Page 23 of Gone for You

They shrug and look to their parents. “Can we go back inside and lie down?”

“Sure,” Samantha says, feeling their foreheads with the back of her hand.

Conner takes Hillary’s hand and they all disappear around the corner and into the camper. They’re not starving and they’re clean, able to use the laundromat to wash clothes, but their living conditions are far from ideal. Far.

Austin gestures to the lawn chairs they have set up around the tent and we all take a seat. “So how’s it really going?” I keep my voice low so the kids can’t hear me through the thin walls of the camper, knowing they try to keep as much hidden from them as possible.

I shouldn’t have been worried, though, because Austin smiles wide and I know whatever he’s about to say is going to be awesome. “I’m glad you came today. I found a job,” Austin says, pride evident in his voice.

Absolutelyawesome. “The construction company I told you about?”

He’s practically beaming with excitement. “Yeah. Thanks for the recommendation. The owners, Barrett and Josh, seem like good guys to work for. We even get benefits. Benefits, can you believe it? I’ve never had a job that offered insurance and vacation days, not that I want to take days off because I can’t wait to get back to work, but having the option is huge. But, if I prove myself to them, I’ll have use of a company pickup in a few months, too. And they helped Samantha find something, too. She’ll be cleaning their office and a few others at night. We’ll be busy but this,” he points around them, “it’s almost behind us. Not that we aren’t grateful,” he rushes to add but it’s not necessary. I know what he means.

Samantha reaches over, holds her husband’s hand and smiles. “Ethan, it gets better. Josh, he has a couple rental properties, and he’s letting us live in one for super cheap until we can afford to pay the full rent. Not only do we both have jobs, but we have a place to live.”

I sigh in relief. Not because I don’t want to continue helping them, but because they deserve a break. “I can’t tell you how happy I am for you both. So what’s the plan?”

“Actually, we can move in this weekend. We’ll be in a home,” Samantha says, smiling. She laughs nervously, like she hates to believe it’s possible.

“No way!”

“Yup! In just a few days we’ll be out of your hair.”

“I’m not going to keep telling you guys that you’re not a bother.”

“We plan to pay you back for everything you’ve done for us,” Austin says.

“Wrong.”

What no one besides my dad knows is that when Jessie died, she left money to me. I didn’t want it but couldn’t refuse it, either. Dad told me to hang on to it and use it for something that would make her proud. Helping a family in need would have been something she would have done without question. Especially one who doesn’t expect it. Helping them has barely put a dent in what I inherited but it would have been worth it even if it did.

“You’re a stubborn asshole,” he jokes.

“I told him he was relentless this morning!” Liv says, giggling.

Samantha points back and forth between us. “When did you two meet?”

“Last night.” I say it knowing how it sounds. I just like messing with them.

Her mouth forms an O and Austin barks out a laugh, draping an arm over the back of her chair.

Liv pushes my shoulder. “It’s not like that. I mean, yes, we met last night and had breakfast this morning but we didn’t spend the night together! Well, we kind of did because I was at the Goat until like two am and then saw him again first thing but we didn’t like… sleep together or anything and uggghh—” she trails off, dropping her face into her hand.

“She rambles when she’s nervous.”

She lifts her head and glares at me but the twist of her lips says she’s trying not to smile.

“We actually met once about ten years ago.”

“Really?” Samantha asks, perking up at the prospect of some sort of romantic story.

“She was just seventeen, though.”

“Ahh. Didn’t want to be a cradle robber, huh?” Austin teases.

“That and her brother was sure to tell me to stay the hell away.”

“Her brother?” Samantha’s voice comes out full of humor.

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