Chapter 29 BFE Mississippi Here We Come (Marie's POV)

I was a nervous ball of energy for the entire 10 hour trip. I couldn't decide if I wanted the radio on or off, or if I needed the silence. I tried to pass the time by playing games on my phone and mindless videos on YouTube. Nothing helped realer the ball of worry deep in my gut. I was driving Jamie insane, but the man never complained.
When the GPS announced we were an hour away from our destination the worry increased. There had been several false alarms so far, but what if this one wasn't?
Jamie grabbed my fingers from my mouth were I had started too chewy on the skin the closer we got. He gave them a kiss then gave me his best smile. "It's going to be ok baby. I got a feeling about this wait till we get there and see what's going on before you worry ok?"
He's right I gave him a nod of agreement and take a few deep breaths. We came to a town called Picayune Mississippi ten miles from our destination. The town could almost pass as Bolton, how ironic.
Jamie made a turn and we headed deeper into the woods. Six miles in I thought the GPS gave us the wrong directions. Brandon was still driving straight in front of us in his Chevy Silverado, and hadn't called to say otherwise. It was pitch black outside except for the trucks lights. The trees so dense the stars couldn't even peak through.
Brandon slowed down in front of us and made a right turn. I couldn't even see a road. It looked like an overgrown path instead of a road. Both trucks headlights soon fell on a small cabin. There was not pitch light or light outdoors of any kind. The screen door was hanging from the hinges and I could only see four windows in the sparse light.
Brandon parked and got out of his truck first with his badge around his neck and his gun in his hand. He looked inside the truck and motioned for us to stay put, then turns around and walking around the outside of the shack.
A few minutes later Brandon came back and motioned for us to get out. I met Jamie at the front of his truck and grabbed his arms for support.
"They were here, and not that long ago by the look of things inside."
If not for Jamie I would have ended up on the ground.
"You sure Bro? It was really them?"
Brandon handed him a Polaroid, I didn't even know they made those anymore. It was a picture of Dewayne with the kids dressed in Halloween costumes. Bree was dressed as a witch and Alex was the Hulk. I couldn't stop the tears. This was the first thing I'd been given that gave me proof my babies were ok.
"Theirs food on the table as well so they couldn't be that far. You guys go back into town and find us a room. We'll get a few hours' sleep and start fresh in the morning."
Brandon's words made sense I knew they did, but I didn't want to leave this spot, but I had to be one hundred percent for my kids.
We spent the next two weeks making our way to the coast and working our way thru every little town, parish, and bayou along Highway 10. Staying a step behind them proved handy.
We got a tip in Lake Charles Louisiana from a gas station clerk Dewayne was in there just three days before. The clerk said the guy was an absolute douche and wasn't likely to forget his face anytime soon.
We started making our way up Highway 171 with the clerk's information. At a rest stop outside of Many Louisiana we got a similar tip they left out going down Highway 6 going into Texas.
Two and a half weeks inside the cab of Jamie's truck made sure I couldn't hide my feelings from him. Jamie didn't let me keep my feelings bottled up this time he made me spill every dark thought in my head. All my hopes and darkest fears laid at his feet. Jamie didn't make me feel weak instead he told me he felt the same, and how scared he truly was about all this.
When we were told they were headed toward Texas I almost lost hope in finding them. Jamie just held me and whispered in my ear that he would give me his strength all of it if needed.
Three weeks to the day we left the house we had made it to the bridge going into Texas. We all three decided to stop at a truck stop and have some lunch. The truck stop was right off the Highway, but wasn't crowded.
The diner attached to the truck stop was clean and homely. The decor was rustic and faded, but the tables and floor were shiny clean. Our waitress was a friendly grandmother figure with a warm smile. "How you folks doin today? My names Jean sugar and I'll be takin care of y'all. What can I get y'all to drink?"
Jeans creole was stronger than I was used to hearing recently. She reminded me of a character from one of Bree's fairytales. After ordering sandwich's and sweet tea all around Jean walked away.
Brandon gave us the same speech he'd given us the last week. Updates from his team at the office, the places we needed to stop at next, and going over the folded map he'd been marking on since our trip started.
While the guys planned the next leg of our trip I went to the counter to pay. Jean said she would be over in just a second to ring me up. I told her not to rush. On the counter and wall behind the register were hundreds of pictures.
Most of the pictures were old but a few toward the top of the wall were newer. Regular people in their everyday lives, couples one even in their wedding clothes, but most of the pictures were of families.
One picture at the very top of the wall caught my attention.
"How was it Sugar?"
I didn't even notice when Jean came over. I gave her a small smile in thanks, and pointed to the photo. "Can I see that picture?" Jean followed my hand to the one I was pointing at. "Sure! Lovely little family. They just moved to the area about a week and a half ago. Kinda sad really, poor baby's momma just left them for their daddy to take care of them full time. Decent young man. Just keeps him and those kids to themselves."
"That is sad. Do you know where they moved to?"
"Oh yeah, he rented a place in the bayou."
I jammed the fifty dollar bill in Jeans hand and jumped over the counter and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. I didn't look at her face to see how shocked she was at my actions. I ran back to the table as quick as my legs would go the photo clutched tightly in my hand.
Jamie and Brandon were still pouring over the map and didn't noticed me headed their way. I slapped the photo on the table between them, giddy with excitement.
"There here, and I know where they're staying!" Time stamped four days before stood Dewayne, Bree, and Alex.

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Callie

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