When Lee witnesses a murder, her only chance at survival is running. Somewhere along the way she meets a man who takes her to The Runaway House, a safe place for fugitives and runaways. There she begins to find peace, courage, love, and a real famil...
Jeff is gone when we get to the house. Penelope asks us to fold the laundry like nothing is wrong. Taking a shirt in my hands, I face away from her, my eyes still red and unsteady from crying.
Travis barely folds anything. Keeping his eyes off of me or his grandmother is a struggle today. He'll fold, stop, and then look back and forth between us. "Grandma."
"Yes, Travis."
"He left."
She set down the knife she was using to cut strawberries. "He said it was best for the house. He spent all night in his bedroom, and when he came downstairs this morning, he'd changed his mind about staying." There's a pang of disappointment in Penelope's voice, but also relief. "He never did say what changed his mind."
"He'll be all right, grandma," Travis soothes. "I think he knows it's best for all of us. He just would've gotten us all in trouble."
"I know, I know." She continues chopping up her strawberries, but then sighs and lets the knife clatter against the cutting board. "It just would've been so nice, you know? Having the family back together again. If we could've worked through our issues . . ."
I wince. Maybe they could've if I hadn't come. What if this is about Penelope wanting me to stay?
She puts the strawberries into a bowl and then sets it on a tray next to a piece of cantaloupe. A glass of orange juice and some scrambled eggs are on the tray too, along with a bottle of pills. "Can you guys fend for yourselves this morning? I need to take care of Amy."
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"Sure, Penelope." I set down the jeans I've been folding and watch her go. As the stairs creak under her, I sink into a chair.
Travis comes around the table and sits on the chair next to me.
"Maybe I should just leave, Travis. Find someplace else to stay. I can't risk bringing a murderer here . . . And I can't tear apart your family." I bury my face in my hands.
"Hey." He scoots his chair closer and pulls my hands from my face. "Jeff didn't just leave because of you. He knows he can't change our system. There have to be places like this off the books. You aren't the first person running from someone with an advanced skillset. We can keep you safe. Who knows how many allies this guy has. We can't risk you leaving and going somewhere else. It'd be easier for him to find you. Plus, I'm going to need you here when I tell Penelope that I've found her daughter's murderer."
I nod, pushing back tears of fear.
He pulls me into him, pressing his lips against my temple. And maybe it's too soon and maybe I'm just desperate and emotional, but I don't care. I stay there, in Travis's arms, and I let him kiss me.
Because this boy—tense but gentle, caring and protective—made me a promise when he first met me.
You're safe here now, Lee. I promise. We'll take good care of you.
