Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Twenty Eight

     Rhett did as he said he was going to, and he followed Link all the way home. He rolled down his window once they were in the driveway and he let Link know that he would give him a call later. He left, and Link had to face his family with the fear in the back of his mind that he had put them in danger unintentionally. 

     Link spent the rest of the afternoon with Lily and Lincoln while they pieced a puzzle together. He had to do something to take his mind off of what was to come. Lily giggled and took a puzzle piece out of her dad's hand, to which he had absentmindedly tried to fit into a place where it clearly wouldn't fit. The round peg in a square hole kind of deal. "Did you sleep good last night, dad?" 

     Link narrowed his eyes. A little smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he gazed at his daughter sidelong. He couldn't help but admire how perceptive she was; which she had clearly gotten from him. "I think so. Why do you ask?" 

     Lily placed her hands on her hips and gave Link a look like the answer was obvious. She chose to stand at the table to complete the puzzle rather than sit, unlike her brother Lincoln— who looked absolutely bored. He had his cheek in his hand and had twirled a puzzle piece in his other free hand. "I just thought you woulda had a nightmare or something, you know? After what happened." She placed another piece into the puzzle. 

     Link's heart stuttered in his chest. His kids were the last people on the planet who should know what's happened. "Everything's alright, baby. I just had a fainting spell again. I'm fine." He smiled and rubbed her back.

     Lily returned his smile. They had the same big, goofy smile. "Good, because all the mythical beasts need you to keep your cool and stuff." 

     Link laughed and watched as she'd finished the puzzle. It turned out to be a picture of two orange tabby kittens playing with a ball of pink yarn, and they were in front of a rocking chair with the afternoon sunlight pouring in through the bay window. Link felt a rush of pride. "We'll have to see about having this one framed!"

     Lily clapped her hands excitedly and she giggled.

     Lincoln perked up in his seat. "Does that mean we're done now?" He asked, and Link couldn't help but laugh. Putting a puzzle together certainly wasn't like shooting a Nerf gun.

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     The rest of Link's evening had been uneventful, and he was finally cuddled up in bed with his wife and Jade— their miniature English Dachshund. Christy had fast fallen asleep, but every time he tried to close his eyes, he would see the worms. He finally relented and just stared at the ceiling until his eyes burned so much from keeping them open, that he had no choice but to close them and fall asleep.

     Link opened his eyes and sat up. He looked around him warily, and slowly moved the covers off of him. He slipped his bare feet into his slippers by the bed before making his way out of the bedroom. He cautiously made his way down the hall while he made sure not to make a single sound. He found himself in front of his front door, and he grabbed his car keys off the hook and went outside.

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     Rhett groaned, his entire body shaken by Jessie. "Hey, answer your phone." 

     Rhett mumbled and fumbled around his nightstand for his phone without even opening his eyes. "Hello," he said groggily.

     "Rhett, it's Christy. Is Link with you?"