Page 73 of Just Like Home

Mom.

He shook the thoughts aside. “Sorry.”

The apology sounded about as earnest as everything else he said, which was to say—not earnest at all.

22

The following morning, Cole was relieved they made it through practice without another surprise visit from Charlotte.

It might’ve been their best practice so far this summer. The guys were focused, and they had a clear leader in Asher. Still, when they finished and hit the locker rooms, Cole overheard something that surprised him—a conversation about their tribute dance. The guys actually seemed excited to go work with Charlotte later on that day.

How could he get them that excited about football again? He knew they all loved the game, but that’s not how it seemed when they played. Sure, they were starting to do the work, but something was missing, and he had a feeling if he figured out what it was, it would transform his team.

That afternoon, he showed up at Haven House to finally help Steve with the fence, but when he arrived, Hildy met him outside, that worried look on her face.

He met her near the bottom of the porch stairs. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Amelia,” Hildy said.

Cole’s stomach turned over. He’d barely seen Amelia when they were here Sunday. He’d planned to go in and check on her, but then the fight with Asher turned his mood sour. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Is she always this quiet?” Hildy wrung her hands.

Cole shrugged. “How quiet?”

“Silent.”

He sighed. “No. She’s definitely not always that quiet.”

“She’s in the treehouse,” Hildy said. “She’s been up there for over an hour. She ran up there when I told her we were going to go to the dance studio for class later.”

Cole frowned. “I’m not sure she’ll listen to me.”

“Well, it’s worth a shot,” Hildy said.

Cole ran a hand over his chin. He needed a shave. “I’ll do my best.” He made quick work of the yard and stopped at the big oak tree with the house built up into it. The house had been there as long as Cole could remember, and even though he’d been a teenager during his tenure at Haven House, he still found solace in that little space.

Somehow, he thought that was why Steve built it in the first place. Kids with trauma needed a safe place that felt like an escape, one where they wouldn’t be surrounded by other people.

He climbed the ladder and poked his head up through the hole in the floor of the treehouse. There, sitting in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, was Julianna’s mini-me. Amelia’s eyes widened when she recognized him.

“Hey, kiddo,” he said.

No response.

He pulled himself up into the treehouse. It had been an easier move back in the day. He looked around. “This place hasn’t changed much.”

Amelia’s brow furrowed.

“Did you know your mom and I lived here for a few months a long time ago? Hildy and Steve took really good care of us.”

She propped her chin up with her arms and studied him.

He situated himself next to her and let the silence turn comfortable between them. “Hildy said you don’t want to dance.”

Amelia shrugged. At least it was some indication she was listening. He’d take it.

Another few minutes of silence. He didn’t want to push her. If she didn’t feel like dancing or talking, maybe that was okay. However, it wasn’t like the bubbly little girl he knew.

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