“Water under the bridge now,” Farrah said with a sigh. “I never understood why she hated everyone so much, but still sent you to us all the damn time.”
“I have no idea,” I said, shaking my head. “I think she was just desperate for help.”
“The boys probably didn’t give her much of a choice, either,” Farrah replied ruefully. “They weren’t about to let you fall through the cracks.”
“My dad seemed to attract that kind of loyalty,” I agreed.
“Not just your dad, kid.” She slapped me lightly on the arm with the back of her hand. “Seems to me you’ve got that same pull.”
I shrugged.
Time seemed to speed up as we got off the highway, following Casper as he led us down back roads, circling and backtracking through small towns along the coast. When we finally turned onto a long, gravel driveway, I sat up straight and stretched my arms over my head.
The house was small and covered in wooden shingles, and it looked ready to fall over, which made the high tech alarm system seem seriously out of place.
“Only you would remember the code to this place,” Farrah called to Casper as we climbed out of the truck.
“You complainin’?” he called back, opening the front door.
I grasped Cecilia’s hand as we walked up the steps to the porch and was kind of surprised that she didn’t pull away. Shit had been happening at lightening speed, but I was still highly aware of the fight we’d had. Did I really think that she believed all the garbage she’d spewed at me? Partially. But I didn’t think she would’ve ever said it if I hadn’t been pushing. It didn’t let her off the hook—she didn’t just get to say whatever hurtful crap popped into her head without consequences, but the conversation could wait.
Flat out—I loved her, even the shitty parts of her, and we had more important things to deal with at the moment.
“I’m gonna find a burner and call the club,” Casper said. “Open a couple windows we can keep an eye on—air the place out.”
The house was as small as it looked on the outside, but it was cozy. A small bedroom off to the left side had a queen-sized bed covered in a drop cloth and a small closet without any doors. The living room furniture was also covered in drop cloths, and as Farrah took care of the bedroom, me and Cecilia uncovered the couch and a recliner.
“No TV,” I said, looking around the room.
“I doubt they’re watching TV down here,” Farrah said. “Here, I’ll stash those canvases in the closet with the other one.” She pulled the rolled up fabric from my hands. “See if there’s anything in the kitchen—I’m starving.”
I followed Cecilia into the postage stamp sized kitchen, wrapping my arm around her waist as she stopped to look out the window. The house was small, but the real estate must have been worth a fortune because the back deck butted right up to the beach.
“Maybe we can take a few minutes once Olive gets here,” I said, resting my chin on the top of CeeCee’s head. “Bring her down to the water.”
Cecilia didn’t reply.
“Why aren’t you talking?” I asked, not expecting an answer. “I need to hear your voice, baby.”
She still didn’t reply, but her hands came to the arm around her waist and squeezed before lightly rubbing back and forth.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” I said into her hair. “I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be safe. I fucked up.”
Her hands squeezed again.
“All of this is going to be over soon,” I promised. “And then we can find a little house for you and Olive. Someplace close to your parents, but not close enough that your mom stops by every single day.” Her body shook with a half-hearted chuckle. “And we’ll make sure you have a yard so you can lay out and get a tan while Olive plays in one of those little plastic pools.”
Cecilia tilted her head back to look at me, her eyes full of emotion.
“They’ll be here soon,” I said, reaching up to run my thumb over her cheek. “I trust Forrest more than any other person on the planet. I wouldn’t have sent Olive with anyone but him.”
“Toss me your keys,” Casper said, coming up behind me. “I’ll store your truck in the garage.”
I threw the keys to him and he left the room, but the moment between me and Cecilia was over. Not even a second later, Farrah came bustling in.
“Did you find anything to eat?”
“We didn’t check,” I replied. She huffed.
“There’s gotta be something.” She started opening cupboards. “Eureka!”
“What’d you find?” I asked as she started pulling cans out of the cupboard.
“Chili and chicken noodle soup. Good enough for the people we know!” she joked.
“You better check the dates on those,” I warned.