Page 95 of Trouble

Any words my mother speaks are lost to me in that moment. Strangers believed me, yet my own family didn’t.

My brother bailed out the man who abused me. Who threatened me, slapped me, hurt me, and tried to rape me.

“You need to come home,” my mother wails.

I truly feel sorry for her. But not enough to ever go home.

I end the call without saying a word. My voice would be wasted on her. She doesn’t get any more of my words. None of them do.

On the sidewalk outside the salon, I survey Hope Street. From Jules’, where I’ve gone daily for donuts and coffee, to the bar I spent my first night in, down at the bottom of the road, over to the fire station, where I have book club and play poker with the guys when I drop in to visit Declan.

And if I follow the path to the water, I can walk the boardwalk to get back to his place.

Home.

The word has so many meanings, but in this moment, where I stand, it means Bristol. It means Declan and Cade. It means Lake and Ford and Nash. And maybe even the women in this salon. It means the safety and acceptance and comfort I never experienced until I came here.

And just like that, the lyrics start spinning.

Track 13

BAILA CONMIGO

CHAPTER 40

Cade

Aiden has created a chat.

Brooks, War, Gavin, Beckett.

Aiden: Lex and I are having drinks at the Port. Who’s around?

Brooks: Lennox mentioned it to Sar. We’re in. Should we make a reservation?

Gavin: Mills and I are out. We’re taking Vivi to see Santa with Beckett and co.

Me: thanks for the invite, guys, but I’m in Bristol.

Aiden: Say hi to Mel for us!

Aiden: That was from Lex, but I second it.

Brooks: And Declan!

Gavin: Clearly, that was Sara.

Brooks: Hey, Brooks isnice. He’d say that.

Gavin: Hi, Sara.

Me: Sara, I’ll tell them you said hi.

Aiden: War, you in?

War: Sorry, can’t. Have fun.

Aiden: What are you doing?

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