lips.
“Ryker? MaryAnn?” the female voice called, halting my movement and thus, breaking the spell.
“Who’s that?” I whispered.
“Reese,” he gritted. “I think this is the first time ever I’ve not been thrilled my sister is home.”
I looked over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Reese. She was wearing a bohemian dress, flip-flops, and a pair of black hipster glasses. She looked completely different.
Yet exactly the same.
“Oh my God!” she yelped, throwing her bag down and skipping toward us. She rounded the couch only to shove Ryker out of the way and engulf me in a massive hug.
Tears sprung to my eyes. “I’ve missed you so much, sweetie,” she said, emotion thick in her voice as she embraced me.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
She pulled back, cupping my face. “You’re no worse for the wear, I tell you that. You done?”
I should have known she wouldn’t sugarcoat it. Growing up, she’d always been unapologetic about who she was. Never afraid to speak up and give it to you straight.
Nope, she hadn’t changed a bit.
Unlike me .
It was only a two-word question but the weight of it was enormous. I’d asked myself that at least a dozen times a day. Was I done? Was I really ready to walk away from the only life I’d ever known for the past six years?
“Never again.”
“Good. Because I’d hate to have to kick your ass, too.”
Just looking at her, you could tell she was a woman who knew what she wanted out of life. Even though Ryker had called her reckless and sometimes immature, she seemed every bit as self-assured as I longed to be.
“Now I just need to find a job so I can get back on my feet,” I told her, and Ryker tensed next to me.
Reese smiled knowingly. “I think I know someone who can help you with that. You up for getting out tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ryker said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Hank,” he finished.
“Hank? Who’s Hank?” I asked.
Reese tossed me a wink. “You’ll see.”
* * *
The moment we walked into the Bird House, I knew it was special. From the soft colored walls to the beautiful words that adorned them. Written in scripted affirmation…
Cast your worries upon the birds of the wind.
The words settled deep in my heart, each word taking root inside my soul as the hostess led us to our table. They were all covered in burlap tablecloths and cerulean colored mason jars with peonies stuffed inside. It was as if someone plucked a restaurant right out of the south and plopped it right in the middle of the city. And the smells coming from the other tables were heavenly.
Ryker pulled out my chair first, making sure I was settled and my crutches were out of the way before he took his own seat.
“You good?” he asked.
Reaching out, I gave his leg a gentle squeeze. “More than good.”
His hand covered mine, fingers curling to lift it to his mouth where he planted a soft kiss on top. My heart sighed at the subtle gesture.
With one arm draped over the back of my chair, Ryker placed my hand back on his thigh and began perusing the menu, so I did the same.
“Whoa, no wonder it smells so good in here,” I said, looking over my choices. Fried chicken, catfish, steak. “How’d you find this place?”
“I volunteered here throughout high school. I think we all did,” Reese said, looking to Ryker and he smiled with a nod. She continued. “It’s a private organization that helps those affected by abuse. They mostly cater to women but their door is open to anyone seeking help. They provide everything from legal support to medical care to housing. They also offer job placement and counseling.”
Before I could ask any questions, a woman approached our table. Dressed in a pair of black dress pants and a fitted white collared blouse, accented with a string of pearls around her neck.
“Reese? How ya been, darlin’?”
Reese stood from the
“Ryker? MaryAnn?” the female voice called, halting my movement and thus, breaking the spell.
“Who’s that?” I whispered.
“Reese,” he gritted. “I think this is the first time ever I’ve not been thrilled my sister is home.”
I looked over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Reese. She was wearing a bohemian dress, flip-flops, and a pair of black hipster glasses. She looked completely different.
Yet exactly the same.
“Oh my God!” she yelped, throwing her bag down and skipping toward us. She rounded the couch only to shove Ryker out of the way and engulf me in a massive hug.
Tears sprung to my eyes. “I’ve missed you so much, sweetie,” she said, emotion thick in her voice as she embraced me.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
She pulled back, cupping my face. “You’re no worse for the wear, I tell you that. You done?”
I should have known she wouldn’t sugarcoat it. Growing up, she’d always been unapologetic about who she was. Never afraid to speak up and give it to you straight.
Nope, she hadn’t changed a bit.
Unlike me .
It was only a two-word question but the weight of it was enormous. I’d asked myself that at least a dozen times a day. Was I done? Was I really ready to walk away from the only life I’d ever known for the past six years?
“Never again.”
“Good. Because I’d hate to have to kick your ass, too.”
Just looking at her, you could tell she was a woman who knew what she wanted out of life. Even though Ryker had called her reckless and sometimes immature, she seemed every bit as self-assured as I longed to be.
“Now I just need to find a job so I can get back on my feet,” I told her, and Ryker tensed next to me.
Reese smiled knowingly. “I think I know someone who can help you with that. You up for getting out tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ryker said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Hank,” he finished.
“Hank? Who’s Hank?” I asked.
Reese tossed me a wink. “You’ll see.”
* * *
The moment we walked into the Bird House, I knew it was special. From the soft colored walls to the beautiful words that adorned them. Written in scripted affirmation…
Cast your worries upon the birds of the wind.
The words settled deep in my heart, each word taking root inside my soul as the hostess led us to our table. They were all covered in burlap tablecloths and cerulean colored mason jars with peonies stuffed inside. It was as if someone plucked a restaurant right out of the south and plopped it right in the middle of the city. And the smells coming from the other tables were heavenly.
Ryker pulled out my chair first, making sure I was settled and my crutches were out of the way before he took his own seat.
“You good?” he asked.
Reaching out, I gave his leg a gentle squeeze. “More than good.”
His hand covered mine, fingers curling to lift it to his mouth where he planted a soft kiss on top. My heart sighed at the subtle gesture.
With one arm draped over the back of my chair, Ryker placed my hand back on his thigh and began perusing the menu, so I did the same.
“Whoa, no wonder it smells so good in here,” I said, looking over my choices. Fried chicken, catfish, steak. “How’d you find this place?”
“I volunteered here throughout high school. I think we all did,” Reese said, looking to Ryker and he smiled with a nod. She continued. “It’s a private organization that helps those affected by abuse. They mostly cater to women but their door is open to anyone seeking help. They provide everything from legal support to medical care to housing. They also offer job placement and counseling.”
Before I could ask any questions, a woman approached our table. Dressed in a pair of black dress pants and a fitted white collared blouse, accented with a string of pearls around her neck.
“Reese? How ya been, darlin’?”
Reese stood from the
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