Five Days Later

Chapter Five

Calla

"Did Rowan drop off all of your homework?" my father asked.

"Yeah," I said, pointing to a large pile of books. I smiled, thinking about the previous day when he dropped them off. There had been so many books, he had to make three trips. On the last trip to the car, half of the books tumbled from his arms. He apologized profusely, but I just laughed. Rowan meant the world to me. No one else had ever stood up for me like he did and not seeing him every day was killing me.

Concern flashed through my Dad's eyes. "Calla, are you sure he won't tell anyone you're out here?"

Sighing, I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my face. "He won't tell anyone, Dad. You know that. He's my best friend."

He gave me a small smile. "I just don't want anything else to happen to you."

"I know, Dad. I know." I thought about Rowan's lopsided grin. He would never hurt anyone. He couldn't even kill a fly. Something about they had mom's too. He had the kindest heart out of anyone I knew.

"How is your leg feeling?" he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's getting better. Stitches look good." I didn't want to tell my dad that it still really hurt. Every time I got up or even moved, a sharp pain shot across my leg. I had gone back to the doctor once, who said everything looked good. No signs of infection and he gave me some cream to put on it to help with the scar.

My father pressed his lips together and a defeated look crossed his brow. "I'm sorry I'm not better at stuff like this... You know Laurie, she would know just what to do."

My stepmom had been a nurse. She treated even the smallest cut or bruise with kindness and love. She managed to make everything better with a cartoon Band Aid.

With an ache in my chest and tears welling in my eyes, I grabbed a crutch and hobbled over to my dad. Wrapping my arms around him, I squeezed tightly. "I know, Dad. But I know what to do too. We're going to be okay."

A hot tear hit my shoulder. I hated it when he cried. My heart shattered into a million pieces each and every single time. I blinked back my own tears, knowing that would only make my dad feel worse.

Clearing his throat, he wiped his face and stepped back. "It's going to be okay and listen... I had a thought... I thought perhaps we could sell the farm and move after the school year?"

The statement hit me like a brick. "Y- You want to move?"

"I know the house means a lot to both of us, but it's not a safe place to be right now. I can add a security system and make sure it's monitored. But, if I put the farm on the market, we can sell it and go out to Oregon. You've always wanted to go there, right?"

A mixture of emotions washed over me. The thought of leaving behind my wretched classmates and all of the people in the community who blamed my dad for Laurie's murder was beyond exciting. No one would ever call me the "Murderer's Daughter" again. But, leaving the house I grew up in and never seeing Rowan again stung, especially not seeing Rowan again.

As if he sensed my discomfort, my dad cleared his throat. "Or we could go anywhere. Literally, anywhere, you pick!"

I sat back down and leaned my crutch up against the table. "I hate that we have to leave because people don't believe you."

"I know, Cal, but-"

A sharp series of knocks interrupted him.

Dad's eyebrows shot up in confusion as my heart began to race.

"I'm sure it's just the police checking on us. No one else knows where we are."

Grabbing my crutches, I followed him to the front door.

As he swung the door open, an unfamiliar face greeted us.

"Derrick Vinson, I'm Officer Trudent and you're under arrest for the murder of Jerrica Norris." 

*******

Cliffhangers,

Happy Update Day! :)

What did you think of the arrest at the end? Do you think Calla's father murdered Jerrica Norris? If not, who do you think did it? 

Hearts and Daggers,

Kelly Anne Blount xoxo

P.S. All votes and comments are always appreciated! <3