The Lost and Found Read Online Free Page B

was beside the sink, scrubbing out a pan; she smiled warmly in my direction. Billy sat at the head of the table, a welcoming smile spread across his face. Ethan grinned at me encouragingly and nodded toward the coffee pot. Ginger stood by a door that led directly outside. He didn’t smile. His gaze was the strongest though, the one that affected me the most. The one that kept messing with my ability to remain numb.
    I felt the blush touch my cheeks from all the attention, his attention. Sally came over, wrapped her thick arm around my shoulder, and gently squeezed. “You hungry, dear?”
    “Coffee. Please,” I whispered.
    I kept my eyes on the floor as I stepped out of her embrace and walked around the table to the coffee pot. I had to pass Ginger to get there. Doing my best to ignore the tremor that rolled through me, the eyes that were still on me, feigning indifference, I lifted the pot and then stopped.
    I needed a cup and didn’t know where to look for one.
    Dangit.
    For a moment I considered just setting the pot back down and quickly leaving the room. Before I could put that plan into motion a mug appeared in front of me. I recognized the tats on his muscular forearm. “Thank you,” I managed quietly.
    “Mmm hmm,” he replied just as softly then turned away from me and spoke louder. “You guys need to get moving. Your bus will be here in ten minutes.”
    For just an instant longer there was silence in the room, and then sound erupted as chairs were pushed back, shoes stomped, dishes clattered, the back door slammed. I held still until the room was quiet again, then slowly, carefully poured the coffee and turned around. Only Billy, Sally, and Ethan remained.
    “Ethan will start school next week. Figured there’s no sense in him starting now. I’ll give him some time to adjust,” Billy explained.
    “Okay.”
    “Sit down. You didn’t eat at all yesterday — can’t have you wasting away.” Sally slid a plate of eggs and bacon in front of an empty chair.
    Ethan was seated across from me. I ate in silence, keeping my eyes down.
    “I know things are going to take some getting used to… just know I’m always here to talk… if you need to,” Billy told me kindly. It was kind, what he said; I just wasn’t ready to talk about things yet.
    I stood up then carried my plate to the sink. “I’m still tired,” I whispered. “I’ll see you later.”
    I escaped back to my room and closed the door firmly behind me. I didn’t know how to connect to Billy. He may have been my mom’s dad, but he was a stranger to me. And he may know a lot about me , but I didn’t know anything about him. I wasn’t comfortable; I wasn’t ready . And to be honest I had no idea when I’d be ready.
    I chose a book from several I’d packed and sat in the padded rocking chair by the window. Pulling the curtains back, I looked out and saw a glimmer in the distance, behind the barn, and figured it was a pond or lake of some kind. I heard a door slam and then saw Ethan run across the yard, two dogs running with him. He headed for a large pine tree and I watched as he swung on a tire swing that hung there. One of the dogs brought him a ball and he spent some time throwing it for them.
    The sun made slow progress across the floor in my room. I lay on my back, staring up at the wooden beams above me, the book forgotten in my lap. I’d tried reading to keep my mind off everything, but the story had been unable to claim my full attention. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff. Forces beyond my control were moving me forward against my will; in vain I kept trying to at least slow my progress down, but the edge continued to move closer and closer.
    Frustration caused me to jump up and pace my room. Again. Pacing had become a habit these past few days. I’d nearly worn a path in the floor as I walked from the windows overlooking the front of the house, to the ones facing west where I could see the barn, to the ones looking