At Home

Chapter Twenty Nine

 We all sit down at the table with our spaghetti and meatballs. Maya takes a bite and looks like she's in heaven. "Oh my god. This is the best thing I've ever tasted." She says with a moan. Ryan's eyes are on her, watching her every move. I lean over to AJ, who is sitting next to me, and whisper, "I can't tell if Ryan wants to bang her or bury her." He lets out a snort, choking on his food a little. I can't help but laugh. I look to Cindy at the head of the table, and see she notices Ryan too.

"So Maya," Cindy says, causing Ryan to look towards his mother, "want me to teach you how to make this? Since you love it so much?" Maya looks at her shocked. Her mouth quickly turns up into a smile. She blurts out "Shit yeah!" then freezes "I mean, yes please. That would be amazing." Maya sits there looking like she just called the Queen of England "Bitch". I wait for it because I know it's coming. Cindy starts laughing. Loud, sincere laughter. Yup, there it is. Maya instantly relaxes, and joins in laughing. Soon we're all laughing, except for Ryan who is staring down at his phone.

The laughter dies down, and Cindy's eyes focus on her son. He is still staring at his phone, looks like he's reading something. "Ryan, we're having dinner. What's so important on your phone?" Ryan looks up and his face is ghost white. "It's about the Mustang." He says. The whole tone of dinner shifts, and I go stiff as a board. "Is it Blake's?" AJ asks impatiently. "No." Ryan says. My shoulders drop. Fuck! I know it's him though! "But, there's a black Mustang that went missing about 2 months ago in Smithfield." I look between AJ and Ryan, trying to figure out what piece of the puzzle I am missing. "Ok, so, a black Mustang got stolen from a random town 2 months ago..." I say, "But, how do we know that's the one I was in?" AJ pulls out his phone, "Smithfield is where Blake was transferred from." He states, typing something on his phone.

"Excuse me" he says, standing up and walking out of the room. Ryan follows after, typing something on his own phone. It's just Maya, Cindy, and me sitting at the table now. The silence is uncomfortable. "I'm sorry." I say, not even entirely sure why. Cindy reaches her hand and grabs mine, "You have nothing to be sorry about Honey." I feel tears welling in my eyes again. I am so fucking tired of crying. Cindy notices, and her eyes somehow soften more. She stands up, "Well, while the boys are working, who wants dessert?" "You made dessert too?" Maya says, excitement evident in her voice. Cindy laughs, "Chocolate Chip Cookies and Brownies." She says. "I love you." Maya says, unashamed.

Cindy laughs and starts to clear the table "Oh, let me help." I say, standing up. "No no, you relax. You deserve it, Honey." Cindy says, shooing me away with her hand before adding,"Maya, can you help me?" Maya stands up and starts gathering the dishes from the table. "Of course!" They gather all the dishes, and head into the kitchen. I hear their voices, but they're speaking in hushed tones. Are they talking about me? I shake away the thought. I know Maya wouldn't do that, and since Cindy is essentially older Maya, I doubt she would either. Blue is laying in the corner in a happy food coma. "Enjoy your dinner bubby?" I say, and his tail wags. He slowly raises to his feet and walks over to me. He places his head on my lap and looks up at me with love filled eyes. I scratch his head, and whisper a soft "Good Boy." His tail wags faster. Best dog ever.

Maya walks in and sits down in the seat next to me. "Cindy is batshit crazy." She says sort of loudly. I hear a laugh in the kitchen followed by Cindy's voice. "I heard that!" "You were supposed to!" Maya yells back. I hear another laugh. I laugh myself before asking, "And why's that?" Maya rolls her eyes, "She thinks she is going to be my mother-in-law one day." she says quieter this time. I just look at Maya, blinking a couple times. She's probably right. Remember how they were looking at each other earlier? "Earth to Carter." Maya says, snapping in my face. "Did you hear me? That's insane." I go to answer, but Ryan and AJ come back in.

"We got it." AJ says. I look at him, "Got what?" "The car, we have the car" Ryan says, looking at me briefly before his eyes turn to Maya's. I have no idea how to respond, I should be happy. "Carter, did you hear me?" AJ says, and I look up at him. "What if he cleaned it?" I ask, my voice shaking. "It wouldn't matter." Ryan states. "They found Blake in the car. He appears to have been trying to leave town. We'll be able to book him for at least that, and if he did clean the car, it will at least buy us time to find other evidence for your kidnapping." I take it a deep breath, the first one that feels real since this all started. Cindy walks in from the kitchen, a Tupperware container in her hand. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go!" She hands the Tupperware container to AJ and gives him a hug. She gives her son a hug, before crossing to Maya and giving her a hug. She comes to me last, and gives me the biggest hug of all. "They're gonna get him Honey. There's no way he is going to get away with it. It will be over soon." A tear runs down my face, and she pulls away. Our eyes meet and I can see the mixed emotions in them. Sadness, because she is still waiting for justice for Lily, but happiness because we are gonna get justice for me.