Chapter Zach
Zach
I’m numb as I drive to the Bates farm. I can’t believe I let them down like this. I can’t even look over at my sisters as I drive. I let them down. I never let them down.
When we get there, we park and Adam parks his truck next to mine. I grab one bag and Adam grabs the other, his hand smoothing gently against my back in a small gesture before we walk up the front steps to the door.
Adam unlocks the door and lets us all inside, but his parents are right there, concern dripping from their features because they’re real parents. They worry. They care.
They don’t start crying and babbling when they’ve been caught doing something bad.
They don’t ever hurt their kids and they’d lay their life down to keep them safe.
“What’s going on?” Adam’s mother rushes to us and her eyes instantly zone in on Mary.
Because of course they do. “What happened, sweetie?”
Mary instantly closes her little arms around Adam’s mother and sobs, “Elliot got mad at me because I threw up and ruined his trip and he shoved me. My head hit the wall.”
Adam’s mother’s eyes meet mine and then land on Adam. “Did anyone call the police? Does she need a doctor.”
“No.” Mary wails, “I don’t want to go to the doctor. I don’t want the cops to come and take us away.”
“Oh honey.” His mom sweeps her hand over her cheek and it’s so comforting I want to cry.
Adam’s dad looks furious as he glances at us, “What happened? Where is Elliot?” His teeth are clenched tight as he asks.
Adam answers, “We took the girls. Told them if they called the cops, we’d tell them everything.”
Mrs. Bates hugs Mary and Anna to her, “Girls, why don’t you go into Adam’s room and get some rest. I’ll bring you some hot chocolate in a moment. Okay?” The girls nod and do as they were asked.
“I’m sorry we came here.” I say to both of them. “We didn’t know where to go and I couldn’t leave them there.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?” Adam’s mom asks.
“They’ll take them. We don’t have anyone. Our grandma…she’s not well and they’ll end up in foster care.” My throat actually aches as my worst fears are spoken aloud.
“Can’t they stay here, mom? Just for a little bit until we get it figured out?” Adam pleads and my heart sinks because I shouldn’t have brought this trouble on them.
I’m not the girls guardians and technically I did sort of kidnap them. But I know Elliot isn’t going to call the cops. The asshole has had enough run ins with the law that he won’t bring them to his front door.
Adam’s parents share a look and his father looks at us, “Of course you can stay here for as long as you need, but…”
“I promise I’ll figure it all out. I won’t put you all in any kind of danger. I just need time to figure things out. I…” I’m stuttering.
Mrs. Bates walks close to me and places her small hands on my shoulder, “Sweetheart, we know that. We aren’t worried about us. I’ll go against your idiot stepfather and your mother any day.”
Adam’s father grunts, “Good for nothing son of bitch even in high school.”
Adam laughs at that, but quickly schools his features, “We will figure it out.”
Adam’s mom squeezes my shoulders, “You two may be technically adults, but you’re still in school.
You’re figuring life out for yourselves.
Two minors are a big responsibility.” The way she’s talking I wonder if she knows what we really are to each other.
I can’t be certain—she may just know that we’re best friends and that Adam takes everything on that I do—but it feels like she knows.
“But I have no doubt you’ll figure something out and in the meantime, you all can stay here.
If your mom comes knocking—which sadly—” His mom sighs—”I’m not even sure she will. I’ll handle her.”
“Football is over. I can get a job and help pay for things.” I say, having already planned on doing that. Basketball isn’t a necessity.
“Hell son, we’d much rather just have physical labor around here than that.” Adam’s dad slaps me on the back and Adam chuckles.
“You all wanted this to happen didn’t you? Free labor.”
“Adam Bates.” His mom scolds. “We’d never wish anything bad on those girls.” She squeezes my cheek with her hand, “Now if it was you…”
“Oh thank you.” I say with a smile and she kisses my cheek.
“You know I’m kidding. I don’t want you hurt ever. I want you all safe and if it’s under my roof that that’s even better.”
“Thank you.” I say, so not used to a mother so damn kind and fierce at the same time.
“About that?” Adam says and we all look at him. “The girls can stay in my room and we can stay out in the camper.”
His parents both nod and his mom releases me walking over to him, “I suppose you were wanting to move out there anyway.”
He grins, “I had thought about it. A little quieter.”
She laughs at that but doesn’t argue with him. The thing is, eighteen around here is a little bit different from the rest of the world from what I can gather. Our eighteenth birthdays aren’t a huge deal, but they do signal adulthood for a lot of us. Time to move out and get a job.
College isn’t usually on our minds. Nor is living with our parents.
“You all look like you need to get more sleep too. Why don’t you go out to the trailer. I’ll take care of the girls and you all come back for lunch.” I trust them. I do. But my feet won’t more. His mom places her hand on my cheek, “I promise you they’ll be okay.”
Her eyes look so much like Adam’s that I find myself nodding as he takes my hand and leads me toward the door. If his parents think it’s odd that he’s holding my hand they don’t say a word. “I’ll have my phone on and up if they need anything at all.” I say to them and they both give me a firm nod.
I follow Adam outside and we walk to the camper. It’s a long walk and it’s cold, but I’m grateful for it. It makes me a little less numb somehow even though I can’t feel my damn nose.
We reach the camper and Adam locks the door before plugging the space heater back in and stripping his coat and then mine off and pulling me toward the bed. I need a shower. He does too, but I let him pull me down to the bed and wrap his big arms around me.
“They’re okay.”
“I let them down.” I say, glad he’s spooning me and that he can’t see my face—or the unshed tears in my eyes.
“You’re their brother. Not their guardian.”
We both know that’s not really true. I’ve been their guardian for a while now, officially or not. I should have been there. “I don’t regret last night.” I say it because I need to. “But I hate that I let them down.”
He squeezes me tighter. His face in the crook of my neck. “I don’t either, but I hate it too.”
I smile because I know he gets it. I know he knows that I don’t blame him. And he doesn’t blame me. We both only blame ourselves.
But still, I can’t bring myself to regret last night. The way I felt with him. The way I always feel with him. So damn safe.
I check my phone to make sure it’s turned up and I sit it next to me on the bed before I let my eyes fall closed with him wrapped around me.
Today was a disaster. I have no idea what I’m going to do. I can’t rely on the Bates for forever. I have to form an actual plan.
But for right now, I’m going to give myself this moment in Adam’s arms and not worry.
For right now, I’m going to let them take care of everything before it all falls right back on my shoulders.