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“Okay, I’ll make sure you have everything you need before you go.”
I smiled. “You’re going to take me shopping?”
He glanced over to Tessa and Mandy. “Maybe not.”
“We want you to rest for the next day or two, then we can replace what you need and make sure you have everything for school.”
The fire and smoke in my room were too much for anything to survive. I already knew that. But my closet. Did it make it through my bathroom? I only cared about one thing. The clothes and books and phone and computer could be replaced. My brother’s hat was the only thing I owned that couldn’t be.
I kept it stored in a drawer in my closet since the day I decided I needed to let go of that security blanket, but it was always there just in case. It was my only link to my brother. The only possession his mom let me have.
If it was gone . . . I’d survive. I would have to. I would always have his memory. Not even a fire could take that away.
“Are you ready?” Dad asked.
I shook my head. Panic rushed in. I didn’t want to go to that place where she had been. I didn’t want to be reminded of that woman. I didn’t want to smell her or find any trace of her.
“I don’t want to go to your apartment.” I could go to my mom’s house. At least it was a place she never saw.
“We can’t go to the house, sweetie.” Dad’s jaw clenched. I hadn’t meant to hurt him, but I could see he was struggling to hold it together.
“She’ll stay at our home,” Bruce said from behind him.
I didn’t notice he was here until then, but as I looked around the room, I realized all their parents were here, even Vince’s mom.
“We have a guest room ready for her, and I’ll stop and get her some changes of clothes on the way,” Renae offered with her arm looped through Luca’s.
Dad glanced from them and back to me. “Is that what you want?”
As long as it wasn’t somewhere Juliet had been, it was fine. I assumed I’d go to Gavin’s, but Luca’s was probably a better idea. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see my house yet.
“I’ll head back and see what information I can get. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.” Dad leaned forward and kissed my forehead before stepping back.
A line formed to hug me and wish me the best until it was just Luca and his parents.
“Ready?” Luca asked.
“Yeah.” I looked to his parents. “Thank you for letting me stay with you.”
“Of course, sweetheart.” Renae began pushing the wheelchair out while Bruce rushed ahead to get their car. Luca helped me inside, and minutes later, we were on the road to his house. It was nearing noon, but it felt like last night was weeks ago.
“Are you hungry?” Bruce asked.
“Let’s stop and get sandwiches,” Luca answered before I could.
“Is that okay?” Renae asked.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” How long had it been since I was in a car with a family? Sure, I spent a lot of time over at Gavin’s, and they treated me like a part of the family, but for some reason, this felt different.
It was a flash of what could have been if my parents actually loved each other. If there weren’t piles of secrets pushing each of us apart.
I tried to remember a time when Spencer and I sat behind my parents in relative peace and quiet.
Dad was usually talking on his phone, and Mom was complaining. Spencer tried to distract me, but the tension could be too much for even him.
This was nothing like what I’d once known. Luca’s parents might seem distant and were usually busy, but in the quiet moments, I could feel their connection. Bruce and Renae loved each other and absolutely adored their son. Even if it was hard to tell sometimes.
I reached over and took Luca’s hand in mine. When he looked at me, I smiled and leaned my head back. I knew I was safe here, with them, and in their home. That was a feeling I hadn’t realized was missing from my life until now.
