Reviving Bloom by Michelle Turner Read Free Book Online Page B

couple of poles. We can try to cat ch a few fish while we’re there , ” s he says clearly trying to suppress a squeal of delight about my agreeing to come.
     
    “I can cover that.”
     
    “Everyone’ ll be so excited to see you. I know some of the guys will be there. They might even throw together a bonfire. It’ll be just like the old days Blu . You’ll see!”
     
    I don’ t have the heart to tell her in the old days we would’ve tried to sneak past my Dad so we wouldn’t get caught coming in past curfew, and Dad ’s no longer alive to catch us. But I don’t want to bring d own her happiness. So far today’s been a good day. The hole in my chest is still there , I feel the pain of missing him, but the hole seems to be getting smaller. I doubt it’ ll ever completely heal because I’ll always miss him, but it’ll heal enough that I’ll be able to go on with my life like he would’ve wanted.
     
    Bonnie realizes I’ve stopped listening to he r once again because she stops talking and proceeds to gather up our mess from lunch. Mr. Harris’s already left; he must have grown tired of giving me cryptic glances and listening to Bonnie rattle on about the party. Pike who’s now full from eating his sandw ich, mine, and part of Bonnie’s is curled up by m y feet looking rather content. I stand and g ive Bonnie a hug bye with the promise I’ ll see her Thursday then Pike and I head home .
     
    Billy’s coming out of the house, his arms filled with boxes when we pull in. Sliding out of the truck and holding the door op en for Pike to follow I holler , “Do you need me to grab one of those for you?”
     
    Pe e king his head around the side of one, “ I can handle this. I’m just taking some things out to the shed.”
     
    I watch him maneuver down the porch steps then concede , “Ok ay , but if you change your mind let me know.”
     
    “I will.”
     
    I begin to head inside but turn back to look for Pike when I realize he’s still at the bottom of the steps watching Billy. Billy notices too, “He probably needs to stretch his legs after the ride back from town. Why don’t you let him stay out here with me for awhile?”
     
    “Ok ay but if he gets in the way just bring him back into me. I’m going to go start some laundry.”
     
    “ Ok ay , Blu .” Billy agrees then turning to Pike says , “Come on pup before I drop these boxes.”
     
    I watch as they walk around t he edge of the house then I head inside.
     
    Chapter 13 – Pike
     
    ~ Rose’s Story ~
     
    I follow Billy to the back of th e property where a small shed se t s at the tree line. I listen for the front door closing to signal Bloom making it inside and expect him to start talking as soon as we’re out of heari ng range, but he says nothing. He s ets the boxes down just inside the door of the shed then open s the top one and pull s out a small album. I watch him as he t akes a seat next to the pile of boxes and look s through the tiny black book. There ’ s the shadow of a smile across his face but it never reache s his eyes. I want to shift so I can talk to him but I ha ve the feeling he’ ll spill more if I stay in this form. So I set ther e watching him re-live whatever’s in that album.
     
    Finally, when he reaches the last page he looks at me and nods. He’s going to tell me the sto ry of the she-wolf and he needs me to listen. He doesn’t say it but I see it in his e yes how important this story is to him. I don’t realize how much it ’s going to affect me to till he turns the album to face me and se t s it on the ground open to the las t page. There staring back at me is a face I ’ve become all too familiar with since childhood, one that’s been in my life just as much as my own parent s if not more. And she’s holding a newborn version of Bloom. I keep shifting between the woman and child waiting for reality to sink in. The resemblance should’ve been obvious the moment I saw her but I’ve been so caught