I watch as she jumps into her big rig and starts it up. Before she even pulls out of the neighborhood, I miss her.
My eyes peel open to bright sunlight, but I feel as if I haven’t slept at all.
I look next to me, smiling at my children curled up next to me in bed.
Slowly, I slip out and head into the bathroom.
I wasn’t expecting a fully furnished house when Bertha told me about her brother, but I am grateful for it. We have been in a truck so long that I didn’t remember what it’s like to sleep in a bed. Between that and the constant worry that Evan would find us, I couldn’t sleep more than five minutes at a time. I swear,I was up and down all night, always checking the windows and doors.
I have no idea when my life turned into this.
After using the bathroom, I make my way toward the kitchen. I thought I would need to beg Mac to run us to the store last night, but I was surprised to find it fully stocked.
I need to talk to him and thank him again, but the idea has my skin crawling. I don’t exactly trust men right now. So even though he is being nice, in the back of my head, I keep waiting for it to change.
I think that’s why Bertha was such a relief. For the first time since we left Evan, I could relax a little. I didn’t have questions in my head about her motivations or what she might do to me and my kids.
Probably stupid of me. Women can be predators too, but I needed the break.
Now I have a whole new set of worries to contend with.
Like, how long will the money last us until I need to get a job or get back on the road? Or if Evan will find us, even if I never leave the house. Then there’s the question about the kids. How do I educate them while keeping them safe? Can I even provide them with a normal life anymore? Have I permanently damaged them?
Shaking away my thoughts, I take out the stuff to make pancakes and bacon. I go through the motions, cooking while my brain continues to mull over everything going on. Once everything is done and plated, I go back to the room and wake Tanner up.
“Mom, is everything okay?” he asks, sitting up to look around.
“Everything is fine. Go clean up and meet me in the kitchen while I get your sister ready,” I tell him.
He nods, getting up.
Emily is a bit tougher. She is not a morning person.
“Emily, sweetie. It’s time to wake up.”
She whines, burrowing into the blankets.
“I made pancakes,” I tell her.
That has her eyes opening.
“Pancakes?”
“Yep.” I pop thep.
“Okay. I’ll get up.” She stretches before she stands.
I grab her little hand and lead her toward the bathroom. Tanner steps out, looking slightly more put together, before he heads into the kitchen.
“Don’t eat all the pancakes,” Emily screeches, making me wince.
“Inside voice, baby,” I tell her.
She smiles up at me. “Sorry, Mom.”
I let her use the potty on her own before I go in and help her brush her teeth and hair.
When we get to the table, Tanner is sitting in front of an empty plate waiting for us.
