Page 54 of In Every Chapter

“Cal has a key. I’ll text him to grab her stuff and take her for a sleepover with Khia. He won’t mind.”

Back at the house, we both quickly packed a bag, and Paisley changed out of her damp clothes. So I took a minute to update the family group chat, since they’d been bombing my phone for the last half hour.

ME:

We’re ducking out for the night. Paisley’s worn out.

Messages flooded in almost immediately.

MAMA:

I’ll bring leftovers over tomorrow! Give her a hug for me.

POPS:

Take care of our girl.

JULES:

Is she okay? Are you okay? That was a bombshell Khia dropped, and I love the girl to bits, but she doesn’t have a filter.

Like you. But I didn’t bother opening that can of worms.

ME:

Leftovers are great, Ma, thanks. She’s okay, just processing a lot.

My phone chimed again, but it was a private text from Cal. Smart man.

CAL:

grey, i’m so sorry about what khia said. i had no idea she’d go there. i didn’t even know she remembered pais was married before

is she doing okay? really okay? how are you holding up?

khia and i have had a few chats about paisley and appropriate comments so it shouldn’t happen again. kids should come with a manual

but seriously brother i’m here if you need me. say the word i’m there

ME:

Don’t worry about it. Kids will be kids. We’re taking a quick trip to Oregon tonight. Can you take Rosie to your place for a sleepover?

CAL:

oregon? wow

i’ve got you. let me know if there’s anything else

happy birthday big bro

I clicked my phone off as Paisley came down the stairs. While tonight was far from any family barbecue I’d imagined, I wasn’t totally mad about it. Khia, bless her spunky spirit and button nose, had every Satterfield man wrapped around her finger. I couldn’t be upset with the munchkin. Despite the lack of finesse, she’d backed us into a conversation we should have had sooner.

What came next? Well, I couldn’t think that far ahead.

For now, we were Oregon bound.

Chapter twenty-two