“Do you guys want to go for a ride?” I call out.
They both stop with different reactions. Emily is smiling, running over to me, but Tanner looks worried.
“Can we get ice cream?” Emily asks.
Tanner meets my eyes. “Where are we going?”
“How about we go check out the garage Mac works at? They might have a job for me. Then we can drive by the school and get some ice cream,” I tell them, forcing a smile on my face.
“Yay! I’ll go wash my hands!” Emily yells, running into the house.
“We are going to school?” Tanner asks.
“Yes. I know I am on edge, and I know you know way more than any child should, but we are safe here. We need to get back to a normal life.”
“I didn’t like normal,” he admits.
Standing, I pull him into my arms, crushing him to me.
“I know you didn’t like our normal then, but I promise you I will never let that happen again.” Pulling back, I grab his cheeks. “No one will ever hurt you again.”
“I’m not worried about me, Mom,” he tells me.
“I know. You had to witness a lot, but no one will ever hurt me again, either. I promise.” I press a kiss to his forehead.
“I know they won’t. I won’t let them.” The steel in his tone worries me.
“It’s not your job to take on that weight. I’m the parent here. You let me worry about keeping us safe. You be a kid,” I tell him.
He reluctantly nods.
God, I fucked him up so much. I hate what this has done to him.
Kissing the top of his head, I push him toward the house. After making sure I have everything, we go wait by the curb as I order an Uber. I didn’t like getting an account, but Mac included a bank card with far too much money on it to use for things like this. I’m going to pay him back, whether he likes it or not.
Still, it makes my skin itch as I enter the information.
He can’t find you using someone else’s name.
When the car arrives, I get them buckled in the back before taking the passenger seat. At least if the guy is a creeper, he can’t lock me in. The back might have child locks, but the front doesn’t.
The older gentleman is nice as he talks with the kids about the beach and trees and whatever else seems to pop into his head.
I’m grateful he seems to keep them distracted as I pay attention to our surroundings.
This place is so different from Portland. I’m used to the dreary weather and Pacific vibes. Here it’s different. The sun seems to always shine. It’s a city, but not full of skyscrapers and such. If I drove through this town without knowing, I wouldn’t know it was a large city.
As we get further from the city, I glance down at my app. He is still taking us to where we are going, but the houses are further apart out here. When he finally pulls up at the garage, I’m surprised. It seems to be in the middle of nowhere.
“You sure this is where you want to be? Them Saint’s guys can be pretty rough,” the old man says.
“Yes. Thank you,” I tell him, but inside I’m freaking out.
Was this a mistake?
I help Emily and Tanner out of the car before I walk up toward the business.
Saint’s Garage.
