32

Solana

We drove to the house in silence. I no longer gave Abel directions, because as it turned out, he knew the rest of the way once we'd gone out of the shortcut zone. When he eventually pulled up in front of the large, familiar, two-storey building with the wraparound porch and swing hanging from a branch in the overgrown tree in the front yard, I forgot how to breathe.

It was time. Time to face...the cruel past.

Abel switched off the engine and turned to me. I swallowed hard, my breaths coming off in short, shallow gasps as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his large thumb resting on my cheek as his mouth curved into a small, reassuring smile.

He knew I was nervous. I was sure he could feel it too.

“Relax. I've always known you to be fierce.”

“Is it...is it that obvious? My fear, I mean.” I stuttered, clutching the box of fish rolls close to my bosom for dear life.

“Yeah. A lot.” His cellphone trilled just then, prompting him to pull it out. He glanced at the display, scru