all. Leave it all behind her—the wedding-that-never-was, Lucas, Kelly, all of it.
She laid the box on the floor in the corner and sat on the end of her bed. More than anything she wanted to be gone. If she could close her eyes and make it so right now, she would. She wanted the road unrolling before her and the wind in her hair and nothing holding her back. She certainly didn’t want to be sitting in her old bedroom, surrounded by her teenage memorabilia, living this life of quiet endurance and survival.
For a dangerous moment, tears threatened.
She stood and reached for the freshly washed jeans her mother had left folded in a pile on the end of the bed. Three minutes later she was fully dressed and tugging her work boots back on. Her hair was wet, but she didn’t care. She could hear the television in the living room as she crossed the kitchen, but she didn’t bother telling her mom she was going out. She would only want to know why, and Hannah wasn’t up to fabricating an excuse for bailing again so soon after coming home.
In the garage, she tugged her jacket and helmet on then hit the button to raise the roller door. She was about to start the bike when she remembered the fun police next door.
She swore under her breath. For a moment she was tempted to start the bike anyway, then she recalled what he’d said about his kids sleeping. She rolled the bike down the drive and down the street, resenting every step. When she reached the corner, she slung her leg over the saddle. The engine started with a dull roar. She pushed down the visor on her helmet, leaned forward and opened the throttle.
She had no idea where she was going. As long as it wasn’t here, she figured it would be good enough.
CHAPTER TWO
“I DON’T WANT TO GO to school. Why can’t I stay here with you and help you unpack?”
Ruby’s face was beseeching as she looked at Joe across the breakfast table. He’d had a poor night’s sleep and a headache building in the back of his skull but he did his best to give his daughter the reassurance she needed.
“I know starting a new school is scary, but once the first day is over you’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want to go.” Ruby pushed away her half-finished bowl of cereal.
She looked so small and defenseless sitting there. He stood and circled the table, squatting beside her chair.
“It’s going to be okay, I promise,” he said. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. She smelled of strawberries and talcum powder and she felt about as substantial as a baby bird in his arms. She burrowed her face against his chest, rubbing her cheek against his shirt.
“I want to stay with you,” she said, her arms clinging to him.
He laid his cheek against her head and remembered the fierce, adventurous little girl she’d been only a couple of years ago.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, drawing back so he could look into her face. She stared at him unblinkingly. “I promise I’ll be waiting at the school gate the moment you step out the door at three o’clock.”
She didn’t say a word, but a small frown wrinkled her forehead.
“How about this? We’ll make pizzas for dinner, from scratch like the old days,” he said. “That way you’ve got something to look forward to all day.”
Mastering the art of making pizza dough had been his one culinary achievement, and every Thursday night it had been a family tradition for Beth to put her feet up while he made the bases and the kids took charge of the toppings.
Ruby was silent for a long moment. Just when he was beginning to think he’d made a mistake suggesting they revive the tradition, Ruby smiled.
“Can I have three types of cheese on mine?”
Joe smoothed a hand over her fine blond hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. “Deal,” he said.
“Okay, then I guess I can go to school.”
Joe looked up as Ben entered the kitchen, his backpack already on his shoulders.
“Can I have some money for lunch?” Ben asked, hands dug into his pockets. His gaze shifted around the kitchen, not settling on anything.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Joe asked.
“Yes.”
Joe hadn’t noticed a bowl or plate in the sink, but he had no reason to think his son was lying.
“I thought we could pick up some sandwiches from the coffee shop on the way to school,” Joe said.
He planned to get to the supermarket sometime this afternoon so he could make their lunches from here on in, but today he was winging it.
Ben frowned. “I don’t want to be dropped off.”
“Well, tough. It’s your first day. I want to make sure you know where you’re going.” Joe said it with a smile but Ben’s frown deepened.
“I already know where to go. I’m not stupid. I can work it out for myself.”
“I know you can, but it won’t be the end of the world to have a bit of help on your first day.”
Ben pushed away from the counter, hands fisted by his sides. “I don’t need help. I don’t want it.”
Joe stared at his son. Where had this sudden rush of anger come from? “Mate—”
“I’m walking to school,” Ben said defiantly.
He stalked from the room. Joe sighed. Ruby was watching him expectantly.
“You should go after him,” she advised.
“Thank you, Miss Bossy Boots, I was about to do that.”
She grinned as he moved past her and into the hallway. He pulled up short when he saw Ben wasn’t in his room. He checked out the window and, sure enough, Ben was on his way down the driveway.
Joe exited the house and took the porch steps two at a time.
“Ben!”
His son had reached the street and he paused, turning toward the house. He looked half afraid, half determined.
“What about a compromise? I’ll drop you off up the block and you can walk the rest of the way on your own. How does that sound?” Joe suggested.
Ben shrugged, his mouth a tight line. Joe studied him, trying to understand what was going on. Was this simple first-day nerves? A reaction to the move?
“Is there something wrong, matey? Something on your mind?” he asked.
Ben screwed up his face in utter rejection of the idea. “No! Why would there be?”
Joe ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just we’ve had a lot happening lately. Selling the house, saying goodbye to everyone, moving.”
Ben
