“Isn’t that what you want?”
George leans against the seat. “Does Sierra have her license back?”
“It’s in review.”
“Then god knows where they’ll send us next. Maybe a group home—and there are none in this county.” Charlie takes my hand. “It’s a gamble, what could happen next, and neither of us are willing to take the risk.”
“Just get me cleaned up and we can go back,” George says. “Dad’ll be sleeping it off. He’ll be so horrified he won’t pick a fight for a while.”
I stare at the twins, jaw dropped. “I’m not taking you back there.”
“Then where do you want us to go, Starlee?” Charlie snaps. I know he’s also scared and frustrated.
“Dexter’s cabin?” I suggest.
“No!” they shout in unison. Charlie continues, “That could get Sierra in more trouble and with everything going on, I doubt they’ve fixed the heat anyway.”
I think about where these boys can hide. Where George can get cleaned up and bandaged. Somewhere no one will look until I can figure out how to convince them to go for help. The answer pops in my head.
I smile. “I know where we can go.”
“Where?” Charlie asks, skeptically.
“The perfect place. There’s heat, a shower, and more than one bed.” I glance at Charlie. “There’s even Wi-Fi.”
His eyes narrow then brighten. “The back cottage.”
I nod. “It’s one of the units out of use until spring. Leelee and Katie never go back there. It’ll give us time and the boys can help us figure out what to do.”
The twins look at one another and George nods, his eyelids drooping. He looks a mess and we need to get him cleaned up. Fast.
“Okay,” Charlie says. “We can go there for now.”
He points left and I turn out of the driveway, starting the long drive back home. The situation sucks but I feel better knowing that they’re both with me and away from their dad. I know one thing for certain, they can’t go back home. It’s too risky—and not just for the boys. But also for their dad.
Charlie sends a text to Dexter and Jake letting them know we need help and we’re almost home. I don’t know how they’re going to get out of the house without Sierra noticing, but that’s not my concern. Currently, I’m occupied with parking the car where Leelee won’t notice it and getting the twins back to the cottage.
“If you drive past the Wayward Sun and turn left between it and the RV park,” Charlie says, “there’s a small alley that runs back there.”
“Really?” I’ve never noticed it.
“I don’t think anyone uses it much. It’s basically a dirt road but I think it was to access the businesses without blocking the main road before they widened it.”
I pass the lodge and then Sierra’s house, slowing to turn on the small road. I’d always just thought it was another entrance to the campground and I guess it is, as there’s a turn off that leads to the trailers, but Charlie gestures for me to keep driving and the paved road turns to crushed rock and to my left is the back of the Wayward Sun. I can see the cottage rooftops, including the one we’re looking for.
“This is perfect,” I say, parking the car and leaning over to give him a kiss of thanks. “Can you get George?”
“Yep. Go unlock the door.”
I creep through the dark, pushing aside the brush and overgrowth behind the cottage, and walk around to the front.
“Hey,” a voice whispers, and I’m relieved to see Dexter and Jake already at the door. “Where are the twins.”
“Charlie’s bringing him from the back road.”
“I’ll go help,” Jake says, vanishing in the dark. I find the key in the zippered part of my purse and Dexter takes it from me, unlocking the door quickly. Inside, he hands me a bag of clothing that Charlie must have asked for. Good idea. Both boys need to change.
The cottage is cold, so like last time I go to the thermostat and adjust the heat. I go to the back bedroom and pull the blinds, turning on the light and then closing the door behind me.