“Is she okay?”Mom asked.
“Yeah. We gotthere in time.”
“Areyouokay?”
“No.”
“Hey.” Momsighed, taking my arm, and pulling me toward her, hugging me. “You’re okay,honey.”
I hugged herback, then slowly sat on my bed. “She wouldn’t come back with me.”
“Does thatsurprise you?”
“Yes.” I lookedup at her. “But why doesn’t it surprise you?”
She smiled,sitting beside me on the bed. “We’re strangers to her, honey. You’re not, I getthat, butweare, and she’s just been through a trauma. She’s going towant to be close to the familiar. She’s also sweet and kind and sensitive, andunderstands that your father is healing, so she’s probably thinking about himand what he might need. We can assure her she’s welcome here until we’re bluein the face, because you and I both know that she is, but she won’t want toimpose, and that’s part of the reason why you love her so much. Because she’sthoughtful.”
I dragged myhands through my hair. She had a point. I hated that she had a point, but she did,nonetheless.
She patted myknee and stood. “So, pack her a bag, and you should probably pack one foryourself as well so you can be close to her.”
“What aboutDad?”
“We’ve got himcovered, and you’re just a phone call away.”
I rose to myfeet and pulled her in for another hug. “Thanks, Mama.”
“Of course,baby. We got your back. You know that.”
After giving hera gentle squeeze, I released her, then went about packing a few things for bothDaisy and me, before heading downstairs and out back to our fire pit. I burnedthe contents of the plastic bag, then after making sure there were no remnants,I made my way to my grandfather’s truck.
The motel wasn’tfar from my parents’ home, but I hit construction traffic on my way whichforced me to a standstill for almost ten minutes. I was already annoyed when Ileft the house, but I was highly amped once the cars got moving again.
Pulling up tothe motel, I headed to Cash’s room and knocked on the door. He pulled it openand rolled his eyes. “What?”
“What do youmean, what?” I snapped. “I’m here to see Daisy.”
“Well, she madeit clear she doesn’t want to see you.”
“Cash!”
He turned andlooked over his shoulder, still blocking the door. “Ducky—”
“Let him in,right now,” Daisy demanded.
“You—”
“I,what,big brother?” she challenged. “I wanted to come back here to shower because Iwas covered in blood and pee, and I was too embarrassed to go back to Huck’s parents’house. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see him, dumbass. Let him in.”
I low keyflipped him off and pushed my way inside to find Daisy wearing a pair ofsweatpants and a T-shirt that were two sizes too big for her petite frame, andI deduced they were her brother’s. Her head was wrapped in a towel, and I wasso fucking relieved to see her, I felt my nose sting with the threat of tears.
“Hey,” I said,giving her a gentle smile.
She made a runfor me, throwing herself into my arms and I caught her, lifting her so shecould wrap her legs around my waist. She looped her arms around my neck,kissing me quickly causing the towel to fall off her head. “What took you solong?”
I chuckled. “Ihad to grab you a few things.”
She frowned.“You’re kicking me out?”
