Chapter 6
Chapter six
Dakota
I watch as Arizona practically inhales three waffles.
“Want some juice?” I offer.
“Yes. Thank you.” She clears her throat, before placing her fork on her empty plate.
I pour her a glass and try to figure out how to start this awkward conversation.
“So, um…you and Bea…I mean mom,” I correct. This is harder than I expected. “Where have y’all been living? New Orleans?”
She drinks half of the juice before shrugging. “We’d been in New Orleans for about five years. Before that we were in Houston.”
“Where did you live?” I ask before taking her empty plate to the sink.
“When she died, we’d been staying with her friend. I didn’t care for Craig. He looked at me funny.”
My chest squeezes, pain lacing my bones. I knew what that meant. She didn’t even have to say it.
“That’s why you came here? You didn’t want to stay with her friend?”
“No. He was gross.” She finishes off the juice. “Mom had plenty of friends. That’s who we usually stayed with. She wasn’t one who liked to hold a job or do anything remotely responsible.”
I blink, shocked at how mature she is for twelve years old. But I understand it. When you raise yourself, you don’t have a choice. Maturity is unavoidable. I know exactly what that’s like. To have your childhood robbed because your caretaker can’t act like a real parent.
“Have you…” I shift on my feet. “Have you always been with her?”
I’m shocked the school she attended never questioned anything.
“I had to go stay with a foster family once for a few weeks.” She glances at me. “Let’s just say staying with Creepy Craig would have been the better option.”
I study her face. She puts on a front, but I can see the fear in her eyes. The uncertainty. The scared little girl inside. I see me.
The silence hangs, and my chest tightens.
“Dakota,” she says quietly.
It’s the first time she’s actually addressed me.
“Yeah?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask but, could you…. could you not send me back?” She holds my stare.
Blue eyes.
Dark hair.
A neglected soul.
And the answer is crystal clear. I might not know how it’s going to work, and I might end up being a really crappy sister, but there’s no way I’m sending this child anywhere.
She came to me. And I’m going to do what my mother should have done in the first place.
Love her.
The door to the cabin opens, and Cooper steps in. I have to swallow past the lump in my throat at the feeling of security that washes over me.
“Hey girls. Get you plenty to eat Arizona?” He asks.
“Yep,” she answers.
“The waffles? Best you ever had right?” He grins.
She scoffs. “Please. You obviously haven’t been to the Lilly Pad Motel continental breakfast.”
I let a laugh bubble up. This girl has wit. I like it.
“You wound me, Ari.” He holds a hand to his chest.
“Truth hurts.” She swings her legs from the barstool. “Mind if I shower? I was too exhausted last night.”
“Not at all.” Cooper slips off his hat, hanging it on the dining chair. “Take your time.”
Arizona leaves the kitchen, and sudden tears spring to my eyes.
“Hey, Hey. What’s this?” Cooper moves to me immediately, his arms already reaching for me.
I step into them, the warmth causing the tears to spill over. “She…what she’s been through.”
“What did she tell you?” He runs a hand up my back.
“Enough.” I sniff. “If she really has no one….” I lean back, and peer up at him. “I know I’m not mother material. I know I’m impulsive and can’t keep up with my own ass if it wasn’t attached.” I close my eyes. “But she needs someone, Cooper.”
I feel his thumb swipe at one of my tears.
“She needs me,” I croak.
“Okay then.” His palm slides down my arm. “Let’s see what we need to do.”
We.
I nod, my hands coming up to wipe my face. “You tell anyone I cried, and I’ll shrink all of your favorite pearl snaps,” I threaten.
He laughs, before he pulls out his phone. “Your tears are safe with me, Birdie.”
The comment makes my heart flutter, because he’s always been the only one that I allowed to see them.
“You want to make the call or me?” He asks.
I blow out a long breath.
“I need to.” I take his phone and hover my finger over the New Orleans Coroner’s Office knowing that one confirmation, could change everything.