Little Sister Song (Wynter Wild #1)

Chapter 7: A Rash Promise

Caleb ushered them both through the front door. The small entry hall was lit with a single lamp that left the corners in darkness. To the right, an archway led to a room with a big table. Books and papers were spread over the table, where Jesse must've been working, and a board game was set up at one end. On the other side of the hall was a tiny kitchen overlooking a living room. Wynter had read old novels about people who lived in houses, but had never been inside one before. She stared at everything.

"Sit," Caleb said.

Wynter chose a large armchair in the living room and perched on the edge of the seat.

"Find Wynter some warm clothes," Caleb told his brother. "A sweater, some socks."

Jesse disappeared into the back of the house. Caleb sat on the couch and leaned forward, his brow drawn low. He had very blue eyes that captured her gaze.

"Where's Joy?"

"She's in Los Angeles. She only had enough money to buy one ticket to Seattle."

"Where were you before LA?"

"Arizona."

"The ashram?"

Wynter nodded. Her throat tightened in anticipation of questions about the ashram, which she wasn't supposed to talk about.

"I'm Joy's brother," Caleb said. "I'd like to help her."

"I know. I mean, I didn't know. She just told me. She said you would help."

"I will help her in any way I can." His brow furrowed. "We haven't seen her since we were little kids. Is our mother... is Miriam in Arizona?"

"She's in Thailand."

"Thailand?"

"It's a country in southeast Asia, east of India and north of Austral—"

"Yeah, hun, I know where Thailand is." He patted her knee, a touch so brief she didn't have time to shrink away. "Can you tell me why Joy took you with her when she left?"

"She's my sister, too. My half-sister."

Caleb drew in his breath. Behind him, Jesse stopped in his tracks before composing himself and coming forward with the clothes he'd fetched. Wynter took off her sandals and pulled the thick gray socks onto her dirty feet. Caleb helped her draw on the oversized sweater. When her frozen fingers fumbled with the zipper, he did it for her.

"Miriam Wild is your mother?" Caleb said, looking at her very carefully. His steady gaze anchored her in this world.

She was here. She existed.

"My name's Wynter Wild," she whispered.

Jesse stood behind the couch, clicking his pen as he stared at her.

"How old are you?" Caleb said.

"Fourteen."

"Who's your dad?"

"His name's Malcolm. They were married for a while."

"When's Miriam due back from Thailand?"

"I don't think... I don't know. She went five years ago and I think she lives there now."

"You haven't seen her since?"

Wynter shook her head, chewing on her lip as Caleb rubbed his hand over his eyes, hiding his reaction. Then he closed his hands over hers. They were so warm, and hers so cold, it felt like her hands were buried under hot desert sand. But she wouldn't pull away.