Free Rescue Me (Butler Island) by Nikki Rittenberry Page A

to collect another order.
    Grant hovered over the billiard table, allowing the cue
stick to glide back and forth over his thumb several times before he struck the
cue ball. The perfectly-aligned billiard balls scattered violently along the
green felt. “She’s at Lana’s; should be here anytime now.” He studied the
arrangement, looking for an easy solid-colored ball to sink.
    “Lana coming, too?”
    “That’s the idea.” Grant struck the cue ball again, attempting
to sink the solid number three ball into the corner pocket—of course, he
missed. “ Damn .”
    Swallowing a large gulp, Randall placed his beer on the
high bar and grabbed his cue stick. He stalked the table, slow and confident,
studying the whereabouts of each striped ball. Once his selection was made he
got into position, pocketing number ten with ease. “What about Connor?” he
questioned, altering his stance for his next shot.
    “Her parents are taking him to the carnival, then keeping
him for the night.”
    Randall eyed the cue ball as it bounced off the side
rail, smacking into number twelve with a loud clank before disappearing in the
left corner pocket. “Think Olivia can talk her into it?”
    “Don’t know. She said Lana seemed onboard earlier. Guess
we’ll find out when they get here.”
     
     
    Olivia pressed her thumb against the doorbell and waited.
    And waited.
    “Lana”—she yelled as she pounded on the door with her
fist—“it’s me, Olivia!” Moments later the door swung open, revealing her friend
still wrapped in an ivory satin robe. “Why aren’t you dressed?”
    Turning on her heels, Lana left the door open for Olivia
and wandered into the living room. “Probably because I’m not going.”
    “Why not?”
    Lana shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t really put it into
words, really. It just… doesn’t feel right.”
    “Lana, Connor’s gonna be gone until tomorrow afternoon;
this only happens once a month. You can’t just sit here all night by yourself
and—”
    “I’ll go next time.”
    Crossing her arms, Olivia eyed her from across the room.
“That’s what you said last month”, she politely reminded her.
    “I know, I know. It’s just… I don’t think I’ll be very
good company tonight. It’s probably best if I just, you know… don’t go.”
    “Huh-uh, you’re not sittin’ here tonight by yourself—I’m
not havin’ it. If you’re plannin’ on stayin’ in, then so am I.” Olivia plopped
down on the couch, arms still crossed.
    “No!” she pleaded. “Grant’s expecting you to be there
and—”
    “He’s expectin’ you to be there, too”, she
reiterated. “Listen, sugar, this is an all or nothin’ kind of situation: either
we both go to The Saloon together, or we both stay right here. Your choice.”
    Lana ran her fingers through silky hair she’d spent
twenty minutes straightening. Olivia was right: Connor wouldn’t return until
tomorrow afternoon. Her parents kept him overnight once a month, and once a
month she’d savor the much-need break it provided her. Alone.
    It wasn’t that she didn’t want to move forward—she did, she
really did . But sadly every step she took toward the future meant she was
one step further from her past. She knew it probably sounded silly, she’d
buried her husband almost six months ago. He was gone. Forever. But moving on
somehow still felt like she was leaving him behind.
    Abandoning him.
    Two months in a row, Olivia and Grant had invited her to
join them at The Saloon. And two months in a row she’d declined, always hinting
she’d likely accept their invitation the following month. Lana understood what
they were trying to do. They were nudging her to take that next step.
    Was she ready? Would she ever find herself in a place
where she felt prepared for life’s curveballs? She didn’t know. But one thing
was certain: she couldn’t decline the invitation a third time. “Anyone ever
tell you how incredibly stubborn you are?”
    The corners