Page 99 of Otto: The Hawthornes

“Mom and Dad did send me away.” I took a step forward, hating the look of betrayal in her eyes.

“Never been called an atheist as an insult before,” Otto mused behind me. “Has a nice ring to it.”

“Oh, and they sent you to him,” Noel replied sarcastically. “Yeah, right.”

“Ottofoundme.”

“Esther,” Otto said, his voice full of warning.

“They took me out to a cabin and left me,” I continued, my voice wobbling. “In the middle of nowhere, Noel. It didn’t even have electricity.”

“Esther,” Otto said even louder, his hand coming down on my shoulder.

“Well you probably deserved it,” Noel retorted, gesturing at my belly. “Obviously.”

I staggered back against Otto. Noel was angry, and she was confused, and I knew that she was trying to make sense of everything she was learning, but her words still punctured a small part of me that I’d been protecting.

“Shut your fuckin’ mouth,” Otto growled, making Noel’s eyes widen in fear.

“What’s goin’ on?” Titus asked, bursting through the front door.

“Better get a handle on your girl,” Otto replied, his arm wrapping around my chest. “Or I’m gonna toss her out on her ass.”

“What did Noel do?” Titus asked, letting out a grunt as she threw herself into his arms.

“Talkin’ shit to Esther.”

“It’s fine,” I whispered, watching as Titus rubbed my sister’s back comfortingly. “She’s just upset.”

“Doesn’t mean she can be a bitch, sugar.”

“Don’t call her that,” I ordered.

“I won’t—if she stops actin’ like one.”

“Why don’t we all sit down?” Titus led Noel to the couch.

“Dad headed here?”

Titus nodded.

“Why is your dad coming here?” I asked dumbly, still watching my baby sister.

It had been so long since I’d seen her. Just like everything else I’d compartmentalized, I’d put away the ache of missing her into a small box in the back of my mind. Now that she was sitting just feet from me, that box was wide open. I couldn’t get enough of the sight of her. The long blonde hair, the slim shoulders, the wide brown eyes that tilted up a little in the corners, just like our mom’s. I could’ve stared at her all night.

“Why are you fighting with her?” Titus asked Noel quietly. “You missed her so much.”

“She lied,” Noel whispered back stiffly.

“I didn’t lie,” I interrupted, not bothering to pretend that I couldn’t hear them. “I never lied to you.”

“You left me!”

“Not by choice,” I shot back. “I didn’t have a choice!”

“You could’ve kept your clothes on.”

“You’re ridin’ the line, kid,” Otto growled.

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