder clipped inside the waistband of his shorts was picking it up.

“Yeah. I mean, yes, sir.”

“Do you have something for me?”

“Maybe.”

“Spit it out, kid.”

Craig threw Bodhi a look. Bodhi patted the air with his hands in a ‘you’ve got this’ gesture.

“Well,” he said, cringing at the way his voice cracked. “I think this is more of a face-to-face type conversation. I thought I’d come over. Actually, I’m parked in front of your gate right now.”

“You’re supposed to be watching Brianna,” Fred griped.

“She left the church.”

“And she didn’t talk to anyone before she rolled?”

“Nobody important. Can I come in?”

There was a long pause. Craig’s pulse fluttered rapidly. What was the plan if Fred said no? But after a minute, the electronic gates swung open.

“Park near the gazebo. Come to the side door.”

After Fred gave his instructions, he hung up. Craig turned to Bodhi, who gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up and motioned for him to pull through the gate.

“What if he sees you?” Craig worried as the car wound up the driveway and circled around to the oversized cedar gazebo.