She laughed shakily, thinking she’d only go if she decided to stay. Better not to raise expectations all around. “Man, I used to wish I was old enough to attend when I was in high school, listening out my window to all of you cackling next door. Usually drinking and talking and not making much in the way of crafts.”
“This toilet cover says otherwise, but you’re mostly right.” Jolene chuckled and helped Hannah off the floor. “Now, honey, I need to call in a pizza order before my boys turn into flesh-eating monsters right out of a B movie. You stay here and gather yourself. I’ll have a bourbon waiting for you.”
Kissing her again on the top of her head, Jolene let herself out of the bathroom. Hannah sat down on the toilet seat. Being back was going to be tough, maybe tougher than she realized, and coming home suddenly seemed like a stupid idea. Why was she doing this again? She could get a job anywhere. It wasn’t like she didn’t have offers. Besides, she’d gone through with the interviews she’d scheduled in Denverand Santa Fe when she’d flown in two weeks ago. She was still waiting to hear their offers. Breathing more easily, she reminded herself she had choices.
“It’s only a month trial, and then I’ll know for sure,” she told her reflection in the adjacent mirror before heading out to join the others.
The moment she appeared, Dylan grabbed her hand and carted her up their squeaky old staircase to his room to show her his new hobby of building model airplanes, going on and on about wanting to be a pilot, something he’d talked about as long as she could remember.
As he opened his messy closet to find his newest model, she looked out his window. Sarah’s old room was visible, the lacy pink curtains her sister had picked out still fluttering in the gentle breeze.
Sarah.
The truth stole over her gently.
She was here because Sarah wanted her here.
She was here to be around dear people she cared about like Jolene and her family.
She was here for herself.
Whatever had been frozen inside her the day she and Ben broke needed to thaw to heal. That meant resolving things long since past. Where it had all begun. In Sanctuary Springs.
She prayed she was up for it.
CHAPTER TEN
Where the hell was she?
Reba’s caramel apple pie sat like cement in his anxious belly. Cooper splashed in the tub, wetting himself and Tank. Will sang a top country song in his new room across the hall, putting his things away. And he stood here, dripping wet, wondering where she was like he didn’t have a million other things to think about.
“Papa! Can you wash my back again?”
Ben took the washcloth his son thrust out as he wiggled around and presented his little back. “Didn’t we cover that part already?”
“Tank put his dirty old paw on me when you weren’t looking,” his son informed him with a giggle.
Ben shot the puppy a look, making Tank fall to his stomach and put his paws over his eyes. “You’re no help. All right, Cooper. Once we scrub your back, you’re out of here. You get two stories.”
“But it’syourspecial day, Papa.” Cooper gave another splash as he swung around, wet hair sticking up on end. “You pick.”
“Me, huh?” He hauled Cooper out of the tub over Tank’sbody and wrapped him in a green towel, patting him dry. “Then I’m picking the story about the man who vacations with cowboys when they ask for his helpandthe one about the fire-breathing dragon who has the hiccups.”
“I wish I could belch fire like a dragon.” Cooper grabbed part of the towel and rubbed his wet hair before pushing away and running buck naked to his room.
“Hey there, young man,” Will called, ducking his head out. “Put some pants on. This here is a respectable home.”
Cooper hooted, causing Tank to chime in with a chorus of excited barks. “I just took a bath, Uncle Will!”
“You don’t take a bath with your clothes on?” Will came into his room and flashed his dimples. “Is that why my clothes always get wet? Gadzooks, Cooper, you’re a smart one.”
Cooper was on the floor, laughing so hard Ben wondered how he was breathing. Tank hovered over him, barking, before lying down and beginning to lick his face.
Ben felt the headache pulse at the base of his skull. “Tank, stop that! Cooper, you’re getting all riled up.”
“It’s not a school night, Papa.” He sucked in a few breaths between laughter. “Besides, tonight is the first time Uncle Will is in our Dude Realm. He should stay for story time.”
Will clapped Ben on the back. “Only if your papa is cool about me crashing. I’m new to your magical realm, young nephew. You will have to guide me.”
