Page 97 of Dare You to Run

I ruffle his hair and laugh. “Yup. Slept with the horses. It’s pretty comfortable in there.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re silly. It’s stinky, not comfortable.”

“Chicken!” AJ’s little voice calls from the table and her arms raise in a V, one hand full of mushed banana.

Walking over to her, I squat down to eye level with her and wink. “You’re the one that looks like a chicken this morning with all of that crazy hair.”

She shoves her banana in her mouth then throws her arms around me, no doubt leaving behind remnants of it on my shirt.

“Autumn Jade. You just wiped your sticky hands all over Hendrix. Let go, little missy.” Camille runs a towel under the faucet and makes her way over to us.

“Eh. It’s okay. Definitely worth it for an AJ hug.” I stand to let Camille wipe her hands and take a couple steps back.

“Good morning, Mr. McCallan.” I’ve decided the familiarity of calling him Vaughan is over and go back to addressing him as I would a business associate.

“Mornin’.” His face is riddled with guilt and I’m thinking Camille continued with the tongue lashing after we went to bed.

“Camille. Do you have juice or tea that I can take to Dagen? She’s still sleeping but since she can’t have coffee, I thought she’d want something to help her get going.”

She smiles wide at me as she tosses the napkin in the trash.

“I have some decaf coffee she can have. I’ll make her a cup of that and pour a glass of juice.”

“And a ‘nana,” AJ adds.

“And a banana. She loves those, doesn’t she.” AJ nods with a big grin on her face.

“Thank you, Camille.” I stand awkwardly, waiting for her coffee to brew.

I shove my hands in my pockets and stare down at my feet. I feel like I should say something, but I’m out of words and apologies to say to Vaughan. The only thing left to apologize for is simply existing.

“Hendrix,” he calls over to me. “Do you think I can speak with you a little later? After you’ve finished your coffee?”

I gulp and feel thankful that my hands are in my pockets, otherwise he’d see how much they tremble. “Yeah. Absolutely.”

One corner of his mouth lifts and he gives me a slight dip of his chin.

If that man packs his gun with him, I know his talk will be the last one before he drops me in a deep hole.

“Here you go.” Camille breaks me from my contemplation over whether I’d rather see the bullet coming or close my eyes, and hands me a tray. “You two take your time. No rush. Dagen’s appointment isn’t until two.”

I look down at the tray with a glass or orange juice, a cup of coffee, two bananas, two bowls of strawberries and blueberries and two bagels. In that moment, I’m jealous of Dagen and her siblings, getting to grow up like this. A real mother who cares for all of their needs. By the time we landed with Miss Shirley, we were teenage boys who just wanted to be left alone. None of us ever had a mom or dad to fuss over us.

Camille opens the door for me and before I can step out, AJ shouts, “I go with Chicken and Day.”

“No, baby girl. Day is still sleeping. You’ll see her later.” Vaughan scoops her up and she pouts. “How about we go check on the horses?”

“Yes.”

“Let me get my shoes,” Sloane shouts.

“And clothes,” Camille adds.

I walk out and turn to both of them. “Thank you. I appreciate this.”

Camille smiles warmly, and squeezes my arm.

When I reach the cottage, I balance the tray and push the front door open. I’m greeted by the sounds of retching coming from the bedroom. I place the food down on the counter and quickly jog to the bathroom where I see Dagen hunched over the toilet.