Becky and Josie did look better but there was a wariness in their eyes, a haunted look that made Wylie want to cry. Instead, she looked around for Seth. “And this is my son. Come here, Seth.”
“Hi, Seth,” Becky said. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
“You too,” Seth nodded. Becky began peppering Seth with questions about his summer plans and Margo drew Wylie aside.
“Becky and Josie told me everything you did to help them,” Margo said, squeezing Wylie’s hand. “I know I wasn’t kind to you…”
“It’s okay,” Wylie said shaking her head. “I understand—I really do. And as much as Becky and Josie say I helped them, they saved me too.”
Margo’s eyes glittered with tears. “Thank you. Thank you for bringing them back to me.”
Wylie didn’t know what else to say and was grateful when the moment was interrupted. “Anyone hungry?” Becky asked. “There’s a little bar and grill just around the corner. Do you have time to grab a bite?” she asked Wylie.
Wylie looked to Seth who nodded. “I’m starved,” he said.
The group began walking and Wylie and Becky lagged a bit behind and watched as Seth entertained Josie and Margo with funny stories of their time on the road.
“We have great kids,” Becky said. She lifted her face to the evening sun, basking at the feel of it on her skin. Wylie did the same. Since the snowstorm, she had tried not to take small, ordinary moments for granted.
“Yes, we do,” Wylie agreed, then hesitated before asking the question she had been wanting to ask Becky for a long time. “Are you really planning on staying in Burden? Isn’t it hard? I couldn’t wait to get far away from there.”
Becky shook her head. “My mom’s there. And my dad. My brother and sister aren’t far. I can’t leave. I just got back.”
Wylie tried to understand. “Don’t you worry about Josie growing up in a place where everyone knows what happened? Doesn’t she have nightmares? Don’t you? I know Randy Cutter is dead, but you and Josie could come and stay with us in Oregon.”
The more Wylie said it out loud, the more it sounded like a good idea. There was nothing in Burden anymore for Becky and Josie—nothing but bad memories. “You could get a job when you’re ready and there’s a great elementary school for Josie right near my house. Your family could come visit you there anytime. They’d understand. How could they not understand?”
Becky stopped walking. “It is hard being there, but I think it would be hard anywhere. We both have nightmares. More than nightmares,” Becky amended. “I dream that we’re back there, in that basement. I can actually feel the concrete beneath my feet, can smell him. And Josie, well… We’re both talking to a counselor. It helps some.” When Wylie didn’t look convinced, Becky took a breath and tried again.
“You lost your parents and brother there, in your childhood home. I know how hard it was for you to go back there and work on the book—but if you hadn’t been there, Josie would have died and I would have too. Or maybe Randy would have found us and brought us back home.”
“That wasn’t your home,” Wylie interrupted angrily. “It was a prison.”
“Yes,” Becky agreed. “It was a prison. But Josie was there with me. And because of you, I was lucky enough to go back to my true home. The house where I grew up. A place where I felt safe and loved every single day of my life. I’m sleeping in my old bedroom, in my old bed and my mother is right down the hall.”
“But…” Wylie began.
“And that’s all I’ve wanted since that night Randy Cutter took me,” Becky continued, “to go home. And now I’m home with my little girl. I know that things aren’t going to be perfect, that I’ve got a long road ahead of me and Josie probably has a longer one. But we’re home and that’s enough for now.”
Becky reached for Wylie’s hand. “Think about it. What’s the safest place you know?”
Wylie wanted to say she didn’t have a true home. It was one of many things that Randy Cutter had stolen from her. She was still always looking over her shoulder. She had no safe place.
Wylie looked down the sidewalk where Seth, Josie, and Margo were waiting for them at the corner. Seth raised his hand and waved.
And then it came to her. Her son. No matter where she went, no matter the number of miles between them, he was her true north. He was her home.