As we get out of the car, I can't help but smile when I notice his big, dark green pickup truck. Everything is a little on the large side when it comes to him, but he likes to be comfortable and it's no one's place to tell him otherwise.
I could always pretend that I'm in a fairytale for the rest of the summer. He could be the Giant guarding the forlorn princess, and in the end, if I last here that long, I can make believe that he saved me and set me free.
Remember that, I warn myself. Part of the reason myself and Momma haven't been getting along as of late is because of my smart mouth. She tells me to do something or asks me for help and I sass her almost every single time.
Things will be different now, though.
I've got a couple of months with a man I barely remember to help me be a good girl again.
Chapter Two
Momma sighs as she knocks on Uncle Huck's door for the fifth time. If he's inside, there's no way he can miss the sound of the banging, but that would also mean that he's not up for company today and I hope that she won't just leave me here. But Momma is persistent and knocks again, casting me a frazzled look as she drops her fist by her side.
The sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door greets us and I can feel myself becoming nervous. I reach up and use a hand to smooth down my hair that no doubt became a mess in the car ride over and steal a nervous glance at Momma. She gives me an encouraging smile which she immediately turns toward the door when it opens partially.
And in no time, the smile turns into a big grin when her brother finally comes to the front of his house.
"No shit," the man that I think is Uncle Huck says, pushing open the screen door and stepping out onto the porch to formally greet us.
I swallow the nervous lump in my throat.
He's a hell of a lot bigger than I remember and when I have to look up, much higher than most people I know, I take an involuntary step backward. He reaches forward and pulls Momma into a hug as he lets out a laugh and she gives him a gentle shove away. Momma was never one to be affectionate, and it kind of makes me feel a little better to know that her quirk extends to anyone, and not just me.
"It's good to see you too, little brother," she teases him with a smile.
He grins as he lets her go, and I wait patiently for him to recognize me once his eyes land on me. But there's no sign of recognition or welcome in those caramel-colored, brown eyes of his. I watch as they narrow and look me up and down in suspicion before he crosses his arms over his chest and glares at his sister.
"Who's this?" he asks her in a stern tone.
"Huck, don't be silly. It's Maddi!" she scolds him, giving me a gentle shove in his direction.
His eyes soften immediately, and a sheepish smile crosses his lips. I watch as he becomes a completely different person, sliding his hands into his pockets, and giving me an embarrassed shrug.
"Sorry, Maddi. The last time I saw you, you were a little thing, you know?" he explains apologetically. I steal a glance at Momma who's looking at me expectantly and I blow out my breath, forcing a smile onto my face.
"It's okay, Uncle Huck. I don't remember you being quite so damn big, so I guess we're even," I reply with a shrug.
Momma ribs me with her elbow, her brother laughs, and then silence.
"So, what brings you two out here?" he asks, mercifully killing the awkward quiet after a few moments.
"I thought Maddi could stay with you for summer vacation," Momma suggests a little too brightly. "Will Brianna mind?"
Uncle Huck takes a hand out of his pocket and runs it irritably over his face. "She shouldn't—she left me last year."
"Oh Huck," Momma says softly.
He turns his face and spits over the side of the porch before he shrugs. He doesn't say anything else, instead, he reaches down and picks up my duffle bag from the porch and signals with his head for me to follow him inside.
"See you in a couple of months, Abigail," he says to Momma as the door swings closed behind us.
Chapter Three
The first night at Uncle Huck’s isn’t so bad. He told me the rules of the house, of which most are the same as Momma’s. Some are more childish than others—no running in the house, clean your feet on the mat when you come inside, and eat your vegetables—the rest are more geared toward safety. No going outside at night alone, don’t wander into the farmhouse without him, and stay away from the pigpen.
I sleep in the spare room near the back of the farmhouse, and he sleeps in the room directly across from mine.
In a weird way, it’s nice to have him so close by, especially since I’m going to have to get used to this country living for a while. Being from a bigger city is gonna make the quiet nights with only crickets signing a little hard to be comfortable with.