55. Marnie

Sienna was supposed to sleep over at her friend’s tonight.

The second I saw her climbing out of Trinity Pierson’s truck, I knew something was wrong. She was supposed to be with her girlfriends, not Trinity.

If Dusty knew, he’d be beyond pissed.

Miraculously, Trinity drops her off and peels out before Dusty has a chance to notice. His attention is zeroed in on his shady friends.

I smile at Sienna as she approaches, nothing the way she’s pinching her side. “Weren’t you supposed to be with your girlfriends tonight?”

She gives me a guarded look. “You saw me get dropped off?”

“I did. And I saw a certain Pierson kid your brother doesn’t like driving the truck.”

“If he can date someone older, why can’t I?”

she mutters under her breath. She winces, pinching her side again. “You going to rat me out?”

Usually, Sienna is all sunshine and giggles. Right now, she’s as surly as I’ve ever seen her. “It’s not really my place to say anything, so I won’t. Don’t make me regret that decision.”

She nods, looking relieved.

“What’s going on with your side?”

She drops her hand away. “Just cramps.”

“Bad enough you canceled your sleepover?”

She hesitates, clearly still feeling defensive. But then her shoulders droop. “Yeah.”

“Are they always like this?”

“I mean, I guess? I haven’t…”

She pauses, blushing a little. “I’m new to this whole thing, okay?”

“Got it.”

I put my arm around her shoulder and usher her towards the house. “You know what always helps with cramps? Lavender tea.”

She looks up with horror in her eye. Apparently, the Larsons have reached their lavender max.

I grin. “Kidding. But have you taken anything for the pain yet?”

She shakes her head.

“Alright, babe. Let’s get you fixed up.”

A few painkillers and some non-lavender herbal tea later, the pained edge is finally starting to ease from her eyes. I’ve given her my heat pack, which also happens to be lavender scented, and she has it resting on her stomach. Dusty came in long enough to realize that our plans had taken a sharp detour before disappearing outside.

Sienna watches him go, giggling a little. “Oh God. You should have seen him and Gus when I first got my period.”

“When was that?”

“Last fall. Those two were like two chickens with their heads cut off. Gus went to the drugstore and, bless his heart, bought about every brand of pad and tampon they had. A pack of adult diapers, too. Just to cover his bases.”

“Uncle Gus did that?”

I grin, feeling that bittersweet rush of feelings that flow through me whenever I think about him.

I miss him.

I miss them all.

“That’s just what Gus was like.”

Sienna adjusts the pillow behind her back. “Our personal guardian angel. Your uncle was a good man.”

“Yeah. He really was.”

“No, I don’t think you understand.”

Sienna skewers me with her clear blue eyes. “He literally saved us.”

“By becoming your guardian?”

“Long before that. When mom was sick. She couldn’t keep up with the bills, but Dusty flat refused to ship her off to one of those state-run nursing homes.”

I wince at that, wondering if I’ve shipped my dad off the way she means. Dusty was faced with the same scenario and chose to keep his mother at his side. To take care of her. Me? I visit my dad once a week. Because I’m ‘busy’.

Because I can’t stand to see him like that.

Sienna pokes at the heat pack on her stomach. “Dusty won’t really talk about it, but I saw more than he knew. Things were getting pretty desperate, I think. Not a lot of work opportunities for a seventeen-year-old kid. And then, out of nowhere, Gus came along. Offered him a job. Helped us out when the insurance stuff got too confusing, or we had to make medical decisions. He’s a hero in my mind.”

Sienna’s eyes are fiery, daring me to contradict her.

I wouldn’t. Because heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

This one just happened to have salt and pepper hair and a farmer’s tan.