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41
EVANGELINE
Anxiety has beenmy constant companion since they left. I tried to dance it out with Hunter in the living room, cranking up his favorite songs. It helped for a little while, but they've been gone for hours now.
I exhale and let the sunshine wash over me as Hunter and I play a rousing game of Simon Says. Mostly, I just have him do the silly dance moves.
“Alright, my little muffin, time for lunch.”
He smiles at me, his cheeks red and his eyes mischievous. “Chocolate chip cookies?”
“Forlunch?” I twist my lips to the side to hide the smile threatening to break free.
“Dad's gone for the whole day, and he didn't tell me I couldn't have them for lunch, so.” He stares at me expectantly, his little brows raised and hopeful.
I can't help it, I laugh. I ruffle his hair, grimacing a little at the sweaty strands. “I like your logic, bud. How about we have pizza rolls for lunch and chocolate chip cookies for dessert?”
I curl my hand over his shoulder and steer us toward the sliding glass door. He leans into me, resting his head against my side.
“Deal,” he says, before he springs off of me and starts running toward the house. “Last one there is a rotten pumpkin pie!”
His laughter echoes around me as I start to jog. Naturally, I let him win. It's worth it to see the joy crinkle his eyes and puff up his cheeks.
“You're too fast, Hunter. You're like a cheetah,” I tell him when I reach the door, sliding it open. It's just heavy enough where it's hard for him to open it from the outside.
“I've been practicing,” he says seriously.
“I can see that. You might like to join track one day.”
He tilts his head to the side and beelines for his water on the counter. “Track?”
I start to close the patio door, still looking at Hunter. “Yeah, it's like running and races and—”
A booming thud next to me scares the hell out of me. My head whips toward the sound, and I jump. Dixie is standing on the other side of the patio door, her hand pressed against the glass.
I slide the door open immediately, adrenaline flooding my veins at the sight of her. It's the only time I've ever seen her not put together. “Dixie? Are you ok—”
“Time to go, honey. Where's my grandbaby?”
My body freezes for a moment, a single moment of confusion and terror colliding together.
“Right here, Nan!” Hunter calls, all smiles still.
But Dixie isn't smiling. This is the most serious I've ever seen her, and even though I haven't known her long, it's still freaking me out.
“Get your sneakers on, honey. We're going on an adventure. And hurry, Hunter. Fastest you've ever moved, okay?”
“Okay, Nan,” he says, taking off to the front of the house where his sneakers are.
“You too, Evangeline. Get your purse and shoes. We're leaving.”
I hesitate. “What happened?”
She shakes her head. “We don't have time for that now. We need to move. Now.”
“Shit. Shit, okay,” I mutter, spinning in a little circle, trying to figure out what I need and what's happening.
“Shoes, honey. Purse. And we need the keys to Silas's UTVs,” Dixie says, looking over her shoulder into the backyard.
