#Chapter 159 – On the Road

Evelyn glances over at Ian as he fiddles with the car’s radio controls, trying to find a station that he likes. She can’t help but smile at him a little bit. When did he get old enough to have tastes in music? It was so strange, raising a child, watching them grow into a full person.

He is technically still too young to be sitting in the front seat of the car but…well. Desperate times, desperate measures. Or whatever. Evelyn wants him close by her is the real answer, not sitting alone in the back of the car.

They’ve been mostly quiet for the trip, but it’s not an uncomfortable silence. Ian had told her, when he first got into the car, what he and Alvin had decided.

“I’m coming with you,” Ian had said, his face pale as he stood with the car door open, his feet firmly planted on the driveway.

“What?!” Evelyn had breathed, her voice low with shock. She looked behind him, looking for Alvin as well.

“No, mama,” Ian had said, interpreting her look. “Just me. Alvin is staying with papa.”

“No,” Evelyn had said, her voice firm. “I’m not splitting you two up. You two stay together.”

Ian had just shrugged and gotten into the car. “If you’re going, I’m going. Alvin is staying.” He had looked up at her with hope in his eyes. “Unless you just want to stay…”

Evelyn had considered him for a moment and then slowly shook her head. No, she couldn’t. It was impossible, now. Not after how she had betrayed Victor. Not now that she knew he’d never be able to forgive her.

“Please, Ian,” she had whispered. “Don’t be foolish – you can’t leave your brother, you haven’t been separated from him for a single day in your life! Since you were little babies the size of jellybeans in my belly! You’ve always been together!”

He had just shrugged and reached behind him for his seatbelt, pulling it over his chest and buckling it firmly. “It’s okay. I’m getting kind of sick of him.”

Evelyn furrowed her brows at him seriously, shaking her head at the lie. But Ian had just shrugged again.

“Come on, mama,” he said, looking out the windshield. “If we’re going to go, let’s go.”

Evelyn had sighed, considering it for just a moment. “What made you decide,” she said slowly, “to split up. Because I know you didn’t make this decision alone.”

Her little boy had looked at her plainly. “You need someone to protect you, mama,” he had said, and then pointed his thumb at his chest. “And I’m the tough one. So, I go with you.”

She had laughed a little at that – god, what a foreign sound. “Ian,” she had said. “I can take care of myself, I’ve been doing it for years.”

“Yes,” he had replied, again looking out the front of the car. “So now it’s time that you had a break.”

Evelyn had shaken her head a little at that, but Ian didn’t look at her. Her little boy, six going on thirty. Already he was becoming so, so much like Victor. And now she was taking him away…

She sighed and put the car in reverse, backing out of the driveway without another word. If he wanted to come, be her protector, then fine. She would take him, gratefully. The rest she would figure out later.

asking for details or

he doesn’t know, Evelyn thinks, biting her lip,

where she was, but the reply hadn’t been

on vacation –

one time Evelyn really needed her friend to be close by, and she was off

– and

Rockport, a charming little beach town a few hours from home. Evelyn hadn’t replied, but immediately had taken the next

Headed for the beach.

a few hours later, Evelyn could tell that Ian

said, pressing his nose against the window. “Mama, I

Evelyn said, “can

was told, letting the ocean breeze fly into the car,

Evelyn asked, unable to help her smile. This was the first time she had ever taken her

before answering. “Well, no,” he says. Then he wrinkles

that. “How do

his eyes at her. “Mom,

crabs. Your just lucky that your dad has

sad. Ian smiles at her a little

says quietly, nodding at the little beach town slowly rolling

Evelyn replies, her sadness growing.

station, paying cash and filling up the tank. As Ian munches on

where are

comes a

a little motel by the beach – so

hotel? V and I

Starfish. He can

into the gas station to ask

minutes later, Evelyn and Ian park in the lot of the Sunrise Starfish, a cute little beach motel with a

says, smiling at it. “Can I

swim trunks?” Evelyn asks as they climb out

as he shuts the

says, smiling at him and taking his hand. “That’s your first mistake, Ian. Always pack a

nods sagely, storing this advice away for next time. Together, they walk into the little

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