I clear my throat to end the awkward silence, grabbing Sonny’s hand. “Right! Well, we’ll be off.”
“Hart,” Caleb commands. His voice alone has the power to suck me right back into that yearning I felt long ago.
I falter in my step and turn around to meet his unyielding gaze. He stares even more intently than I remember. And I just know that Jess is on the side taking mental notes to later flesh out in her novel.
Make that a short story.
I refuse to get involved.
“Thanks for the offer. But I’m good. Really.” I nod perhaps one too many times for the gesture to be convincing. “I’ll see you around.”
Or not.
Suddenly I’m back in that tent, his face threatening to ruin me.
Full moon. Sky full of stars.
He removes my clothes with careful precision, and claims me as his.
Safe to say I’m not a virgin afterward.
“He seems nice,” Sonny states as we walk hand-in-hand down the harbor. “I’m not so sure about the motel.”
“The motel is only for one night, bud, while I sort out insurance stuff.”
I tighten my grip on Sonny as we turn onto our street. Residents have made the special trip to walk past and nosy in through what’s left of our house, which I don’t appreciate.
Nausea builds as the wreckage comes into view. The building is still smoking out. All of this damage from a bit of sunflower oil…seems a little extreme.
I never intended for things to get this out of hand.
Of course, my father’s stupid beehive is still intact at the bottom of the garden. Thank Godthatsurvived.
“What is it, Mommy?”
“Nothing, sweetheart.” I give his hand a reassuring squeeze as he looks up at what’s left of our home.
“We won’t be able to live there again, will we?”
“Probably not,” I grit out.
I recall all of the nights in there I spent alone as a kid, my father in and out like a yo-yo.
“I won’t be gone long. Just one night.”
Which turned into three.
“Look,” I sigh, pivoting Sonny around to face me. “It’s gonna be a tough few weeks for us, buddy, but we’re gonna get through it.I promise. We’ll find our way. And hey, every cloud has a silver lining—” I pull my keys from the pocket of my borrowed jeans and jingle them midair. “I had them in my pocket yesterday, so we at least have a car to get around in.”
I squat down in front of my most prized possession and let a spell of relief wash over me. Nothing else matters as long as he’s safe, healthy, and happy. The rest is fixable. And Iwillfix it.
“How about we go and get you that new plane, huh, for being so brave?”
Sonny smiles and hops into the car. I jump in the driver’s side, and make it as far as the end of the street. That’s when I’m cut off at the intersection by the man I’m trying to avoid.
He kills his engine and just sits and stares.
Admitting temporary defeat, I yank up the parking brake and kick open the car door. “Sit tight, buddy. I’ll be back in a flash.”
