by Melissa Haag
“Yes, Nana,” Jim said innocently and without stopping.
He and I reached the truck at the same time.
“So how’d you meet? Any more like her?” Jim said, leaning against the truck as I went to the back to lift my bike down.
“The same day I called you, I stopped at some little diner. She and her brothers came in as I was eating.”
“And was it like Dad said? You just knew?”
I set the bike on the ground and nodded.
“Yeah. One look and I knew. Then her scent...it was like I’d found home.”
“Wow. That’s really sappy.”
“Shut up.” I took the car seats out of the truck bed next.
“Want me to put the bike in the garage for you?”
“I don’t want you touching my bike.”
“Want me to bring Michelle her toothbrush?” he asked, reaching in the bed to grab the plastic bag
“I want you to go steal us some cookies and change the sheets on your spare bed.”
Jim laughed and sauntered away.
After I parked the bike in the garage and stowed the car seats, I brought the bag to the apartment. The door was still open but there weren’t any sounds coming from inside. I tapped on the door as I looked in.
They were just standing in the center of the room, studying the place like it was a palace.
I need to get them decent furniture, I sent to Winifred.
I agree. However, I don’t think you should purchase any for that apartment. The one across the hall is bigger and will work better for a growing family.
The one across the hall isn’t finished.
Do you have something better to do with your time?
She had a point. Now that Michelle and her brothers were here, I didn’t want to leave them every day to go work with Jim. Not until they were truly settled in.
“Here are your things,” I said when Michelle turned to look at me.
“Thank you, Emmitt.”
She came to take the bag from me and our hands touched briefly. It was lightning to my gut. I wanted more. But, she turned away to hand the bag to Liam.
“Can you put these in the bathroom?”
When I had her attention once more, I could see the weary set of her shoulders.
“Good night, Michelle. Come downstairs if you need anything.”
She nodded and shut the door.
* * * *
I stayed up long after Jim went to bed. Our apartment door was open, and I was listening. I figured the first night in a strange place might cause some problems. Maybe one of the boys would have a bad dream, and Michelle would need help.
The truth was that I couldn’t sleep. That touch had started a fire that wasn’t dying down. I wanted to see her, smell her, just be close to her. Instead, I was two stories away, sitting on my brother’s crappy couch.
I sighed and let my head fall back. Jim’s snores drifted from his room, making me grin. He could sleep through anything. Mom said it was because he had a carefree soul. Uncle Grey said it was because Jim knew his path. Whichever it was, I envied him at times.
A slight noise caught my attention. I moved from the couch to the door, tilting my head to listen. Someone was moving around upstairs. I silently sprinted up the steps. Just on the other side of the door, I heard the rapid beat of a heart.
I breathed deeply, smelling Michelle’s terror.
There were no other sounds. No one else was awake.
I tapped on the door.
“Michelle?” I said softly.
The door opened a second later. She was pale, shaking, and still dressed in her jeans and shirt. Her hair was a little mussed so I knew she’d been sleeping before something woke her.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I heard someone moving around up here and wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
She swallowed, and I could see her try to pull herself together.
“The walls are that thin?”
I shrugged. “I have good hearing and couldn’t sleep either.”
She looked away and didn’t say anything more. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her close. I wanted to breathe in her scent and tell her everything would be all right. Somehow, I doubted she’d accept my touch or my words. So, I tried offering what she might agree to.
“Do you want to come down for pancakes tomorrow morning?” I asked.
She nodded, making me happy.
“Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning.” Reluctantly, I turned and went back down the stairs.
Chapter 4
“Rough night?” Winifred asked from the doorway.
I lifted my head from the couch and nodded. After checking on Michelle, I’d only managed a few hours of sleep.
“I heard the children moving around up there and started breakfast.” As soon as she said the words, the smoky bacon aroma hit me.
“Breakfast?” Jim said, coming from his room.
“Not until our guests are ready,” she said, giving him the look.
“I’ll help wake up Michelle,” Jim said, heading for the bathroom.
A minute later, he started singing at the top of his lungs. I winced and started to leave the apartment.
“It would be better if our guests didn’t see you until you looked a bit more...yourself,” she said.
I nodded and went to my room to change. Jim either ran out of songs or heard me moving around because he stopped his awful wailing. So, I sat on my bed and listened to Michelle and her brothers make their way down the steps. The sound of her voice as she called out a tentative hello wrapped around me.
“Good morning, sleepyheads,” Winnifred called. “Come in and eat.”
I listened to the light footfalls as Michelle and the boys entered Winifred’s kitchen.
“As soon as they smelled the food, they started snitching,” Winifred said. “I told them they might as well eat. I saved some for you.”
I wanted to eat with them, Winifred, I sent to her.
She looks exhausted and skittish. Let them have a quiet breakfast.
The shower turned off and Jim left the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
“Are they ready yet?”
“They’re already in there eating. We aren’t invited.”
“What?”
I shrugged, and a determined glint lit Jim’s gaze as he strode into his room. A second later he was back, fully dressed. He tilted his head, indicating I should follow him. He led the way to Winifred’s. As soon as she saw Jim, she shook her head. Michelle and her brothers were sitting at the table eating. They were all wearing yesterday’s clothes. While Jim sat beside the boys, my mind raced to the day ahead of us. Waiting on furniture made sense, but they needed some basic supplies right away.
“Ready to head into town and do some shopping?” I asked.
Michelle glanced at me and took a moment to swallow her food.
“Not today,” she said.
“If you’re worried about money, I—”
“On Saturdays, I usually comb through the paper,” Winifred said, interrupting me. Be more subtle, she sent me silently before continuing aloud. “This morning I found a few family rummages. Would you like to come with me?”
“Thank you, but I think we’ll stay here and play if that’s okay.”
Michelle had been wearing the same clothes for at least three days. I didn’t mind, but from what I’d learned of humans, they disliked that kind of thing. Or, at least, they were supposed to.
“It’s not everyone’s cup of tea,” Winifred said smoothly. “Would you mind if I looked for things for the boys?”
“I don’t mind.”
I think she’s afraid to leave, Winifred sent to me without missing a beat in her conversation with Michelle.
“What sizes should I look for? It’s been ages since I could shop for young men.”
While Michelle and Winifred talked about the boys’ clothes, Jim mischievously eyed Aden’s plate. Aden pulled his plate aw
ay and shifted his body to give Jim his back. Jim grinned but left Aden’s food alone.
Liam watched the pair closely then glanced at me. I smiled at him and leaned against the wall to study the trio. Michelle was nervous and strained. Liam was quiet and cautious. Aden just followed both their cues. Jim was smart to work on relaxing him first. He’d be the easiest.
After Michelle and the boys finished eating, Winifred set the dishes in the sink then shooed us all outside.
“I want to get to the sales early,” she said. “That’s when you get the good stuff.”
Winifred wasted no time pulling her small car out of the driveway.
Try to find something for Michelle, too, I sent to her.
Of course, silly boy. If we want them to stay, we need to give them what they need. I’m not just talking clothes. Give them a home, Emmitt. Give them a family to trust.
How did I earn their trust? I trusted Jim. I trusted Winifred. I always had, though. Why? Because they were always there for me. I needed to be there for Michelle, however she needed me.
According to Winifred, what they needed was some space right now. Since the three were back to staring at the yard, I went to the garage and looked at the mower I’d noticed yesterday.
“Why’s the deck off?” I asked Jim.
“It was cutting all crazy. I thought it would be better to look at it while it wasn’t spinning around.”
“Smart ass,” I said under my breath.
I bent and lifted the deck to look at the underside.
“It’s clogged with old grass. Don’t you ever clean it?”
“Nah, that’s your job.”
While we threw remarks back and forth, most of our attention was on the three on the porch. Michelle held a hand out for each boy to clasp. Then, they slowly moved to step off the porch. At the last minute, Michelle seemed to change her mind and quickly sat on a step. She reached down and removed her shoes. The boys quickly did the same. When they were done, they held hands again and walked onto the grass.
“It’s like they’ve never been outside before,” Jim said quietly.
“I know.”
“And you met her at a diner?”
“Yeah, she’s running from someone. I heard three names. Blake, Richard, and David. I knocked David out and helped her escape. I think that...I think someone might have kept her inside.”
“You mean locked up?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t have any bruises on her wrists or feet that I could see. But that doesn’t mean anything, right?”
Jim nodded slowly. “If she’s not ready to share her past, it’s going to take some time to solve who she is and where she came from.”
“Does any of that matter? She’s here, and I’ll keep her safe.”
“How can you keep her safe when you don’t know what to watch for? You’ll need to figure out her past to protect her future.”
He was right.
We watched them walk around on the grass. My heart broke for Michelle and whatever she’d suffered, and I hoped learning my secret wouldn’t add to it...or keep her from trusting me.
After several minutes, Michelle looked up and caught us watching her and the boys. She nervously cleared her throat and turned to her brothers.
“What do you want to play?”
“There’s no swing,” Liam said as he looked around the yard with a very serious expression.
“We need a swing set,” Jim said to me.
“Yep.”
Michelle bent and plucked a blade of grass from the overgrown lawn.
“We don’t need one to play. Here.” She handed each boy a blade of grass and proceeded to teach them how to make the most awful, piercing whistle using the grass, their thumbs, and cupped hands.
“Sounds like you when you snore,” I said.
“She knows my mating call,” Jim said with a grin.
I smacked the back of his head then went to work cleaning the mower. Jim assisted, if I could count handing me tools while he sat watching the three play as assisting.
A while later, we both heard someone’s stomach growl.
“I’m hungry,” Jim called out. “Anyone else?”
Aden immediately answered with a quiet, “Me.”
“Keep working on him,” I said quietly to Jim as we stood.
“You got it, brother.”
We started toward the house. The boys quickly stood and headed that way too, but Michelle was a little slower. She frowned as she got to her feet. With each distracted step she took, the frown marring her forehead increased. When the boys hesitated, she motioned them ahead but bit her lip as she followed us to the porch. Her brothers stopped to wait for her. So did I. She noticed and hurried to catch up. Jim was already in his apartment, humming happily.
Standing aside, I let them enter. As she passed, I inhaled softly. She was worrying heavily. Did she think we didn’t have enough food?
“Not sure what I’m hungry for,” Jim said. He glanced back at Aden and nodded his head toward the fridge. “Peanut butter and jelly?”
Aden gave a slight shake of his head. While Jim went back to staring at the contents of the fridge and teasing Aden to creep closer, I watched Michelle. She was studying Jim and Aden intently. I glanced at the pair and saw Aden standing beside Jim, looking into the fridge. The little guy barely came to Jim’s thigh. Was she worried about Jim?
“I have some fish gill paste with broccoli,” Jim said just then. “Does that sound good?”
Maybe she did need to worry.
Aden quickly shook his head.
“Yeah, I don’t like it either,” Jim said. “It’s Emmitt’s. What about a ham and cheese sandwich?”
Aden nodded enthusiastically, and Jim had him assist in making us all sandwiches. The whole time Michelle kept a close eye on the pair.
Before we finished, Winifred’s car pulled into the driveway. I couldn’t wait to see what she’d purchased. A moment later she walked in, carrying three paper bags. I set my sandwich down and took one from her.
“I think you’ll be happy with what I found,” Winifred said to Michelle as she set two bags on Jim’s couch. “Emmitt, can you get the other bags for me? They are on the porch.”
There are some boxes we’ll want to store and show her at a later time, she added silently.
I set down the bag I currently held and went outside.
I listened to Winifred show the boys the ball caps she’d gotten them as I quickly moved several boxes into the garage. Winifred had found dishes and cookware and a few other household items for Michelle. She was right not to show any of it now. Michelle was...I shook my head. She was undecided about us, and housewares might come off as us pushing her to stay and likely send her running.
I grabbed the three remaining bags and noticed clothes for Michelle. Hopefully, she wouldn’t mind Winifred getting them.
I brought the bags in and set them next to the others. When I turned, I caught an odd look from Aden. A mix between suppressed laughter and guilt. I discovered why when I picked up my sandwich. Jim had taken a huge bite, and half of it was gone. I shook my head at Jim and ate the rest of my sandwich. I knew better than to leave food unguarded around him.
Winifred continued showing the kids the shorts, pants, shoes, sandals, and swim trunks she’d gotten for each of them. She’d even purchased new underwear and socks. Humans liked new stuff.
“Michelle,” Winifred said, breaking into my thoughts. “I hope you don’t mind, but I found a few things that I couldn’t resist getting for you.” She indicated the two remaining bags. “Would you like to see?”
Michelle nodded.
Like the boys, she had a full wardrobe that included shorts, two additional pairs of jeans, and several printed tees.
“I’ll let you look through the rest on your own,” Winifred said, stopping halfway through the second bag. “If something doesn’t fit, just let me know.”
“What?” Jim said in mock indignation. “No suit for her? Com
e on Nana, tomorrow’s the fourth. We could go to the lake.”
Please let there be a suit for Michelle, I thought to myself. I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. Jim shoved something into his mouth.
“Of course I bought her one. She can look for herself.”
I looked at Michelle’s plate and saw her sandwich was missing. I elbowed Jim, and he grunted before swallowing hard. Michelle turned to look at us. We both found something on the walls to study.
Humor drifted from Aden and Liam. They both had witnessed Jim’s theft.
Michelle turned back toward Winifred and reached for her sandwich. She saw her empty plate then turned to look at Jim. He had the guts to point at me.
Aden burst out in giggles.
“Jim, if you can’t behave, you can go finish mowing the lawn,” Winifred said. “Boys, put your plates in the sink if you’re finished. Emmitt, can you help me take these up to the apartment?” She indicated the bags as she picked up two herself.
I quickly put my plate on Jim’s, then went to grab the rest of the bags. When Winifred asked someone to do something, it was best to listen. Jim put our dishes in the sink, then moved to go outside. With the riding mower still apart, I doubted he’d be mowing any time soon. Aden scrambled to put his plate away then followed Jim, same hitch to his walk and everything. I grinned as I headed up the stairs.
Winifred was already coming down them.
“Try to keep it all folded,” she said as she passed me.
I pretended to look puzzled but didn’t fool her. She laughed and kept heading down the stairs.
As soon as I was in the apartment, I started going through Michelle’s clothes until I found the swimsuit. It was two pieces. Winifred had my unending gratitude.
From the open window, I heard Jim begging Michelle to let him take Aden for a mower ride. Winifred scolded Jim and sent him to the basement to look for a mitt and a ball.
Then, I heard Winifred offer to watch the kids so Michelle could change.
I hurriedly put everything back into the bags and walked out of the door as Michelle reached the third floor. She gave me a timid smile and went into the apartment. She had no idea what that smile meant to me. A beginning. Grinning, I jogged down the steps.
Outside, I found the boys finishing their cookies on the porch. Liam glanced at Winifred and me.