The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks [110]
“We’re not taking our bikes,” she said through gritted teeth. “Come inside.”
Kyle knew enough not to press her now and did as he was told. Denise went to the phone and tried Taylor again. Not in. She slammed the phone down, then thought of who else to call. Not Rhonda—she was already at the diner. But . . . Judy? She dialed her number and let it ring a dozen times before hanging up. Who else to call? Who else did she know? Really, only one other person. She opened the cupboard and found the phone book, then thumbed to the appropriate page. After punching in the right numbers, she breathed a sigh of relief as it was answered.
“Melissa? Hi, it’s Denise.”
“Oh, hey, how are you?”
“Actually, I’m not too good right now. I hate to do this, but I’m really calling for a favor.”
“What can I do?”
“I know it’s really inconvenient, but is it possible for you to drive me into work tonight?”
“Sure, when?”
“Now? I know it’s last minute and I’m sorry, but the tires on my bike are flat—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Melissa interrupted. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“I’ll owe you one.”
“No, you won’t. It’s not that big a deal. I just have to grab my purse and the keys.”
Denise hung up, then called Ray again, explaining with more apologies that she’d be there by seven-thirty. This time Ray laughed.
“Don’t worry about it, honey. You’ll get here when you do. No rush—it’s kind of quiet right now anyway.”
Again she breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly she noticed Kyle, watching her without saying a word.
“Mommy’s not mad at you, sweetheart. I’m sorry for yelling.”
She was, however, still angry at Taylor. Any relief she was feeling was counteracted by that. How could he?
Gathering her things, she waited for Melissa to show up, then led Kyle out the door when Melissa’s car rolled up the drive. Melissa rolled down the window as the car slowed to a stop.
“Hey there. C’mon in, but excuse the mess. Kids are knee-deep in soccer these days.”
Denise buckled Kyle into the backseat and was shaking her head as she got in the front seat. Soon the car had made its way down the drive and had turned onto the main road.
“So what happened?” Melissa asked. “You said your tire was flat?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t expect that I’d have to ride my bike in the first place. Taylor didn’t show up.”
“And he said he would?”
Her question made Denise hesitate before answering. Did she ask him? Did she still have to?
“We didn’t talk about it specifically,” Denise admitted, “but he’s been driving me all summer, so I just assumed he’d keep doing it.”
“Did he call?”
“No.”
Melissa’s eyes darted in Denise’s direction. “I take it things have changed between you two,” she said.
Denise simply nodded. Melissa faced the road again and was quiet, leaving Denise alone with her thoughts.
“You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?”
“I’ve known Taylor a long time,” Melissa answered carefully.
“So what’s going on with him?”
Melissa sighed. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I never have. But Taylor always seems to turn gun-shy whenever he starts getting serious with someone.”
“But . . . why? I mean, we get along so well, he’s great with Kyle . . .”
“I can’t speak for Taylor, I really can’t. Like I said, I don’t really understand it.”
“If you had to guess, though?”
Melissa hesitated. “It’s not you, trust me. When we were at dinner, I wasn’t kidding when I said that Taylor really cares about you. He does—more than I’ve seen him care about anyone. And Mitch says the same thing. But sometimes I think that Taylor doesn’t feel that he deserves to be happy, so he sabotages every opportunity. I don’t think he does it on purpose—I think it’s more that he can’t help himself.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Maybe not. But it’s the way he is.”
Denise pondered that. Up ahead she saw the diner. As Ray had said, from the looks of the parking lot there weren’t too many people inside. Closing her eyes, she balled her fists in frustration.
“Again,