Page 48 of Goose
“Remember, I’ll always keep you safe, but anything more is out of the question. You fucking destroyed my heart.”
He turned and walked into the trailer to help his brother and friend clean up the mess of my father’s dead body.
I ran to the truck and climbed in. Turning the key, I drove the truck toward town. I needed to find somewhere to stay until I could get on my feet.
Driving down Main Street, I saw the old hotel and pulled up. Mrs. Drake would let me stay there for a bit.
I parked the truck and slowly got out. Walking up, I opened the door as I took a deep breath. As soon as the door opened and Mrs. Drake saw me, she came running over.
“Bambi! What the heck happened to you, girl?”
“It’s nothing. I was just wondering if I could stay for a week or so until I find a place to stay. I’m gonna clean up and start looking for jobs tomorrow.”
She fussed over my clothes and brought me over to the desk, grabbing a key.
“You never have to ask. I hope he got what was coming to him, dear. But that’s all I’m gonna say. Here, let’s get to your room and I’ll grab you a change of clothes. Then you’re coming home with me for dinner.”
“Oh, you don’t have too. I don’t want to intrude.”
She laughed and started the shower for me. “Nonsense, girl. We take care of our own, you know that.”
I smiled as she walked to the door. “Thank you so much. I’ll pay you back for everything.”
“No more of that. You just take care of yourself, Bambi.”
I stayed in that hotel room for a week until I finally found myself at the door of the seedy strip club in town.
It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was all I knew at this point. Everything I had ever dreamed for and planned was burned to the ground on my eighteenth birthday...
––––––––
IGET UP OFF THE SWINGand pad back into the kitchen. I hated thinking about my past. To try and distract myself, I open the cabinets and make breakfast for everybody.
I can hear little footsteps on the stairs and walk over to see Scarlett coming down. She smiles and lifts her arms up to me.
Scooping her up, I walk back into the kitchen and sit her on the counter next to the big mixing bowl.
“Wanna help me make muffins, princess?”
She nods and claps her hands together. Laughing, I grab her tiny apron and throw it on her. We get to work mixing and baking muffins for us and the men in the house.
While the muffins are cooking, I chop up some fresh fruit while Scarlett dances around the kitchen.
Rumbling comes from down the hallway and I smile to myself, knowing that the twins are running down the stairs.
Some might groan at the sound, but I craved it in the worst way. I just want a happy family, something I never had...
The twins come barreling down the hall into the kitchen, Goose right on their heels. He’s just a big kid and I laugh watching him chase them around the kitchen island.
I set the table as he scoops Scarlett up and peppers her face with kisses. She laughs and screams as all four of them run around the house.
Knox and Colton come running around and I scoop them both up, plopping them in their seats. As soon as Goose comes running around the corner, I grab Scarlett from his arms and place her in the highchair.
Goose kisses me on the cheek as he turns to sit with the kids. Before he even gets the chance, his phone rings.
He walks into the other room while I sit and fill all three kids’ plates. Goose comes back out and places a kiss on top of my head.
I eye him, and he winks at me.
