Page 10 of Small Town, Big Storm

“Is it all you hoped for?”I ask and despite what happened between us, I really hope it is.

Really hope him running away, him leaving everything—and me—behind without a word, him staying away all these years since has brought him everything he wanted, everything he needed.

Everything he dreamed of.

Because if it didn’t?—

“For a while it was.”

I hold my breath.Wait for him to explain.

But he just keeps mopping.

And I keep watching him.

“So, your kid…” he begins, and every cell in my body fills with ice, from toes to fingertips and all the parts in between.

Including my throat.

Which means I can’t say anything.

Can’t explain.Can’t ask.Can’t tell him all the things I need to.

Things I tried to tell him seven years ago.

“Mom?”

My body locks, but only for a second.Then I hear the fear in Holly’s voice, recognize that it’s also full of tears, and I’m rushing across the bar, meeting her just as she pushes through the door that leads to our apartment above.

“M-mom?”she asks again, her voice shaky, her eyes red, tears streaking down her cheeks.“Mom!”

“I’m right here, baby.”I scoop her up into my arms, holding her tight as sobs hiccup through her chest.“I’m right here.”I smooth my hand up and down her back until her breathing slows.“You have the same nightmare, sweetheart?”

She buries her face against my chest and nods.“Y-yeah.”

“Let me lock up,” I say.“And I’ll come lay with you.”

Another nod.

I hitch her up and turn?—

To see Storm standing just a few feet behind us.

The mop bucket is gone and he tilts his head in the direction of the back door.“The alarm still the same?”

My heart rolls over in my chest, a dangerous thread of emotion weaving through my insides.

But I just nod, whisper, “Yeah.”

He jerks his chin to the stairs.“You take care of her,” he murmurs.“I’ll get the lights and lock up.”

“I can do?—”

Holly sniffs, cutting off my protests.

“Right,” I whisper.“Thanks.”

He doesn’t reply, just moves to the light switch, flicking the first bank off.I stand frozen for a heartbeat, then Holly sniffs again and I slip through the door leading up to our apartment, locking it behind me before carrying her upstairs.