Page 68 of Taken Away

Aubrey giggled so hard she tipped sideways. Mabel caught her before she hit the ground.

Aubrey wrapped both skinny arms around her waist. Mabel held the girl close, swallowing the ache in her throat.

Aubrey smelled of sunshine and grape juice, and the strawberry shampoo Mabel kept in the guest bathroom just for her.

“Love you, Aunt Mabel,” Aubrey mumbled into her shirt.

Mabel closed her eyes.

“Love you too, baby.”

More than you know.

Aubrey pulled back and grabbed her hand.

“Come see my fort.”

“Your fort?”

“Uh-huh. I built it.”

“Should I be worried?”

“No.”

A beat.

“Maybe a little.”

Mabel let herself be dragged along the upper path, toward the quieter edge of the hill.

The “fort” turned out to be three crooked branches leaning against a fence post and a faded beach towel printed with sun-washed blue stripes.

Aubrey looked very pleased with herself.

“It’s beautiful,” Mabel said.

Aubrey’s grin lit her whole face. “I know.”

Mabel huffed out a laugh.

Inside the “fort” sat two plastic teacups and a stuffed rabbit missing one eye.

Aubrey patted the towel beside her.

“You sit here.”

“Bossy little thing.” “Mom says I’m ‘termined.” Mabel huffed out a quiet laugh and lowered herself onto the towel.

“When’d your mama say that?”

Aubrey frowned, thinking hard.

“Dunno. Long time.”

She picked at a loose string on the beach towel.

Then she leaned against Mabel’s side, like it was the most natural thing in the world.