Page 87 of Badges
Her nose wrinkles with a sour expression. “So, he’s my dad, but you’re with him? That’s so weird.”
“Maybe. But it works for us. He’s a solid man, you’ll see.” I don’t see where she has any room to judge.
Her forehead crinkles as her eyes widen. “I’m not bitchin’. I don’t care. I have my own television and toilet.” She kicks out her legs and flops onto the bed. “You can sleep with Spongebob for all I care.” Stretching out, she tucks her hands behind her head to stare up at the ceiling, her grin returning. “This is all so crazy, but in a good way, ya know?”
“Tomorrow he wants to take you shopping to get what you need.” My finger wags at her. I’ve always been more like a mom than a sister. “Don’t be ridiculous about it.”
Her palm flies up between us. “There is no way I’m gonna mess this up. This is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I knew she’d be appreciative, but it had to be said. The mattress dips when I sit next to her. “I love you, ‘Thia. I’m so happy you’re back. I know Wade, um, your dad, will have some questions tomorrow about how you ended up at Nancy’s place. Whoever arranged that, they weren’t very nice people.” I don’t want her to know just what I had to do trying to find her.
She fixes me with a hard stare.
Holy shit she looks like him.
“Is that why you have an ankle monitor?” She blinks at me blandly, like she just asked how I like my eggs.
“What do you know about those?” Reflexively I tuck my feet against the bed.
She snorts and rolls onto her side. “I’ve been in foster for like a year, Elena. A ton of the kids have parents who are either in jail or on parole.” Her hand flips. “I could teach a class on it. What did you do?”
I shake my head. “I was trying to get you back. There was a man who said if I did certain…things, he’d make sure I could find you.”
Her lips thin. “Did you have to, um, you know?” She rocks her fingers as she looks at me squeamishly.
“No, nothing like that.” Although there was probably a time I had thought it would have been easier.
Then I would have been the only one hurt, not other people or animals.
She reaches out to touch my arm. “I’m really glad. One of the girls who came through had to do that with her mom’s boyfriend just so he wouldn’t hurt her baby sister.”
That makes my stomach roll. What other horror stories has she heard?
I hate that she had to go through it.
“That’s awful.” Now I’m even more grateful of where we are, and how we’re safe.
Loved.
“We’re lucky.” She nods, then yawns again.
I couldn’t agree more.
Damn, it’s dark out already.
I hop up, pointing to the bathroom. “If you need to shower before bed, there’s stuff in the tub. Do you want me to tuck you in like when you were little?” I kinda miss that old routine of a story and a song.
But she shakes her head. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I’m fine.”
I pause before closing her room completely. “Welcome home, ‘Thia.”
She smiles and kicks off her shoes. “I’m home.” Her grin grows and she flops back against the pillows.
A knot forms in my throat as I tiptoe through the dark house.
His light is off.
Should I dare go in? Or go back and snuggle my sister?
