“I’ve been looking for you for many years. I knew your father. Well, that’s to say, I knewofyour father. I’d love to share with you how. If you don’t want pancakes, we have cereal or eggs. Do you like eggs?”
She cocked her head to the side, her long brown hair swaying. “You knew my papa?”
“I did. Your mama as well. I can explain everything to you in due time. Some things may be best to save until you’re older, but you’re very important to me, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep you safe.”
My nerves were all over the place, and I was blowing it by the look on her face.
“I’m pretty sure your father liked eggs, but you might not, and that’s okay. Doc doesn’t like eggs. That’s why we have cereal. Here, let me get it for you,” I rambled as I shakily turned to grab a bowl and the box of sugary cereal Doc insisted we stock the house with.
“I like eggs with cheese. I haven’t had cheesy eggs in a long time.” Her shy little voice made me whip around.
“Cheesy eggs, coming right up. Doc, get the cereal. We’re having pancakes, too, because why not?” I smiled.
Doc’s eyes met mine as we heard the chair scrape against the floor. Mischa sat down at the table, prim and proper, but the color had returned to her cheeks. We’d be okay.
At that moment, I knew. It would take time, but I’d help her every step of the way. She’d heal from this. I wouldn’t fail her again.
Part 2
Present Day
Chapter 7
Kinsley
Happy Birthday
Present Day
Stretching my neck from side to side, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back startled me as the ever-present emotions of pain and weariness swirled in my eyes. Today was April 23, and I was officially twenty-one years old. Too young to feel so tired, yet here I was.
There weren’t any beignets this morning or pretty wrapped presents with bows. There was no Owen with his brown, smiling eyes to tease me about getting old or to sing “Happy Birthday” off-key. No bag of jelly beans. No, this birthday was identical to last year’s—empty.
Who knew something as simple as jelly beans could bring a person to their knees? If I closed my eyes and concentrated hard enough, I could still hear his voice. Owen had been so good to me.
I smiled, thinking about how we’d driven around in our RV that first year and a half. We’d visited almost every state in America, looking for a place to call home. We’d ended up settling in the Pacific Northwest region, and it gave us the opportunity to do all the things we liked—hunting, fishing, hiking, and living in the great outdoors.
Looking back, I can say that almost every day had been an adventure with Owen. True to his word, he was patient. In fact, I started calling him Saint Owen because he truly was a saint to put up with me and all my issues.
For the first six months, we stayed at the safe house, and Doc stayed with us. She was integral in my initial healing. She acted as a facilitator between us as I learned to navigate healthy relationships and establish boundaries.
Not that it was difficult, because Owen was so respectful. He’d even let me pick my name about a week into staying at the safe house. He hated calling me Spring, and I couldn’t stand Mischa. So, on April 23, 2014, I officially became Kinsley Anya Marie Taylor, and I began again. I had a shiny new birth certificate and all the jelly beans a girl could ask for.
The memory of driving to our new property was one I often brought to mind. For nothing other than a reminder that good things could still happen to me. It wasn’t hopeless. I got lost in the memory.
“Jellybean, if you leave me only the green and yellow ones, I may never buy you another bag again,” Owen joked with me.
I giggled and withheld the bag from him.
“I’m serious, now. Hand me some of those before they’re all gone. We have at least one hundred sixty miles before we’ll need to stop again.” He held out his hand, and I shook the bag, laughing as a bunch of green and yellow ones fell out.
“You are officially fired,” he said with a huge smile.
“It’s not my fault. Honestly, it’s the luck of the draw, and you seem to be down on yours today.” I laughed as he popped the jelly beans into his mouth and grimaced.
“Get out the guide for the county we’ll be in again. I want you to know all the game animals and the exact dates we can legally hunt by three o’clock. Then you can start on that pre-algebra.”
“Okay, but if I pass the quiz, can we have pizza for dinner?”
