“Awesome.” She kicked her feet up on the other side of the couch and lost herself in the story.
LEAH STARTLED AWAKE to the sound of her phone vibrating on the coffee table. She sat up and snagged it, seeing a text from River. Sorry, but can you come get me? I’m at the high school.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” She thumbed out a response. Seriously? And get the girls up? What happened to your friend driving you home?
His response was immediate. I didn’t know they were all going to get high.
“Shit.” How could she be mad at him for being responsible? They couldn’t afford to waste money on an Uber. She sent a quick reply. Fine. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t let me forget to stop for milk on the way home.
He texted back a thumbs-up emoji.
She loaded the kids into their carseats with their memory blankets and lovies—the two things that helped stave off meltdowns. At least she no longer had to worry about diapers. Rosie was a determined little girl and had been in a hurry to wear big-girl underpants like Junie.
As she drove toward the school, she reminded herself that this was a hell of a lot better than driving around at night looking for him, like she’d had to do after their father died.
“Can Wiver sit with us, Mama?” Junie asked sleepily.
“Sure, baby.” She slowed to a stop at a red light and glanced at the girls in the rearview mirror, sitting in their carseats next to each other, holding hands. When they’d driven from North Carolina to the Cape, the girls had sat together and Junie had entertained Rosie so well, Leah had wondered why she hadn’t thought of putting their carseats next to each other before.
She took the long way to pick up River, hoping the girls would go back to sleep, and gazed out the window as she crossed the long stretch of road over the water. It was her favorite route to and from home, worth every minute of the extra seven it took.
River was waiting for them at the entrance to the school parking lot with his hands in his front pockets, shoulders drooping. He opened the passenger door and peered inside. “How mad are you? Lecture mad or shake your head and roll your eyes mad?”
“I’m irritated, not mad. You did the right thing, Riv.”
He grinned. “You taught me well, even if it took me a while to grow up. Dad’d be proud of us.” He slid into the passenger seat. He’d said things like that a lot since they’d moved and he’d started pulling his shit together.
“Wiver, sit with us,” Junie whined.
“I’m already in, Junie. Let’s just go,” he said tightly, and Leah had a feeling it was because he didn’t want to irritate her by keeping them out any longer.
“But Mama said you would,” Junie pleaded in her too-tired-to-negotiate, verge-of-tears voice.
“It’s fine, Riv,” Leah said. “Just get in the back before she melts down.”
“A’right.” He climbed out and got in the back seat behind Leah.
Junie reached across Rosie for his hand after he put on his seat belt. He took it and whispered, “Sorry Mama had to get you up,” but Junie’s eyes had already closed.
As she drove out of the lot, Leah said, “I’m proud of you, too, Riv. It couldn’t have been easy to get yourself out of that situation with new friends. Did they give you a hard time about leaving?”
“Nah. I told them I was on parole and had to get a piss test tomorrow.”
She laughed. “That was kind of brilliant.”
“Right? Hey, don’t forget we need milk.”
“Thanks.” She drove to the convenience store, and as she pulled into a parking spot, Rosie woke up.
“I go in!” Rosie exclaimed. No matter what time it was, she woke like a talking doll whose string had been pulled, bright-eyed and chatty.
“Shh. Don’t wake Junie. You wait with River. I’ll be right back.”
“No! Me go in!” Rosie hollered, startling Junie awake.
“I want to go in,” Junie said sleepily.
“You guys are staying with River in the car.” The last thing Leah wanted was to drag them into the store. They’d beg for everything, and getting them back to sleep would be impossible.
“No!” the girls hollered.
Junie threw a whiney, crying fit, and Rosie pleaded for Leah to let Junie go inside, while Leah and River futilely tried to calm them both down.
“Fine! You can come in, but we’re not buying candy,” Leah snapped, and she and River climbed out of the car to get the girls. Two guys were arguing at the far end of the lot. Great. She quickly picked up Rosie, and her little hands shot out toward her carseat.
“My Boo!”
Leah grabbed the doll, the voices of the arguing men escalating.
“Fighting is bad!” Rosie yelled, causing the men to look over.
Leah’s heart nearly stopped as the biggest man looked over his shoulder, and their eyes collided. Tank. She stood frozen, trying to drag air into her lungs.
“Leah. Leah!” River nudged her, jerking her brain back into gear. “Who’s that?”
“Just my bosses’ son. Let’s go.” She hurried inside the store.
“Did he bother you? Why’d you look scared? Because I’ll go say something to him and take care of it,” River said protectively.
“Mama scared?” Rosie asked.
“No. Mama’s fine.” She raised her brows at River. “I was just…” Unable to breathe. “Surprised to see him outside of work.”
“Are you sure? Because you looked shaken up.” He followed her toward the refrigerator aisle. “I’ll say something after we get the girls in the car.”
Leah spun around. “No, you will not. He didn’t do anything, and he’s twice your size. He could squash you like a bug.”
“No!” Junie whined. “Don’t let him hurt Wiver.”
Ohmygod. Will this night ever end?
“Nobody’s going to hurt me, jelly belly.” River narrowed his eyes at Leah. “I can defend you, you know. I’m not a little kid anymore.”
Leah grabbed a gallon of milk. “I know you’re not, but he hasn’t done anything, okay? Can we just get out of here?”
“Can we get Pop-Tawts?” Junie asked.
Here we go…
Before Leah could respond, River said, “No. But I’ll make you Mickey Mouse pancakes in the morning.”
“I want pincakes!” Rosie exclaimed.
River and Leah said, “Pancakes,” in unison.
Junie grinned. “With bluebewies?”
“You know it. Now, let’s get home before Mama blows her top,” River said as they headed up to the register.
Rosie patted the top of Leah’s head. “Mama no blow.”
Leah couldn’t help but chuckle at their noisy little family. Rosie chatted about her doll wanting pincakes as Leah paid. When they left the store, she saw Tank climbing onto his motorcycle and quickly got the girls into their carseats. River sat in the back with them, and Leah settled into the driver’s seat, feeling like she’d left the house hours ago. She couldn’t wait to get home.
River turned to look out the back window as they left the lot. A minute later he said, “Do you think he’s following us?”