Page 15 of The Way Back Home

“Maybe one day we can tell each other these things until we start to believe them.” I turn to him. “What’s that they say? That the more people hear something the more they start to believe it? Can’t hurt, can it?”

August straightens and walks away from me, toward his room. “Good night, Olivia.”

“Night, August,” I say with a sigh when he’s out of earshot. For a long time, I stand there, listening to the crickets humming in the long grass, ignoring the weariness in my bones with a sleepy smile tugging at my lips. While I’d give anything not to have a veteran cower and tremble that way, he made great strides tonight. Of course, tomorrow is a new day and I’d wager that as the sun rises so too will his disdain for me again, but tonight he opened to me. For a moment, I saw a hint of the man beneath the wall, and even if it kills me, I’ll find a way to sneak a glimpse of that August again. I’ll make sure he doesn’t stay buried for long.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Olivia

COME FRIDAY, I’M UPat the ass-crack of dawn, donning a pair of sensible flat shoes and a nice dress as I head into town. I want to hit the realtor bright and early because I know being in August’s hair isn’t doing me any favors.

I’m around two miles into my journey down Oak Street when August’s pickup pulls up alongside me.

“Wivvie,” Bettina says, and I turn and smile at her.

“Well hi, sugar. Where are you off to today?”

“I have daycare, silly.”

“You do? Well that sounds like fun.”

“Auggie says we cwouldn’t stop because we’re gwoing to be late.” She leans out the window and whispers conspiratorially, “But I twold him he hawd to.”

“Bettina,” August chides.

I smile at him. “From the mouths of babes, huh?”

“You want a ride or not?” he asks.

I smile, sweetly. I have no intention of getting in the car with him. “No thank you, I’m just fine walking.”

“What kind of man would I be if I left a pretty lady by the side of the road?”

My brow shoots skyward, and I start walking. “The kind that’s late.”

The truck screeches to a halt, and Bettina yelps as her tiny body is flung back against the seat.

---