Page 6 of Banking on Love

I followed her across the yard and up the three porch steps. The girl, who had come outside, held the front door open for us.

“Thanks,” I said, looking down at her.

“You’re welcome,” she smiled as I walked by her and stepped into the house. The smell of cigarette smoke, dust, cedar, and some sort of floral scent filled my nose. It made my nose itch.

“Ugh. Kimberly! Why haven’t you and Kallia cleaned this place up?” the woman complained. She kicked an empty beer can across the room.

“Don’t yell at me! My room is clean, Kensi! This is his mess. He needs to clean it,” the girl– Kimberly– fussed.

Kensi,I repeated. I had heard her dad say it earlier, but it hadn’t registered until now.

“I know. I’m sorry,” Kensi sighed. “Let’s get this bastard in his bed.”

I remained silent as I followed her down a short hallway. She opened a door. The smell of booze, stale cigarettes, and musk hit me like a subway. My stomach churned and I fought the urge to drop the guy to the floor.

“My God! Filthy pig!" she turned a glare on the man, who was still cutting some serious logs. He was oblivious to his daughter’s death stare. “Toss the bastard anywhere.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I chuckled. A few long strides later, I set him down on the bed then beelined it back out into the hallway.

Kensi shut the door. She let out a heavy sigh then looked up at me.

“I am so sorry,” she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears. “If I knew it was this bad, I wouldn’t have let you carry him in. Now I really owe you.”

She lowered her gaze to the floor; however, I saw the tears in her eyes. There was more than just a few empty beer cans and the stale cigarette smell. Her father’s actions had broken her.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I smiled and placed my hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. “Everything will be alright.”

“Thanks,” she whispered.

“You two making out back there?” Kimberly called out from the living room. Kensi shook her head and groaned. I on the other hand chuckled.

“Sorry about my sister,” Kensi said softly.

“No worries,” I replied.

“This way.”

Kensi walked back towards the front of the house with me close behind her. When we reached the living room, there was a second girl standing by the door. She looked almost identical to Kimberly.

“Oo. Kensi, who is he?” the other girl asked.

“Kallia, don’t you start too,” Kensi muttered.

“Well, do we at least get a name?” Kimberly mused, staring at me. Kensi opened her mouth to speak, but she looked at me.

“You’ve helped me so much. And, I don’t even know your name,” Kensi giggled.

“Nick. Nick Campton,” I replied. All three of them were looking at me and smiling.

“Thanks for carrying our dad, Nick,” Kallia yawned then sat down on the couch. Kimberly sat next to her.

“They call their dad’sPopswhere he’s from,” Kimberly informed her sister. Kallia gave me a funny look.

“Pops?” Kallia stated almost in disbelief.

“Yep. Pops.”

“Like soda?” Kallia’s response made me laugh.

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