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I move my hand to my cheek like I can hide the bruise from him. “It’s nothing. I walked into a door.” I lie, but like he has a sixth sense, he can see right through it. I swear I’ve never been able to get one over on him.
I take him in, noticing the extra gray hair and the weathered skin he gained from working in the sun. A cowboy hat only protects so much and these men don’t believe in sunscreen. The laugh lines around his mouth are more prominent than I remember. Yet, he’s still the same Manuel. I remember giving me piggyback rides and teaching me how to saddle a horse.
I can just imagine him and Dad sitting around with a whiskey in their hand as they shoot the shit and laugh at all the antics that go on around the place. That thought makes me sad. How much did I miss while I was gone?
Manuel looks over my shoulder at the little blonde girl sitting in the back seat. “Is that her?”
“It is,” I tell him.
“Come in then, girl.”
I nod. “Only for a bit. I thought we’d get a hotel in town or something.” I respond.
“You’re still running.” He accuses.
“I’m making this easier for everyone.”
“This is still your home, Samantha. It always will be. You don’t have to hide.”
“Maybe,” I reply. “But it’s Shane’s home too, and I’m sure he doesn’t want me here.”
I turn back toward the car to get Dakota. Before I can get too far, Manuel grabs my wrist. I do everything I can not to flinch at the touch. “He’s not the same boy you remember.” Manuel defends.
“I’m not the same girl either,” I answer, leaving him to follow or not.
Manuel is one of the few who know my secret. Hell, I’m not entirely certain my dad knew, though I’m sure he suspected. Shane and I did our best to keep our relationship hidden from everyone. There wasn’t much choice since I was underage when we first started dating.
I unbuckle Dakota and help her step out of the car. She stands there shyly, half hiding behind my leg as she takes Manuel in. He crouches down until he’s at her level and tilts his hat back so she can see his eyes before speaking.
“Hello there, little lady. What’s your name?” Manuel enquires.
“Dakota.” my little girl says shyly.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dakota. I’m Manuel.” He says, holding his hand out for her to shake.
She doesn’t take it, instead, she steps forward and wraps her arms around his neck. Surprise flits across his features for only a second before he engulfs her in his enormous arms, a massive smile on his face. When she continues to hold on to him, he just lifts her up and carries her toward the house.
As he’s walking away, he looks back over his shoulder. “Your secret is always safe with me.” He promises. “But don’t forget that all secrets, no matter how deeply buried, always find their way back to the light.”
Tears prick my eyes as I watch them go ahead of me. Dakota has never been so open with anyone and I’m filled with guilt for the fear she has lived through in her brief life. Once they reach the door and Manuel opens it, I snap out of my pity party.
“I guess I’ll get the bags,” I say to myself as I get busy grabbing our things and heading inside.
It takes a few minutes to maneuver through the entryway with our things and when I finally make it; I find Dakota talking a mile a minute to both Manuel and Ellen, a cookie in her hand.
Seeing her like this takes me back in time to when I was a little girl and Ellen would sneak me a cookie before dinner. Dad would get so mad because he thought it would ruin my supper, but it never did. I liked food, and I wasn’t picky.
When Ellen sees me coming through, she bulrushes me into a hug, her large body wrapping around my small one. “How I’ve missed you, sweet girl.” She cries.
“I’ve missed you too,” I say, my voice cracking.
She holds me like she never wants to let me go, and again I’m swarmed with guilt. I can’t imagine the bear my dad became when he realized I was gone. Or how much worse he got when I refused to return.
“None of that. You did what you thought you had to.” She whispers in my ear.
When she pulls back, she, like Manuel, notices the bruise immediately. “I’m sure you don’t want me to ask.” She states as she looks pointedly at the bruise.
She immediately walks over to the freezer and grabs a bag of frozen peas, handing them to me to place on my face.
