Page 34 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy

Remedi

I tried. I tried to do the right thing, which turned out to be the wrong thing.

Killing Mike wasn’t something I just up and said I wanted to do.

After seeing Whitney’s body lying on that morgue table and finding out what he’d done to her, he needed to pay.

I needed him gone. No way he was about to walk around here, Scott free.

Well, I wouldn’t necessarily say free because he was definitely going to jail.

I just thought that jail was too good for a piece of shit like him.

Before the police were able to arrest him, I hit him with a tranquilizer gun to knock him out, where I didn’t have to fight him, and then pumped enough drugs in his system to kill him. His lifeless body was left right at his house for someone to find, just like we had to do for Whitney.

I knew that by the time they figured out how he’d been killed, I’d be long gone by then. It was never my intention for someone to find out where I was. I honestly just wanted to start over with life, but I guess that’s Karma. She and God aren’t going to let anything slide.

I sat there, staring at the Magnolia Falls sign with tears streaming down my cheeks.

This was the furthest I got. I couldn’t find it in myself to keep going without going by the house and saying goodbye to Khali.

The thing is, I didn’t know if Khalif wanted me anywhere near her.

My heart ripped into tiny little pieces, knowing that he’d think I’d cause harm to her.

What’s so crazy to me is that if I really still wanted to rob him, I could’ve done it without saying a word.

I’d seen where the safe was. I could’ve easily told Mitchell and been on my merry little way, but I cared for them. I love those people.

Sniffling, I wiped my eyes with the collar of my shirt and turned my truck around. I was going by there to see Khali. I don’t care what Khalif has to say.

As I drove, my phone vibrated. I lifted it in the air and saw that I had several missed calls and text messages from Ma and Reese. I’m guessing that where I was sitting, I didn’t have cell service.

Reese: Where are you?

Reese: I’m sorry. Just tell me that you’re okay.

Reese: Remedi?

Reese: Whatever you do, don’t come back!

I’m not certain what that message meant, so I called her to see. The phone rang once, and she picked up the phone.

“Please tell me that you’re not in town anymore.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“The sheriff just came by here. They’re looking for you. You’re wanted for murder.”

“So they figured it out?”

“I guess so. The only choice you have is to turn yourself in or run.”

I stopped my car in the middle of the road and stared straight ahead. My life is really crashing down on top of my head, and I don’t know what to do anymore.

“Remedi? Are you still there?”

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me know.” I pressed the button and hung the phone up.

Though Reese told me to run, I was still going to make one final stop by Khalif’s.

I’d promised Khali that if I was to ever leave, I’d stop by and say goodbye.

That’s the least I can do after everything I’ve put her father through.

Pulling off, I headed to Khalif’s house. When I turned into the driveway, his truck was gone. Looking at the time, I saw that it was close to the time to pick Khali up from school, so that’s where he must’ve gone. The front door opened, and Dallas stepped out onto the porch.

Getting out my truck, I approached her.

“Hey,” she spoke. I thought that Khalif would’ve told her what happened and she’d no longer want anything to do with me, just like him.

“Where’s Khalif?”

“He’s gone to pick up Khali. Is everything alright?”

Yeah, he didn’t tell her. Why?

“I was actually on my way out of town and wanted to say bye to her.”

Dallas frowned. “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah, I think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“I don’t know what makes you think that.”

Sighing, I stepped onto the porch and took a seat on the swing.

Everything that happened the night before washed over me.

I really thought I was going to die after I told him what happened.

I’ve never seen him react that way before, but it’s expected since I said something about his child.

People have the right to protect their families, and for a split second, he thought I was the enemy.

“We had a disagreement, and let’s just say he doesn’t want anything to do with me right now.”

“Come here.” I gazed up at her as she stood over me. “Come here. Let me show you something.”

I got up from the swing and followed her off the porch to the garage door. Dallas opened it and I saw several boxes stacked in there that weren’t in there the night before.

“What’s all this?”

“Simone’s things. Khalif packed all of it last night and this morning.

It’s been two years since we’ve been trying to get him to move past her death.

You’ve been here less than two months, and you got him to walk back into the church.

You’ve got him to pack her things up. You’ve got him to believe in life again, Remedi.

” Tears blurred my vision. I didn’t have a clue that little old me impacted his life in that manner.

“Whatever y’all got into it about, give him time.

I’m sure he’ll come around because if he didn’t want to, he wouldn’t have done all this for you.

You gave him hope. Don’t leave my brother now, Remedi. ”

“I wish I didn’t have to, but I’ve gotten to the point where I really don’t have a choice.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m in trouble, Dallas, and I don’t know how I’m going to get out of it.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“I killed someone, and now Sheriff Sinclair is looking for me.”

I didn’t expect her to understand. I don’t even get why I told her now.

“Does Khalif know?” I nodded. “I’m sure you did it for a good reason.”

“He killed my best friend.” Tears welled in my eyes, thinking about it.

“Trust me, that didn’t run Khalif off.”

I’m sure it didn’t. He has a whole damn cocaine farm. There’s no telling what that man has done, yet it doesn’t even bother me.

Walking away from the garage, I went back to the porch with her right on my trail.

“Talk to Khalif about the sheriff. I’m sure he can figure something out. Don’t just up and leave yet.”

I sat down on the swing, waiting for Khalif to make it back so that we could talk.

My phone rang again, but this time it was my mama.

I didn’t even feel like dealing with her shit right now.

She thought that she was going to come down here and force me back home.

Even though I said I was leaving, my plan wasn’t to go back to Atlanta.

I was going to drive until I couldn’t anymore.

Wherever I ended up was where I was going to be.

After talking to Dallas, I’m not even sure if I want to leave anymore.

“Yeah?” I answered the phone just to see what she wanted.

“I’m heading home. Reese told me that she talked to you. You don’t think it’s best to just turn yourself in and we figure it out from there? Running is only going to make matters worse.”

“Are you serious right now? I turn myself in, and I’ll never see the light of day again. I knew answering the phone for you was a mistake.”

I removed the phone from my ear and hovered my thumb over the red button.

“Remedi, wait!”

Sighing, I asked, “What, Ma?”

“I’m not trying to upset you or anything. I’m just worried about you. You can’t blame me for that.”

“I understand, Ma, but this is my life. I don’t plan on turning myself in. I’ll call you later.”

My eyes drifted to Dallas, who walked across the field in the direction of her house. I’ll wait and see what Khalif has to say. If he pushes me away, I’m just going to leave and not think about coming back.