“I don’t know if you know this or not, Kendall, but I’m worth a lot of money, and I’m willing to help you and Mason out,” he confided.

I shook my head. I felt the heaviness of remorse from a life full of misdeeds come rushing at me. My legs felt heavy as lead. The thought of anyone knowing the real Kendall was the worst thing that could ever happen.

I was seven years old the first time I realized my life was a wreck. I remember the first time I saw, with my own eyes, what evil really looked like.

My mom and Wanda had gotten into a big fight. I remember my mom bolting out the front door of our house wearing that old, worn out dress that she’d worn for as long as I can remember. She was barefoot and drunk.

Then I saw Aunt Wanda racing down the street in her car, trying to run her over. I imagined how great it would have been if Wanda had hit her. I was seven years old and I would have been happy to see my own mother plowed down by a car. How wrong is that?

I sat down on the porch steps watching the chaos play out around me. The sun was about to set, and it was a beautiful moment in spite of Aunt Wanda’s screeching tires.

It didn’t take long before I couldn’t see my mom anymore; she was busy running between cars and mailboxes trying to outrun Aunt Wanda.

Eventually, they found their way back home. Aunt Wanda acted as if nothing had happened, and by this time, my mother had sobered up from all the running. She walked right past me going back inside the house like she hadn’t a care in the world.

That was the day I knew we weren’t a normal family—we were the rejects, the trashy people who didn’t care about anyone or anything.

“This one time she almost strangled my mom,” I confessed, looking away from Roger.

“Wanda?” Roger asked. I just nodded my head.

“She choked her until I thought her eyes were going to pop right out of her head. I never saw someone’s face look like that before. That was the day I knew Aunt Wanda was a bad person,” I said, barely able to settle my unsteady breathing.

Roger stayed still. He let me keep right on talking. I’m sure I said more than I should have, but it felt right to do so for some reason. I didn’t care that I might regret it later.

“Payton is just as evil. Mason’s in the same situation I am.”

My thoughts drifted back to the times Mason and I would talk about all the horrible things we did while on the run with Wanda and Payton.

It was the only part of my life I shared. Mason could always one-up or tie any story I had about Wanda, proving Payton was just as nasty as Wanda.

We were both screwed up, and we knew it. It’s what made us close.

“You’re still a young girl. You could make life better for yourself if you put your mind to it,” Roger said, giving me a crooked grin. “You could probably have anything you ever wanted.” He playfully elbowed me in the side.

“I must admit I’m surprised by you, Roger,” I said, holding tight to the railing. I looked at him, a smile creeping up out of nowhere.

“Now why would that be, Kendall?”

There was nothing complicated between us. We were just two people talking.

“I expected a long, drawn-out lecture about how sorry you are for me and my life.” The wind blew my hair against my face as I stared off, my eyes seeing every lightning bug appear then disappear again.

“I’d like to say I have the answer to your problems. I’d even like to fix what is going on, but I think you’re the only one who can fix this. And I think you know it,” he told me.

I nodded, wishing I knew what that even meant. I had no clue how to fix any of it.

“What do you want out of life, Kendall?” Roger asked, touching my hand gently.

“Peace. I want to be able to trust someone. And maybe a giant bathtub I can use whenever I want,” I said, smiling at the thought of it.

Roger chuckled. I felt a bit stupid. I didn’t have high hopes. I barely had hope at all.

“This is the only advice I can give you.” He stood up straight, his shoulders relaxing some.

“What’s that?” I asked, curious.

He headed down the stairs without finishing his sentence. He motioned for me to follow. I looked around, heading down the steps slowly, a bit nervous to be sneaking around right before we were leaving.

Roger was nowhere to be found in the darkness, his shadow vanished beyond the doors of the workshop.

I hurried after him, adrenaline surging my body, my heart leaping out of my chest, my stomach clenching in a panic.

“I want you to take this,” he whispered as soon as I was inside, his figure hardly evident in the darkness. He pushed some kind of envelope in my hand.

“What is it?” I whispered, running my fingertips across the material.

“That’s two thousand dollars.” He pulled me close, his hands gently leading me to the ground.

“Roger, this is a lot of money,” I said, lying down next to him. I gripped the money with both hands, trying not to think about what he might want in return. But nothing happened. He was silent and then he pulled me close to his warm body, holding me…comforting me.

“You take it. You never know when it could come in handy. I’m sure it could get you far away,” he whispered, his voice having a calming effect.

“Go on now,” he whispered as soon as we heard the car start up breaking the silence.

I jumped to my feet, blindly finding my way to the moonlit doorway.

“Goodbye, Kendall. Take care of yourself,” Roger said.

I scanned the darkness for any signs of him, jumping when I realized he was right in front of me. He gave me a gentle nudge, sending me off.

Payton and Wanda busily loaded the trunk. Mason watched me approach, his expression showing irritation and anger. I glared right back at him, shoving my hands in my pockets, along with the money.

I finally came to a stop next to Mason. The car engine hummed and rattled beside us.

“Are you serious?” Mason hissed in my ear.

“It was nothing. He gave me money,” I said in a whisper. Roger suddenly appeared in front of all of us.

“It was nice seeing you again, Wanda. You take care now,” Roger said. He lifted the last suitcase from the ground and dropped it in the trunk for Wanda. She slammed the trunk shut.

Aunt Wanda nodded, rather quiet. Seemed like she didn’t have much to say to Roger now that she didn’t need his help anymore.

“Will do, Roger,” she said.

Roger grabbed Wanda by the arm, his features resolute. Aunt Wanda stiffened at his touch, staring down at his grip.

“Just want you all to be careful, wherever you’re headed next. And take care of that niece of yours,” Roger said, letting go of her.

My heart plummeted. I could feel the awkwardness flowing through the air as we all stood there.

Mason tugged me toward the car.

I struggled to break away from his grip on my sleeve. I needed to see what was going on.

Aunt Wanda turned, studying Roger. She grabbed the door handle of the car. “You be careful too, Roger. You have a nice family and I’m sure it’s not something you want to lose over silly little Kendall,” she said, her gaze lasting longer than Roger’s.

He nodded in agreement and headed back to his house.

We climbed into the car. I eagerly stole one final glimpse of Roger. He had proven to me he wasn’t any typical man. He looked past my silly infatuation and really wanted to help me.

It was a good feeling, one that I never felt before.

As we drove down the driveway, I looked at the house one last time. I would always remember how nice it felt to be in a home made from love—a home where the people in it genuinely cared for one another.

Anna was the most loving woman I’d ever met. She was exactly what I thought a mother should be like. It saddened me to know I’d never see her again.

“They’re all safe, that’s something to be happy about,” Mason whispered in my ear, pulling me close.