1. Shiloh
1
SHILOH
T he alarm beeping was just a cue to get out of bed. The monotonous tone was barely audible, but loud enough for me, anyway. I stretched my arm across and reached the nightstand, before checking the screen and turning off the alarm.
It was my day off and I was meant to sleep in so I set the alarm for an hour later. In time to get my son, Ethan, ready for school, but still later than usual. Still, I had woken up naturally an hour earlier. I couldn’t help it, my body liked routine. And when you were a single mom, and the most responsible of your siblings and friends, routine was also necessary.
Before I went to my bathroom, I popped into my son’s bedroom. I took a moment to just take him in. He was on his back, covers barely moved from when I tucked him in the night before. My lips twitched at the sight of him in nearly the same spot. He was a tidy sleeper. Probably the only thing he got from me. I gave the door a gentle knock. “Eth, it’s time to wake up.”
I would need to do that two more times.
In my bathroom, I went through my normal routine. My system was efficient, ensuring I could be as quick as possible. As soon as I was done, I placed my toothbrush in the green frosted glass holder and rinsed the sink of any residual toothpaste. I checked my phone to see how far I was from my period and sent a message to myself to renew my birth control. Ethan proved condoms were not one hundred percent reliable.
As I left the bathroom, I stopped outside Ethan’s room and called him once more. “Kiddo, time to get up.”
The low grunt brought a smile to my face and I knew he was starting to wake up.
Walking into my bright, sunny kitchen always made me smile. The cottage I stayed in belonged to Cassie Salinger and she had agreed to upgrade the kitchen last year. Since Ethan and I were living there, she allowed me to have a lot of say in the appliances and cabinets. It was pretty much the kitchen of my dreams.
The cabinets were not quite white, but not quite cream either. The light wood veneered door knobs and handles matched the laminate flooring throughout the kitchen and living area.
I pulled four slices of bread out of the wooden bread bin. I popped two into the toaster for myself and then proceeded to make Ethan’s lunch. Ham and cheese was our Monday filling. I tried to give him variety even if he wanted peanut butter and jelly every day. He was nine and had no problem letting me know how inconvenient me wanting him to have a nutritious lunch was.
I placed the sandwich in the largest compartment of his superhero lunch box. Then I took a banana from the fruit bowl and placed it on the side along with a small packet of nuts. Finally, I closed the container and placed a juice box on top of it.
My toast had popped and cooled off just enough so my butter wouldn't melt. While I did that, I called once more. I raised my voice a little, fully expecting an unhappy response.
“Jeez, Mom.” Ethan emerged from his bedroom, auburn hair sticking up at odd angles. Those blue eyes he inherited from his father narrowed at me. “There’s no need to yell.”
I stifled a chuckle and waved him over. “Come here.”
Dragging his feet like he was headed for the gallows, Ethan made his way to me. I pulled him into my arms and held him close as I inhaled that little boy smell. “Morning, sweetheart.”
“Morning, Mom.” His arms went around my waist. I knew my time for morning hugs would come to an end in the next few years, but until then, I was going to relish in each one I got. “You know it's not normal to be this happy in the morning, right?”
Every morning, we went through the same routine. If I didn’t yell, he would claim he never heard me. If I didn’t call him three times, he would claim he never heard me. I had splashed him with cold water in the past but I found I did not like having to deal with wet sheets early in the morning.
I gave him my best sugary smile. “So pleased you could join me. Go brush your teeth.”
Ignoring the mumbling as he walked away, I pushed my toast to the other side of the counter. I pulled several boxes of cereal from the cupboard. Ethan knew the rules. He could mix a sugary cereal with a healthy one or he could have oatmeal. Since I had the morning off and I got out of bed later than usual, oatmeal was out of the question. I took the milk out of the fridge and placed it alongside the cereal.
Within minutes, he was seated next to me after he retrieved his own bowl and spoon from the cupboard. “Mom, did you sign the slip for the field trip?”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. Ethan had been looking forward to this field trip as soon as his teacher announced they would be visiting Everly Moore’s recording studio. Formerly known as Evie Hale, the popstar had her own studio built in an effort to balance life as a popstar and that of being a mother.
Normally, I needed to remind Ethen about things which needed signing or forms that needed to be filled out. And he definitely knew better than to ask whether I was on top of things. I always had things under control. At least, I tried.
It wasn’t like I controlled my friends and sisters all the time. My sisters each had their own problems. I had no idea where Cat was, but I knew with her training, she was one of the few women who could do the things she did. Or, how worried Maggie was about the influence her former in-laws had on her kids. Grace was seriously considering getting a boob job, something she’d been speaking about since she started wearing a bra and felt she didn’t need it.
That didn’t even go into all the problems my friends seemed to collect.
I also couldn’t control how fast Ethan was growing up. Or the fact that, except for the slightest red tinge that made his light brown hair auburn, he had inherited everything from his father. Right down to the good singing voice we heard over the holidays. Of course, no one except me knew who his father was and I was hoping to take that secret to my grave.
Instead, I found out he was in town. And that he had been for a few days. He was a friend of some of my friends and he would be hanging out with us over the next few days. Maybe I would only see him at one of the bars and I wouldn’t have to divulge anything. Of course, he knew about Ethan. I had made sure his manager got the message and passed it on. Which meant he also had an interest in keeping things secret.
I turned to Ethan and smiled at him. “I signed it digitally and emailed it back. Your teacher confirmed receipt of it last night. I’m guessing you’re hoping Ms. Everly lets some of you sing in a booth.”
He nodded. “She always said I was welcome to sing there anytime as long as it was okay with you. Oh, and I had to clear the time with her beforehand. First, that old guy was recording the Christmas stuff and he booked out the studio for months. Then, Ms. Everly was out of town for months. And the next time I was brave enough, you were working all that overtime.”
My heart broke. I loved my job, but the lack of flexibility was a bitch to manage. “I’m so sorry, kiddo. I know it takes some courage to do that, but next time say something and I will make a plan. Any of your aunts would be happy to go with you.” It was true that as a cop, I didn’t have regular hours, but both Maggie and Tiff were always happy to step in. Maggie had two kids of her own and always commented that adding one more wouldn’t be a problem. And Tiff loved her honorary niece and nephews. No, she wasn’t related by blood or anything legal, but she was family all the same. Even her brother, Theo, was like family to us… when he could pry himself away from the office.
Ethan quickly swallowed what was in his mouth. “I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying it hasn’t worked out. So, I’m hoping I get a chance today.”
I nodded, hoping the field trip worked out for him. Since it was my day off, I had volunteered to be one of the parent chaperones. I didn’t get to do too much in terms of chaperoning, so when it aligned with my schedule, I took the opportunity.
Twenty minutes later, my sister Maggie’s horn honked out front and Ethan was on his way. I had some time to kill before I needed to be at the school to accompany the kids. A quick shower, a sundress and a pair of sandals later and I was out the door.
Minty’s was on the way to the school. With the route I took, it was also on the way to the police station, my mom’s house and pretty much anywhere I needed to go. Would it be more convenient if I didn’t need to stop at the bakery? Maybe. Probably. But it was safer for all concerned if I was caffeinated.
I ordered my normal caramel latte. I was still deciding whether I wanted a donut and whether or not I should get one for Ethan’s teacher, when I heard my name being called.
“Shiloh.” The somewhat familiar woman with honey blond hair and brown eyes, flashed a smile to me.
Marina De Ferrier was a small town. Everyone knew each other, and strangers stood out. That was just the nature of living in a small beach town. I turned and narrowed my eyes at the woman. She was maybe a little younger than me but she did look familiar.
“Hi.” My head tilted as I tried to figure out who she was.
“Shiloh, it's me. Valerie. Val. Maybe you don’t remember when we were…” She trailed off and a shadow passed over her face. A shiver ran down my spine. I remembered immediately where I knew her from.
It had been more than a decade and a half and we were children when we parted but I knew her. “Valerie, yes. How are you?”
She looked around the bakery and her voice dropped low. “My mom passed away last month. Suicide. Thought I’d reconnect with some people who could understand my situation.”
Like me, Valerie was born into slavery. I didn’t remember who her mom was but she would also have been bought and sold and passed from one owner to the next. As for relating to her? My mother died the day we were rescued. But I had a good home and I didn’t share the dark shadows that seemed to plague Valerie.
Still, I was not about to be rude. “So, you’re in town for a while then?”
She looked around, almost as if she was expecting something to jump out at her. All of us had some sort of PTSD. I was not about to judge this woman based on how hers manifested.
“I heard you and Maggie and those two younger girls were adopted together. I thought I would come catch up with all of you.”
Catch up? I suppose we went through trauma together, even if we didn’t realize it at the time.
“Grace was actually the only one who was adopted by the Baumans. The rest of us had aged out by the time the paperwork came through. But we did change our last names to honor the people who made sure we were loved and cared for once we were rescued.”
I didn’t mention that five of us were rescued that day, but one of the girls had her family come and claim her. It felt like adding salt to some very raw wounds.
“That’s lucky for you.” Her smile seemed forced, something I understood since mine was not authentic either. It’s what happened when you tried to stay positive while reliving the worst time of your life. “Mom and I were rescued months later. You know what they put us through. My mom could handle what was done to her, I think. I think what haunted her was what happened to me. She always said that if she ever met any of the men who held her, she would take away their ability to reproduce.”
“Yeah, it’s not a time I like to relive.” I pulled out my phone and checked the time. “I hate to cut this short, but I have to get to the elementary school. I’m chaperoning a field trip.”
“Oh. You have a kid?” She seemed surprised by the fact, meaning she didn’t do any research on us. That let me breathe a little easier. “I didn’t think any of us would get married.”
“Oh, I’m not married. His father is… Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” I wanted to share that Maggie had in fact been married, but decided against it. Instead, I made a promise I hoped she didn’t take me up on. “We should get together for coffee some time.”
With a quick wave and a smile, I slipped out of the coffee shop, with my drink in one hand and keys in the other. I put Valerie out of my head as I pulled up to the school.
As I stood at the door waiting, Ethan sidled up to me. “Ms. Wilder said that we may be able to hear two pop stars at the studio. She said Layla Dean and Ryder Hawkins will be recording a duet.”
Well fuck