After the Storm(18)
“You are my family,” she said just as fiercely. “I love you and Cammie. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hate what we had to do. I hate that we have to hide and move. You and Cammie should have a childhood and not be forced to grow up. You’re a teenager, Trav. You should be in school with other kids your age. Playing sports. Having fun. This isn’t fair!”
“Evie?”
Cammie’s soft whisper had her and Travis both turning, and Eve instantly regretted having this conversation in front of her.
“We’ll be okay, won’t we?”
Eve rushed to the couch and sat, pulling Cammie into her arms and hugging her tight. She stroked her blond curls and pressed a kiss to her sweet head.
“Of course we will, darling. I don’t want you to worry. Promise me.”
Cammie pulled away and offered a tentative smile and then glanced over at Travis. “We’ll be together always, won’t we?”
Travis sat on Cammie’s other side and wrapped his arms around both Eve and Cammie.
“You betcha, little sis. We’re family. Just like Evie said. We’re going to be fine. He’ll never find us. No one will ever hurt us again.”
Eve’s heart ached at the tenderness and determination in Travis’s voice. She swallowed back the knot of emotion and blinked at the sudden sting of tears. And savored the feel of her siblings in her arms. As if she could protect them from the world. Damn if she wouldn’t do whatever was in her power to ensure their well-being. Whatever she had to do. There were no limits to her love or the sacrifices she’d make to keep them safe.
She turned her face up toward Travis. “Just this week, okay? If you can work this week, then Cammie will be better and I’ll find work. Something during the day so I won’t be gone in the evenings. We can have dinner together. Just like family.”
“I’m feeling better, Evie,” Cammie said in a solemn voice.
Eve stroked her hand through Cammie’s hair and then kissed her temple, leaving her lips there for a long moment. Against flesh that was still warm with fever.
“I know you are, darling. But you need to rest a few more days. No reason to rush now, is it? Tomorrow I’ll do some grocery shopping and I’ll be sure and buy you a special treat.”
Cammie’s eyes lit up. “A treat? I love treats!”
Eve smiled. What little girl didn’t? There was a thrift shop not far from the hardware store where Travis worked. She’d go early, before Travis was due in to work, and see what she could find. Cammie needed a few more shirts and shorts. Something cool since they didn’t have air conditioning and the temperatures were already quite warm despite the earliness of summer.
“It will give you something to look forward to,” Eve said, squeezing Cammie to her once more.
They’d had little to look forward to in the last few months. At times it seemed they’d been running for years. That this was their life, had always been their life. It was hard for Eve to remember what normal was. When she didn’t have the weight of the world on her shoulders and taste fear with every breath.
“I’m sleepy, Evie,” Cammie mumbled, stifling a yawn with a still-messy hand from the burger she’d devoured.
Travis smiled. “Come on. I’ll carry you to bed and tuck you in. That sound good to you?”
In response, Cammie disentangled herself from Eve’s grasp and reached up both arms for Travis to pick her up. He swung her easily into his arms and carried her to the only bedroom, one Cammie and Eve shared, with Travis sleeping on the couch.