Page 6 of Chasing Shelter

My back teeth ground together as I scrubbed harder. My kid wouldn’t have a bathroom with stained tile. I’d have to tackle it with bleach tonight.

I did the best I could with the time I had, wiping up the worst of the mess. I straightened as that heat-seeking missile cut through the air again.

“Daaaaaddy! It exploded again.”

I dropped my head, pinching the bridge of my nose and rubbing the spots where pressure was building. I didn’t make a habit of cursing, not in front of others, and especially not in my daughter’s presence, but there was only one word that would do right now.

“Fuck.”

Downtown Sparrow Falls still bustledwith foot traffic as I turned toward the sheriff’s station, but it wasn’t quite as busy now that we’d hit early October, and tourist traffic was waning. The rock climbers, mountain bikers, and whitewater rafters seeking out Central Oregon’s beauty would be replaced by skiers and snowboarders once the snow hit. But there was usually a lull in the fall that let all of us locals enjoy the peace of our town.

Turning into an open parking spot, I turned off the engine just as my phone dinged. I grabbed the device from my cupholder and took in the alert on the screen.

Kye has changed the name of the group to Trace’s Bloodbath.

I scowled at the screen, and my fingers typed out a message.

Me

I was just asking if anyone knew how to get stains out of tile, that’s all.

I should’ve known better than to ask my siblings for help. They loved to roast me on a good day. Most of us might not be related by blood, but that didn’t mean the seven of us weren’t like any other siblings. Kye was the ultimate shit-stirrer, though.

Kye

I always knew you had murdery tendencies under that rule-following facade.

Rhodes

I’m framing this photo. Or seeing if Lolli can make it into diamond art.

My scowl deepened at my sister’s text. She’d come to live with the Colsons at age thirteen after losing her family in a fire and was particularly fond of our grandmother—a woman infamous for creating inappropriate gemstone paintings. This one wasn’t nearly dirty enough for her.

Me

That picture of my bathroom was shared in confidence.

Fallon

I’m pretty sure Keels got toothpaste on the ceiling.

If I’d thought Keely’s bathroom was bad, it had nothing on mine. And I’d had no chance to clean it before I left to drop her at school. Just the thought of going home to that had me twitchy.

Me

Pretty sure it’s worse than your glitter bombs.

Fallon

Nothing is worse than my glitter bombs. That’s why I hold all the power.

My sister was the kindest, gentlest human being and had the most empathetic heart. But she had a creative vengeful streak. Once you crossed her, there was no going back. The combination made herperfect for her role as a social worker with Child Protective Services. But the fact that she went into volatile situations wasn’t easy for any of us.

Kye

Stay far away from me with that devil’s breath.

Fallon

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