“I’ve got her,” Ava said, lifting the creature off my back.

I sat up, glaring at the kitten. Mia threw her arms around my neck. “Don’t be mad. She just wanted to do yoga with you.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. And as I looked over at Caelyn, who had lifted the kitten from Ava’s arms and kissed its furry head, my chest gave a painful squeeze. I hadn’t realized how empty my life had been. Not until they had filled it. Even if they did bring a devil cat with them.

35

Caelyn

I hoisted my bag out of the passenger seat and shut the door with my hip. I let out a startled yelp as I came face-to-face with my mother. “What are you doing here?”

She looked around the empty parking lot. “Has anyone been following you lately?”

“Following me?” My pulse picked up speed. “No. What are you talking about?” I took a second to survey her, checking her pupils. They seemed normal, but I wasn’t sure I even knew what they would look like if she was high.

My mom reached out and gripped my arm, her nails digging into my flesh. “Think, Caelyn. Have you felt like there have been eyes on you?”

I ripped my arm from her grasp. “No. Now you need to tell me what’s going on.”

Her gaze darted to the street as a truck drove past. “Someone broke into my trailer.”

“Mom, that trailer isn’t exactly in a stand-up neighborhood. Did you call the sheriff’s department?”

Her focus jumped back to me. “No. I don’t want them in my space.”

I studied her, trying to figure out why that might be. A healthy paranoia from being locked up for so many years? Hiding a stash of drugs? Or did she have something at her place that would lead to my father? As hard as I looked, I couldn’t see the truth. “You need to call Parker. Tell him where Dad is. Tell him what you’re worried about.”

Mom’s jaw clenched in a way that said her stubborn streak was coming out to play. “I would never do that to your father. He’s my husband.”

“We’re your children. But I guess you don’t care about that.” Just saying the words aloud stoked the anger that was always on a simmer inside me. It didn’t take much to bring it to a rolling boil. And thinking about what my parents had put my siblings through would do it every time.

My mom toyed with the keychain in her hands. “I’m sorry. I know we hurt you, but I’m better now. I know I can’t change the past, but I’m trying to make things right. To look out for you.”