Page 26 of Michael: The Hawthornes

He should’ve had this since he was born. They adored him.

“Where are you stayin’?” Michael asked, bending down to rest his elbows on the back of the couch I was sitting on.

“Um.” I froze, unsure about what to say. He’d asked not to discuss anything, and I was trying really hard to respect that, but how did I tell him that we didn’t exactly have money to keep staying at a motel?

“Not a hard question,” he said, looking over at me.

“We were at a motel last night—”

“You got here last night?” he asked incredulously.

“It was late.”

“You were in Eugene last night,” he said flatly.

“I came here first thing.”

“Right. So which hotel?” he asked, watching as Rhett did a somersault across the living room.

“I give it a nine-point six,” Rumi announced loudly.

“What’s wrong with you?” Titus argued. “Perfect ten!”

“We checked out this morning,” I hedged. “So, we’re open.”

“You livin’ in your car?” he asked baldly, his eyes still on Rhett.

“No!” I wheezed, choking on nothing. “Why would you ask that?”

“The back of that hatchback is filled to the roof,” he replied quietly. “Don’t lie to me.”

“We’re moving up here.” I tried to say the words like it was no big deal, but I could feel the palms of my hands start to sweat. The fog of safety I’d felt being surrounded by the Hawthornes suddenly didn’t feel as comforting.

“You got a movin’ van comin’?” Michael asked. “Didn’t see any furniture in there.”

“Are you ready to talk now?” I countered.

Michael glared at me, but it didn’t have the desired effect. Instead of making me back off, it gave me something like courage instead.

“Let’s go out back,” I said softly. “We can talk out there.”

At his nod of agreement, I stood up.

“Mama?” Rhett asked, pausing in the middle of the floor.

“I’m going to go talk to your daddy for a few minutes. I’ll be right outside.”

“I come.” He hurried over to his shoes.

“No, baby,” I argued. “You stay in here.”

“I come,” he replied almost desperately.

“Rhett, I’m just going out on the back deck.”

“I come with.” He sat down on the floor, holding his shoes.

“Baby—”

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