The Lost Child

Chapter 6

Waking with a start as the sun's starting to rise in the morning through the bedroom window. Quickly scanning around the room, I remember where I am, and why I'm here. Then my sleep filled mind comes online even more when I remember that I had cried myself to sleep last night with Reid cuddled up against my back, and he held me throughout the entire night. Feeling grateful for his kindness, and a little embarrassed that he felt like he needed to do this for me.

Rolling over when I realize that I'm now alone in the bed, and the spot where Reid was, is still slightly warm, so he hasn't been gone long. Letting out a long, soft sigh, I throw the covers off me, and once I'm on my feet, I remake the bed out of habit. Wandering into the bathroom once this task is completed, I relieve my bursting bladder, flushing the toilet before washing my hands and face, and brushing my teeth before leaving the bathroom. Wandering downstairs to the kitchen, I find Ryan and Reid sitting across from each other at the table, and both are drinking a cup of steaming coffee.

"Morning," I greet them with a quiet voice, so my tone doesn't carry, and accidentally wake the other three. "May I have a cup of coffee, too, please?"

Ryan and Reid nod at me, and both greet me, too, and Ryan tells me I can have a cup of coffee, and that there's creamer in the door of the fridge. Nodding with a quiet 'thanks' as I grab a mug off the rack on the counter by the coffee maker, not quit filling the mug, so I can pour some creamer into the mug, too.

Sitting down next to Reid with a shy smile, murmuring; "Thanks for sleeping with me last night. I'm sorry for disturbing you."

Reid shakes his head fondly, his smile never faltering; "You're welcome, little brother, and you didn't disturb me. I can't imagine how scary it is sleeping in a new place with people you didn't know exists until recently. If I hadn't wanted to stay with you, I wouldn't have been checking on you like I was."

"Still, I appreciate what you did," I murmur shyly before taking a tentative sip, not wanting to accidentally burn my mouth.

"So, typically on Saturday's we do whatever we want as long as it's legal, and doesn't hurt anyone or ourselves, and Sundays are spent together as a family like Friday nights are," Ryan informs me with a brilliant smile. "So, is there anything you'd like to do today?"

Shrugging my shoulders as I look at Ryan over the rim of the mug, taking another sip before lowering the mug onto the table top; "Um, nothing really, other than perhaps going to the local library? I'd like to get a card for this one, and check out some books, if that's alright with you? Oh, I also need to be told what direction the library is, so I can walk there and back."

Ryan frowns slightly at me, and I believe I've upset him with my request, but he surprises me by saying; "Lake, I'm not gonna have you walk to and from the library. I'll drive you there and back, or one of your brothers can take you there and back, if you prefer."

"Oh," I reply, utterly surprised at his offer. "Um, anyone is fine as long as they want to do this, otherwise, I have no problem walking there and back."

He nods with a widening smile; "Then that's settled then."

"Will and I can take him there and back," Vincent offers with a smile toward me with William nodding in agreement.

"Thanks boys," Ryan replies with a nod of his head as that's settled, and I shyly thank them, too.

An hour later, everyone is leaving the house, and I tentatively climb into the back seat of Vincent's black, Dodge Ram truck. Settling myself into the seat, and buckling myself as are Vincent and William, I tell Vincent how much I like his truck, and he thanks me with a kind smile as he starts the engine. He pulls out of the driveway behind  Ryan's Dodge Ram truck that has him, Orian and Reid. The three of them are going grocery shopping, and William and Vincent are going to buy new movies and video games.

A few minutes after our drive began, Vincent pulls in front of the library, and he parks the car before turning his upper body slightly to look back at me; "Here we are. You have your wallet, right?"

"Yup, thanks for this," I murmur, unbuckling myself, and opening the car door. "Um, I'll probably be done by the time you guys come back, but if I'm not, and you don't wanna wait, I'll walk back to the house."

"We'll wait for you if you're not ready when we're back," Vincent replies, and I nod in understanding. "See you soon."

Shutting the door gently behind me once I'm standing on the sidewalk, I give them a wave before turning around, and walking toward the library door. Vincent drives off once I'm walking inside the large brick building. Walking up the six steps to the main level of the library, I stop in front of the counter where there are two employees opposite of me, and smile at them when they look at me. They smile back with the male who is closest to me, walks a couple of steps to the side, so he's in front of me.

"Hi, how can I help you?" he asks me with a semi-deep voice, and a curious expression on his face.

"Hi, um, I would like to get a library card, so I can check out some books today, please?" I nervously reply, fidgeting on my feet.

"Absolutely, let's get you started," he replies, reaching for the mouse that's near the laptop that's open on the counter to my right. "Do you have a driver's license, state issued I.D. card?"