She was right. Jake knew that; he just didn’t know how Branna would feel about her father staying with his parents.
“Do you have a car, Mr. O’Donnell?”
“I do, but I can just as easily find a place out of Howling to stay, Mr. McBride.”
“Howling counts your daughter as one of theirs, and as you’re famous, we’ve claimed you too, so if word gets out you’re staying in another town, it won’t be pretty. My advice is to just follow along with my wife’s wishes, Mr. O’Donnell.”
“Very well.”
Before Jake could protest, his parents had gathered up the man and his father was driving his car back to their house. Jake said he’d follow soon, but first he needed to check on Branna.
Fifteen minutes later, after a text from Buster, he walked into his friend’s house. It had been his parents’ first, until they’d decided to retire and travel around the world. Beige weatherboard with a stone front, it had a tidy front lawn with a large, green, leafy tree and a nice little fence that said it should be a family home, which was exactly what it had been for years. Now it was the home of single man who was a slob.
“Annabelle, I’m not baking her a mystery muffin now just because she’s upset.”
Jake heard Buster’s frustration as he walked in through the front door. Vaulted ceilings and plank floors led him toward the voices. Stepping over shoes, books, boxes, and baking stuff, he found Buster, Tex, and Annabelle in the only immaculate room in the entire house, the kitchen. Of Branna, there was no sign.
“Where is she?”
“In the bathroom,” Ethan said. “And she hasn’t spoken a word or cried a tear. Just sat in the car, still as a bloody statue, staring out the windshield. I tell you, Jake, it was sadder than seeing her break down. We tried to talk to her, and she responded, but only one-syllable answers. She didn’t resist or protest, just let us bring her here, and walked inside and straight into the bathroom after asking Buster politely where it was.”
He saw the worry in their faces. They cared for Branna now; she was one of theirs, and it hurt that she was in pain and they couldn’t help her.
“This business with her dad is pretty messy.” Jake ran a hand through his hair. “Mom and Dad have taken him to their house.”
Tex whistled and Annabelle swore loudly.
“Yeah, not ideal, and I’m not sure how she’ll cope with that news.”
“Go find out, Jake. She’s been in there a while now,” Buster said.
He did, climbing the stairs to the bathroom Buster had directed her to… the guest one that was probably still clean.
“Branna, it’s me, Jake.”
“I’ll be out soon.” Her words were muffled through the wood.
“Open the door, Rosebud.”
“Go away, Jake. I just need a minute.”
“Now, Branna.”
“No.”
“Yes, or I’ll break it down and Buster will be pissed.”
“You wouldn’t!”
He didn’t answer, instead waiting silently. Seconds later, he heard the lock click. Then the door opened.
She’d left off her shoes and stood before him looking lost and alone and so small it made him hurt. “Hey, you.” She bit her bottom lip and fought the tears, so he pushed harder. “Want a hug?”
“W-we’re not huggers, you and m-me.”
“Sure we are. Why, just tonight I gave you one before you went up on that big scary stage. How about we give it another try?”
“I-I just want to be alone, Jake, please.” The sniff was loud in an effort to keep the tears at bay.
