Chapter 8
Blue Skies
Patience
Fast-acting nail repair
Tinted Windows
Oversized Sleeping Shirts
Heat
Kindness
We were in some department store that sold chicken coops and troughs on the outside of the building.
There were also so many barbeques and so much winter gear, I wasn’t sure where to start looking.
Men and women who were fitting themselves with thick jackets and fur-lined boots took up the aisles.
Camo gear dotted the middle section of the store, tents with green and orange hung from the ceiling, and there were a few dead animals mounted and stuffed on the wall.
None of this was familiar to me, but I was trying to roll with it.
Rolling meant we were tucked away in the kids snow boot aisle with all three girls sliding their feet into shoes.
“Daddy usually takes us to Wal-Mart for boots,” Maddy said, wincing as she struggled to pull up the strap of her boot.
There wasn’t a Walmart for twelve miles, and I refused to freak Liam out again by taking the girls out of town. But I didn’t want to tell Maddy that.
“If you’re struggling to put it on then I don’t think it’s the right one for you. Let’s try a different one.” I bent down and tugged a different brand and size free.
It was a deep purple color with black rubber along the bottom and white fur inside.
Her eyes widened and lips parted as she gently set it down. I knew she liked it, so I hoped it would fit comfortably.
Sitting on the ground, she pulled her sock up high then gently shoved her foot into the boot with ease. Standing, she walked around and the smile that broke out on her face would be something I tucked away forever.
“They fit!”
I beamed, and then Seraphina jumped up and down in her all-black boots.
“I like these better than the ones Dad got me with the butterflies on them.”
Seraph didn’t seem to like many typical girly things, which was endearing and something I needed to note.
“I want Elsa or Anna on mine,” Mila sniffed, standing in a pair that were each on the wrong foot.
“What if we settle for the colors from Frozen? These are blue and white.”
I handed her the pair I found that had white fur on the inside and light blue coloring on the outside.
With a resigned sigh, she finally accepted them. Once we got the boots, I took the girls to pick out new coats. It was another hour before we finally left.
“Okay, girls, where is your favorite park?”
I watched in the rearview mirror for some general directions, or a name. The town wasn’t that big, surely there were only a few for them to choose from.
“The one over by the water,” Mila yelled from her little car seat in the back.
Maddy was back there, too—begrudgingly. But the visor on my car has all the airbag warnings on it, and it says she should be twelve if she’s going to sit in the front. It made me feel better to have her in the back.
“There’s one by our school. It’s fun in the snow if you have sleds and stuff,” Maddy offered, looking out her window.
We didn’t have sleds. Did that mean they wouldn’t have fun?
“What about you Seraph, do you have one you like?” I inched up to catch her expression in the mirror.
“I like Hayden Park. It has a tower.”
Finally, a park with a name that I could locate on my maps. Pulling over for a brief second allowed me the opportunity to pull it up. Thankfully it was just a few blocks away from where we were.
Once we rolled along the curb, I could see why Seraphina liked the park. It sprawled out along the expanse of the large square it was built within. Tall wooden towers and spires mimicked a castle. The girls unbuckled, and I exited to help them get out near the park and away from the road.
“Okay, let’s only stay here until you guys get cold.”
I was already cold, but they needed fresh air, so I wanted them to have the chance to play.
As we walked toward the center of the park, I noticed a few other cars parked along the opposite end, and near the basketball court were three people talking.
Two were smoking. There was a woman who kept laughing while taking a puff in between jokes.
It sent a shiver of unease through me, but there were also a few other parents on the playground, their kids laughing and playing in their winter gear.
Maddy held Mila’s hand as they crawled up the steps to get to the wiggly bridge. Seraphina had already taken off, running down it at a breakneck speed, and now she was tucked away in one of the towers.
I watched with my arms crossed over my chest. Every move Mila and Maddy made, my gaze tracked and then bounced up to ensure I still had Seraph in my sights.
How did parents do this? My brain was in overdrive trying to ensure I didn’t lose track of anyone.
It was terrifying. After about ten minutes passed, the smoking woman with dirty blonde hair made her way closer to the play equipment.
Her eyes bounced around the place like she was looking for someone.
That greasy, uneasy feeling intensified.
Taking several steps closer to the stairs, so I was right next to where the girls were, I gauged the woman’s movements. When Mila slid down the slide, I relocated around the edge to be there when she finished.
Right as I reached her, I saw that the woman had walked over too.
“Mila, is that you, baby doll?”
My heart suddenly burst into a rapid rhythm in my chest.
Oh my God.
What was I supposed to do? On instinct, I grabbed Mila’s hand and guided her back to my side. I had no idea who this woman was, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
The woman’s eyes jumped to me as if it finally registered that I was there.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
The blue sky that had been overhead all day long was finally starting to fade to a darker color, indicating it might snow again. But the girls’ cheeks were rosy, and I felt like we’d had plenty of time here. It was time to go.
Mila tugged on my hand, but I wouldn’t let go. I knew the woman had asked me a question, but my brain was still registering the other people in the park and whether she was alone or if someone had traveled behind us.
“Aunt Julie?” Maddy came around the slide, her blue eyes wide in surprise.
“Hey kiddo!” the woman said, pulling Maddy into a side hug.
She had a cigarette dangling from the side of her mouth as she held Maddy there.
Seraph peered over at us from up above in her tower. It was over the slide, so she was looking down. She made eye contact with me, then looked over at the woman, then back at me. When she slowly shook her head back and forth, I knew this wasn’t a good idea.
“Hi, I’m Haley, their nanny.” I stuck my hand out, but she didn’t take it. She held firmly onto Maddy’s shoulders.
“Nanny? Damn, that sounds fancy. Didn’t realize Liam had that sort of money now.”
“It’s a trade situation…classes for babysitting.” I didn’t owe this woman anything, but I also didn’t want it to seem like Liam had all this money when he was struggling. I didn’t know what the situation was with the girl’s mother, but my gut told me this woman wasn’t Liam’s sister.
“Well, your mamma sure misses you, girls. You want to go see her? She’s just a few blocks away, at my apartment.”
Again, my heart hammered against my ribs so quick and hard that spots began to dance in my eyes. I had been afraid before, but this fear…this terror over losing someone else’s children was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
I stepped forward, pushing Mila behind me and grabbing Maddy’s hand. Thankfully she came to me without hesitation.
“We were actually heading out.” I glanced up briefly, and Seraph caught my eyes then disappeared. Hopefully that meant she was coming down.
The woman sized me up, her eyes bouncing between my face, my jacket, and my gloves.
“You look like you just stepped out of one of them fancy magazines with all your name-brand shit and shiny lips. You must be fucking him. Can’t blame you. It’s why my sister had such a hard time letting him go.”
Oh, fuck.
This was not happening.
I pulled on the girls’ tiny hands, towing them away. I wouldn’t even deign to answer her because she’d just said all that in front of Liam’s daughters.
“Hey!” Julie called after us.
Seraph was running toward my car, watching us with apprehension. All I could think was that I wanted her inside, safe and sound. My eyes glanced around for anyone who might be with their aunt, hoping no one else was here. What if their mother showed up? What would I do?
“You can’t just walk away from me! That’s my family, you bitch!” she screamed, and I started to run.
“Get in the car, quick.” I unlocked the doors and fumbled with the handle.
Thankfully Julie wasn’t running after us.
She was trying to walk quickly but weaving so much it slowed her down.
She might be high or drunk, and she seemed to be unsure of her footing as she continued to yell and scream obscenities at us.
Maddy was shaking, and Mila’s face was red as little tears started trailing down her cheeks.
I wanted to throw up. I wanted to scream.
I couldn’t do anything but pray that woman didn’t try to attack me as I buckled Mila into her car seat.
Once everyone was in the car, I quickly slipped in and locked the doors.
“Are you okay?” I whispered to Maddy, turning to face her in the back. My SUV had heavily tinted windows, so while my car was still there, Julie couldn’t see inside.
Maddy nodded but kept her head down.
I looked at Seraph, but she was just staring out the window.
“Can we leave? I’m scared,” Mila whined as more tears trailed down her cheeks.
Swallowing the thick lump in my throat, I nodded and turned around.
I drove around for a while, ensuring I wasn’t followed by anyone, and then I finally settled in front of Nora’s house.