Life is a bed of roses. At least that's what my mother used to say until she fell into a rose bush and broke her neck.
She would've survived if the thorns hadn't bled her to death before they found her.
Now, I'm on my way to a foster home in the middle of buttfuck nowhere with her ashes, suitcases and a mountain of debt. Debt I'll officially be inheriting once I turn eighteen in a few weeks.
Great.
"You okay back there?"
I look up at the sound of Liam Garren's deep voice. The large man who owns the foster home I'll call home for the coming months. When I asked if he'd kick me out once I turned eighteen, he didn't answer, and we've had no other conversation for the four hours we've been on the road.
I don't answer his question and look away toward the serene landscape flying past outside the window. Miles of yellow fields and distant trees. We'd passed a town sign a long way back, but I wasn't paying attention to read it.
But I bet it read middle of buttfuck nowhere!! Have fun at rock bottom!
"You hungry?" Liam tries again.
I don't look at him or answer. I have nothing against Liam. He didn't give my father cancer when I was twelve or turn my mother into a drunk that ended up killing her. But he shouldn't expect me to be all happy and chatty going to a place where I knew no one because I'm a sad orphan, no relative came to claim.
"Are you warm enough?" He sounds desperate now, and I let my gaze slide over to him. Apart from being large like a boulder, Liam has a scruffy beard, bushy brown hair, and mocha brown eyes that are surprisingly soft. Beneath it all, he also looks young, like young enough to be my mother's younger brother. His build, however, removes the illusion that he is anything but a soft man.
Hopefully, my new family won't be as intimidating as their father.
We lock eyes in the rearview, and I give him a small, tiny nod.
A look of relief crosses his features, and he focuses back on the road.
"We're almost there."
Great. I can't wait to be the outsider.
When the car veers into the wide compound and the gate closes behind us, it turns out that I can wait to be an outsider. I absolutely can wait. In fact, I'll live in the car and have them send me food. That's what I'm thinking as I remain in the backseat staring distrustfully at the old country-style house.
Behind it, I spy the edges of a ranch and an open field. An open garage sits on the side of the house, and I see trucks and bikes parked inside.
I hadn't asked anything about his family. Now I regret it. I have no idea how many people I should be expecting.
But as I sit in the car, I see no one.
Liam comes out of the house after sending my suitcases inside and taps on the window with a large finger and an encouraging smile.
"You gonna come out?'
I shake my head, feeling like a child on their first day of school.
Liam smiles again. "You need a minute?"
I shake my head. I need to go home. I need my mother and my friends and my stories.
As if hearing my thoughts or maybe just reading it off my expressive face, Liam sighs. "Can I come in?"
I think about it for a moment, then nod. He rounds the car, opens the door on the other side, and enters the warm space.
For the first few seconds, he doesn't say anything.
"I know it can be scary…" he starts patiently with a gentle voice I did not think a large man like him is capable of "…losing your old life. The comfort, stability, and security you never thought would go away. But it can also be a good thing."
I look at him, but he's looking straight ahead through the windshield, a distant, almost pained expression on his face.
"I lost my family once too, and it was a really scary and dark time in my life, but you know what made it better? I found a new family. I embraced the change instead of fighting, and that's why I've made it my mission to make sure I give a family to those who need it."
He looks at me then, and I see the raw emotion in them, the honesty, the willingness to help and bear my pain if I let him. Everything I once expected from a father that I never had.
I swallow dryly, think on his words, and decide that I would at least try.
"Okay," I say softly, and he breaks into the warmest smile.
"Okay. Thank you, Arielle."
As I carry my mother's ashes and exit the car into the dry air of the open country, I realise that I like Liam and for the first time in several weeks I almost smile.
That is, until I meet his sons and my face falls to my knees. They stand in the kitchen staring at me like I'm the ugliest thing they've ever seen. Tall like Liam but very different in every way. Where Liam is warm and soft-eyed, his sons are cold and glaring. Equally built and twice as intimidating. With my five-foot-five self, big hoodie, and too-large pants, carrying my mother's urn, I feel like a lamb in a den of wolves.
"This is Jean, my second son," Liam says with a hint of pride, pointing to the taller, meaner-looking one. He looks to be in his mid-twenties. His hair is brown like Liam's, but his eyes are green like daggers. He looks me up and down, sits down, and resumes eating a muffin without saying a word. The other one, who looks one or two years older than me, with much softer features and definitely not as mean, walks up to me and stretches out a hand.
"I'm Kyle," he says, and his cold demeanor instantly dissolves with a cheeky grin that makes him boyish.
I take his hand reluctantly, glancing at Liam, who nods in encouragement. Strands of light brown hair fall down his forehead as he kisses my hand and makes me stiffen. As his head lifts, he winks with mocha brown eyes filled with mischief.
"Nice to meet you, Arielle." He drops my hand and steps back. "I'm looking forward to knowing you."
I say nothing, and Liam takes over the conversation with ease.
"My wife, Violet, went to get our first son from the airport, but they'll be back soon, and you'll meet them and our little Diana. If you want anything, ask Jean." He turns to Kyle. "Take her to her room and let her settle down."
Kyle beams. "Sure."
Before we leave for the hallway, Liam smiles at me with so much warmth that my chest almost collapses and says, "Welcome to my family, I hope you stay."