Page 124 of Finders Keepers

I watch Sophie finish her cereal, her little legs swinging beneath the chair. Every fiber of my being screams to grab her, pack our bags, and run again. But where would we go? How many times can we start over before it breaks her?

“Mommy, can we still go see Buttercup today?” Her voice pulls me from my spiral.

My first instinct is to cancel. To keep us locked away where Matt can never find us. But the thought of disappointing her, of letting him take one more thing from us…

“Of course we can, baby.” I smooth her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “We made a promise to Jake and Ms. Lucy that you’d be there, remember?”

Her face lights up. “And Ms. Lucy said I could feed Buttercup carrots today!”

“That’s right.” I force enthusiasm into my voice, even as my stomach churns. “Why don’t you go pick out what you want to wear?”

She scrambles down from her chair and races to our room, braids bouncing.

Gavin steps closer to me, his voice low. “You sure about this? No one would blame you for staying in today.”

I lean against the counter, fingers gripping the edge. “I can’t let him control our lives anymore. Sophie deserves normal things. Friends, activities, memories that don’t involve looking over her shoulder.”

“I get that.” He crosses his arms, concern etched in his features. “But maybe wait a few days, let things settle?”

“And then what? Wait a few more days after that? And then a few more?” I shake my head. “There will always be a reason to be afraid. I have to figure out how to live with it without letting it consume us.”

The sound of Sophie singing to herself drifts from our room, some made-up song about horses and butterflies. The normalcy of it makes my chest ache.

“At least let me go with you,” He offers. “I can hang around during the lesson, keep an eye out.”

“Don’t you have appointments at the clinic?”

“I can reschedule.” His gaze holds mine. “Your safety matters more than routine checkups.”

I take a deep breath, nodding at him. “Okay.” Relief washing over me, though I hate admitting how much safer it makes me feel. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll follow y’all in my truck.” His shoulders relax slightly.

Sophie bursts back into the kitchen, wearing her favorite shirt with horses galloping across the front and her little jeans. She’s clutching her pink cowboy boots in her hands, her face a mixture of determination and frustration.

“Mommy, I need help.” She thrusts the boots toward me.

I kneel down, taking the boots. “Well, these things are being stubborn today, huh? Come here.”

She plops down on the floor, sticking her feet out. I guide each foot into its boot, giving a gentle tug to get them on properly.

“There we go. Ready to be a cowgirl?”

She jumps up, stomping her feet to settle the boots. “I’m already a cowgirl! Mr. Jake said so!”

“He sure did.” I half smile, trying to sound as normal as I can. “Give me two minutes to change, okay? Then we can go see Buttercup.”

In our room I quickly swap my pajamas for a pair of denim shorts and a plain t-shirt. It’s faded from too many washes, but it’s comfortable and familiar, something I need today. I pull my hair into a messy bun and slip on my shoes.

When I return, Sophie is showing Gavin her drawing of Buttercup.

“Ready?” I grab my keys and purse from the counter, slipping the strap over my shoulder. I’m determined to let Sophie have a normal day even though my own has already been completely rocked. No need for her to carry my emotional baggage.

“Ready!” She skips toward the door, her little boots clomping on the hardwood floor. She turns back with an expectant smile that melts my heart despite everything else swirling in my mind

Sophie waves goodbye to Jake and Ms. Lucy, her cheeks flushed from the riding lesson and the warm Texas weather. The temperature’s already climbing, and it’s not even noon yet.

“Did you see me, Mommy? Did you see how good I did with Buttercup?”

---