Page 27 of The Way Back Home

My shoulders sag and I let out a deep breath. This family has been through so much.

“That’s enough, Bett.”

“You know that’s a really special story, but maybe you could tell me more some other time, because you’re going to be late and we still have to do your hair,” I say. August doesn’t look happy, but what am I supposed to do? Just ignore her? He’s doing enough of that for the both of us. I stand and move towards the living room. “Now, who’s your favorite princess?”

“Anna.”

“FromFrozen?” I feign a shocked expression. “Mine too.”

“No way,” she says skeptically. “Adults dwon’t watch toons.”

“Can I tell you a secret? This one does,” I say with a smile, and she jumps up and down on the spot.

“Auggie, Wivvie’s favowrite is Anna too.”

“I heard,” he says.

“Auggie doesn’t like Fwozen. He says it’s boring.” She pushes past her brother, who promptly moves out of the doorway. “But I sawed him watch it.”

“Really?” I laugh and grin up at the big angry Marine in question. He doesn’t give anything away—surprise, surprise. I roll my eyes and follow Bett into the living room.

“Thank you,” August says, and it’s so quiet I’m not even sure I heard right. I just shrug and I sit her down on the couch as Bettina starts singing one of the songs from the movie. I brush her hair and do a braid on either side of her head as she serenades me with songs from all her favorite Disney movies. Her voice is high pitched and sweet, I have to try not to laugh, but she’s just so heartbreakingly cute. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m going to miss the Cottons once I find someplace else to live. One thing’s for sure—there’s never a dull moment at Tanglewood.

When I leave the performance going on in the living room and head back to the kitchen for coffee, August is staring blankly at the counter before him. I think he’s supposed to be preparing Bett’s lunch for daycare. He doesn’t have that glazed over look in his eyes that comes with a PTSD flashback, but there’s something not right about his expression either. He looks emotional, and all I want to do is draw him into my arms and tell him that whatever it is, it’ll be okay. But I don’t, because I never know what will set this man off. So, I quietly make myself a coffee, and I pour him one too. I don’t have to ask how he takes it. I already know. It doesn’t take long to figure out a lot about people if you pay attention, and it seems that is all I do when it comes to August Cotton.I always pay attention.

I put in two sugars, forgo the creamer, and carefully slide it across the counter between us. Then I take my own cup upstairs in order to get ready for the day. I have a set of keys to pick up and a shelter to get ready. I’ve only been here a week, but I already miss work so badly. I miss my dog, Pebbles. Hell, I miss all the dogs from the shelter. Dogs don’t know how to love with conditions or strings attached. They don’t know how to hurt, unless they are trained for it. Not like people.

Downstairs, the Cottons leave the house, file into the truck, and pull out of the drive. I watch the taillights until they turn off at the end of the road and sigh. I might not want to leave right now, but I have to get out of this house, because the longer I stay the more I fall in love with this broken, fragile family, and I’m not sure how to fix them. I’m not sure I can.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Olivia

IRIDE DOWN THE UNSEALEDroad out of town, admiring the canopy of live oaks and the clear aquamarine of the water beneath the rickety old bridge through Magnolia Springs State Park. I’ve never seen water this clear in the South, but I guess it isn’t really a surprise. Magnolia Springs has been featured inSouthern Livingmagazine for being the cleanest town in the South, and their water is no exception. Greyson Cotton had warned me about gators in one of our lengthy conversations, but I can’t see how anyone would need to worry. A gator would stick out like a sore thumb in water this clean.

It’s still early, just gone ten a.m, but the day is already shaping up to be a steamy one. I have half a mind to lean my bike up against the weathered railing and just dive right on in, but I have someplace to be, and I’ve already wasted enough time, so swimming will have to wait.

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