Page 58

Nova

Mama, Leah, and I sat in the family room and waited for news.

Leah constantly checked her phone and Facebook.

She said she was checking Skye’s page to see if she’d posted anything, but she hadn’t.

I couldn’t sit any longer, so I got up and walked around the room, taking in every part of the house that Leah, Quinton, and Skye had made into a home.

It was the little details that stood out to me the most. The built-in bookshelves lined the wall and were filled with books, keepsakes, and framed photographs, capturing priceless moments between the three of them.

Skye’s school portraits, her wide smile beaming from the frames.

There were pictures of family vacations, birthdays, and holidays.

I picked up the picture that someone took of Leah, Skye, and Quinton on a beach, laughing like they’d heard the funniest joke ever.

None of them were looking at the camera, which made the moment feel more authentic, not staged.

The more I stared at the picture, the harder I attempted to swallow the tears that were scorching my throat.

I no longer had to imagine what their life must’ve been like.

I was holding the evidence of a life full of love, experiences, and happiness.

There was something bittersweet in that realization.

It was a sense of gratitude mixed with sorrow as I stared into Skye’s face, which glowed almost as bright as the sun behind her.

In that picture and all the others, I saw the life I always wanted for Skye—a life filled with more love than her little heart could contain.

Of course, I wished I was standing with them on the beach, next to Skye as she blew out the candles on her birthday cake, and on the other side of her as she received a basketball trophy for player of the year.

But in all those pictures I also saw the love Leah had for Skye.

There wasn’t a picture that she wasn’t in, smiling like she couldn’t have been prouder if she tried.

Other than Mama and Quinton, I didn’t know anyone else who loved Skye, even before she was born, more than Leah did.

“You okay, Sweet Pea?” Mama stood next to me.

I put the picture back on the shelf and forced my lips to cooperate enough to convince Mama that I was fine. I looked around Mama and over to Leah, who was leaning forward with her hands steepled in front of her mouth. “Where’s the bathroom?” I asked.

Leah stood. “I’ll show you.”

I followed to the end of the hallway. “Thanks,” I said before closing myself inside.

I didn’t have to use it. I needed some time alone. Maybe the bathroom wasn’t the best place. This one only had a toilet and a sink. It was too small and too confining, but it would have to do. I leaned against the sink and gripped the edge to steady myself as my chest heaved with emotions.

I raised myself up and stared at the person in the mirror with swollen eyes.

How had I gone from sitting at the lake with Lance to this nightmare?

During my first few weeks in that room, I often wondered how Mama and Daddy must’ve been feeling, not knowing where I was.

If I was alive or dead. Now I knew. I told Mama that she couldn’t compare what she’d gone through to what I’d gone through, and I was right, because what she’d gone through was so much worse.

Even back then, when I was locked in that room with no hope of escaping, I still didn’t feel as helpless as I felt now.

Tonight, I not only felt useless, but I also felt desperate. Desperate enough to reach out to the same God who’d abandoned me. Maybe he loved Skye enough to hear me on her behalf.

I slid down to the floor, pressing my back against the wall, and hugged my knees to my chest. I closed my eyes and let the darkness wrap around me as I searched for the right words. It had been so long that I didn’t know if I remembered how to pray, but I tried anyway.

“God,” I whispered. “I don’t know if you can hear me or if you even want to hear from me anymore, but I know you know Skye.

I’m sure you still love her, right? Because who wouldn’t love Skye?

She’s beautiful and funny, and she has a heart of gold.

I know that’s true because the people who raised her have hearts of gold.

” I paused, shocked by my own words. “So, even if you don’t protect Skye and bring her back safely for me, then at least do it for Quinton and Leah and Mama.

Please don’t let them hurt any more than they already have.

None of them deserve that. Okay. I think that’s all I have to say. Amen.”

I stayed on the floor for a few more minutes before I forced myself to stand.

My legs wobbled. I braced myself against the sink and stared at myself in the mirror one last time.

I looked the same as before, but I didn’t feel the same.

There was a flicker of something that I hadn’t walked in there with, but I couldn’t name it.

All I knew was that I didn’t feel quite as heavy as I did a few minutes ago.

When I stepped into the hallway, I followed what sounded like the clatter of dishes back down the hallway and into a large kitchen. Leah sat at the counter, her back to me, while Mama stood in front of her, pouring hot water from a glass tea kettle and into a mug.

“You want some tea?” Mama asked, raising the tea kettle.

“No, thanks.” I slid onto the stool next to Leah and inhaled the smell of cinnamon and spices. “I don’t know how to do this,” I mumbled.

“What’s that?” Mama asked, stirring sugar in her tea.

“I really wanted Skye to live with me, and everyone tried to tell me that it was too soon, but I thought they were being negative and not supporting me, but after this...” I looked across the table at Mama and then over to Leah.

“What if she’d done this while she was living with me?

What if Mama was gone, and I was all alone?

Would I have known what to do? Probably not .

.. Who am I kidding? Definitely not. I would’ve panicked,” I rambled on.

“Nova, don’t do that.” Leah leaned closer to me.

“You think I didn’t panic? You think Quinton didn’t?

But after that, adrenaline kicks in, and you start thinking straight.

I’ll be the first to admit that the thought of Skye moving out and living with you and Mama did break my heart, but not because I didn’t think you could handle it.

Skye’s not my child, I know that, but I love her so much. ” Leah closed her eyes and inhaled.

I moved from my seat and hugged Leah. It was my turn to comfort her the way she’d comforted me when I first walked in.

As Leah hugged me back, I could feel the steady beat of her heart against mine.

As I held my sister and felt her pain mixed with mine, it was more apparent than ever that Leah had become more than a guardian in my absence—she was a pillar for Skye, just as she’d always been for me.

“Nova,” Leah said breathlessly. “You’re hurting me.”

“Oh.” I stepped back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how tight I was holding you.”

The chime from the front door caused all of us to rush from the kitchen and into the hallway. I expected to see Lance and Quinton and prayed they had Skye with them, but it wasn’t them.

“Skye!” Leah ran to the front door and grabbed Skye in her arms.

Mama and I were right behind her. We couldn’t wait for Leah to release the hold she had on Skye, so me and Mama joined Leah in the hug. We were all so focused on Skye that it took a minute before we realized she wasn’t alone.

“Bianca?” Mama left the group hug and went to the door where our cousin Bianca was still standing. “Where did you find her?” Mama asked.

“I didn’t find her, exactly.” Bianca played with her fingers while she spoke. She cleared her throat. “Skye rode to New Orleans with me.”

“What?” we all responded.

“I’m sorry.” Bianca glared at Skye. “I didn’t know she didn’t have permission to come. She told me she asked, and her dad said it was okay.” Bianca hunched her shoulders. “I didn’t have a reason not to believe her.”

“Why would you do that?” Leah asked Skye.

“You scared us half to death. Do you know your dad is out there right now riding around looking for you?” Leah’s finger jabbed toward the front door.

“And not just your dad but also the police. Yes, that’s right, instead of spending their time on real issues, they’re out there looking for a seventeen-year-old runaway. ”

Skye’s hands were clasped tightly in front of her, and her eyes darted around the space, as if she was unable to look at Leah.

“I wasn’t trying to scare anyone,” Skye murmured.

“I was so upset. I was going to come straight home when I left Gran’s, but I couldn’t come back here. ” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“Why not?” Leah asked.

“Because you weren’t here.” Skye lowered her head.

Leah’s face softened.

I didn’t want to feel jealous, but it was still there. Skye’s love for Leah was so loud and clear.

“Skye,” Leah said softly. She hugged Skye again.

“I’m so sorry.” Bianca looked between Mama and me.

“It’s not your fault,” Mama said, her eyes glued to Skye. “Before tonight, I wouldn’t have questioned if she was lying, either, but now I see that I should.”

Skye looked like she was ready to crumble. Like the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her grandma.

“I’m sorry, Gran.” A frown distorted Skye’s beautiful features.

“I guess I’d better call and tell your dad that you’re home,” Leah said, walking back into the kitchen where she’d left her phone.

“Wait, Leah, before you go, there’s something I need to tell all of you,” Bianca said, sweeping a gaze from Leah to Mom, then finally landing on me.

“What is it?” Leah asked, sounding rushed.

“It’s about the magazine article.”

I looked at Leah, whose eyes had narrowed into slits. Mama’s arms were crossed over her chest.

“What article?” I asked.