Finger crossed

Closing the door behind him, Rene stepped into their bedroom and brought the phone to his ear.

"Rene," Rome’s voice came through with a mix of irritation and concern. "Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack? You promised to call her back, and you didn’t. What’s going on with you today?"

Leaning against the edge of the bed, Rene sighed deeply. "Dad, I’m sorry. Too much has been happening today. I didn’t mean to worry her."

"Too much?... You mean the attempted accident on you and Maria, or the little altercation with Benjamin Leland? Which one are we talking about here?"

"Of course, you already know... Both. It’s been a long day, Dad. Can we talk about it more tomorrow? I need to sort through all of this. Can you send someone to pick me up so we can meet up?"

"Of course. I’ll have someone there as soon as possible. But Rene, take care of yourself. This is serious, and I don’t like how things are escalating."

Glancing toward the door as he heard the soft footsteps approachin