Page 21

CHAPTER 21

O live stared at the two-story beige house with the small front porch, a porch she and Jason had enjoyed many evenings as they swung back and forth on the swing, talking about their future together.

She’d always known her family would probably move again, but she’d only been two years from graduating. So either way, Olive had figured she and Jason could stay together. Maybe they’d go to the same college even.

The two of them had been determined to figure out a way.

Her future for once had felt exciting.

Then her family had left, fleeing in the middle of the night and not taking anything but their clothes and toiletries with them.

Her dad had told Olive that under no circumstance was she to be in contact with anyone from Oasis, Texas, again.

Through her formative years, her dad had programmed her to listen to him. It was a weird type of mind control, Olive supposed now that she looked back on it. But she hadn’t wanted to disappoint him.

He’d made his order sound dire. Every time Olive remembered those men she’d heard him arguing with, she wondered if by being in contact with people in Oasis she would put her family in danger.

As it turned out, her family had been in danger anyway.

Now, as Olive stared at her old house, she didn’t feel any warm memories.

She only felt regret.

Regret that she hadn’t stood up for herself more.

Regret that she hadn’t asked for more answers before it was too late.

Regret that she hadn’t stayed in contact with Jason anyway.

But it was too late to change any of those things.

Now Olive just had to live with the consequences.

Olive glanced up and down the street one more time. It was still empty, other than a few cars parked along the curb.

After a moment of hesitation, she pulled into her old driveway and parked.

Being here was risky, but she hoped the risk was worth the reward. Though the sun was sinking in the sky, it wasn’t dark yet. She hoped the brightness would work in her favor.

She climbed out, strode toward the porch, and knocked on the door. She wasn’t sure exactly what she’d say when—and if—someone answered. But she felt confident she could wing it.

“Ain’t nobody living there,” a gravelly voice in the distance called.

Olive glanced at the neighboring house and saw an older gentleman sitting on his porch. She didn’t recognize him from when she’d lived here.

The man sat in a battered lawn chair, his back hunched, and his hands resting on a cane in front of him. On a rusty table beside him stood a bottle of lemonade and a bag of peanuts.

Olive walked across the lawn toward him. “No one’s living there? It looks like someone is keeping up the place.”

The man shrugged. “Place has been empty ever since I’ve lived here. Not sure what’s going on with it. Don’t affect me, so I don’t ask questions.”

Olive paused as she realized the man was waiting for her to explain her presence here. “I actually lived in that house when I was in high school. I happened to be in town and just wanted to reminisce, I suppose.”

He grunted as if satisfied with her answer. “I see. I only moved here a few years ago myself. Wanted to be closer to my son. Health’s not as great as it used to be.”

“I understand.” She glanced back at the house. “Do you think it would be okay if I walked around the outside? I just want to see what’s changed and relive a few good memories.”

Lies. All lies.

“If you want to dig into your past, I won’t stop you.” A coughing fit prevented the man from saying anything else.

Did he know something? What an odd thing to say.

Maybe he hadn’t meant anything by it.

“Thank you,” she finally murmured.

Olive headed back toward her old place and slowly strolled the perimeter.

Memories filled her.

Memories of playing hide-and-seek with her sisters. Of having a barbecue with some of her dad’s friends on the back deck. Of hurrying out the front door so she wouldn’t miss her bus.

Had that really been her life at one time, or was it all just a dream?

Sometimes Olive wasn’t sure.

She reached the backyard and walked onto the small deck—which was now dry and cracked with age.

She paused and squinted. A paper had been placed between the screen and the back door. Based on how clean it looked, it hadn’t been there long.

She picked it up and studied the outside.

There was no name or address on the folds, nor was there an envelope.

Strange.

Nibbling on her lip, she unfolded it. The words there made her lungs freeze.

Like father, like daughter.