The Ahern Brothers Collection by Claudia Burgoa

Author:Claudia Burgoa [Burgoa, Claudia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-15T18:30:00+00:00

Seventeen

Abby

Softly splashing water droplets hit the car windows as I drive north on University Boulevard. The skies are overcast with a blanket of grey. The rain usually calms me. I love to dance in the rain and let the raindrops touch my skin. But I can’t stand it when it’s raining and I’m on the road. The other drivers tend to behave like Armageddon has just begun, and it’s every man for themselves. Thankfully, I’m only a few blocks away from the gallery.

Once I stop at the light on First Avenue and University, I call my realtor. Her voicemail picks up right away.

“Erika, I’m sorry, but I didn’t love any of the properties that your assistant showed me. Keep sending me what you find.”

Chasing your dreams can be harder than finding a unicorn downtown. Fine, not quite as impossible. The special place I’m searching for doesn’t exists according to those real estate sites I visit nightly. My realtor hasn’t found them either. As the days pass, I feel it getting farther and farther out of reach.

It’s okay. You got this, girl.

In a couple of years, I should have my shelter up and running along with the rest of my plan. It feels like it was only yesterday when I was in Tahoe, sitting by the fire and talking with Wes about starting a place where young people could feel safe. After living in Esperanza’s Home, where I was allowed to hide, heal, and find myself, I wanted to open something similar. Not only a trauma center, but also a place where young women who didn’t feel safe at home could stay until they found themselves and their place in the world.

Luna, the woman who rescued me from Shaun, happens to be one of the founders of Esperanza’s Home. She’s been guiding me through the process. Her goal is to eventually open one in every state, but that’s a long shot. If I can open one or two, I’d be helping her cause. I promised to support her once I got mine running. Which, at this pace, I’m not sure if it’ll happen at all.

For the first stage of the project, I’ll use the money Will gave me for my twenty-first birthday. That’s if I find a lot big enough and far enough from the city. Afterward, I’m going to need multiple benefactors to help me support it. Sterling offered his help which I’ll graciously take. At the moment, I’m selling some of the paintings and sculptures he’s given me because he’s not in love with them.

Once I arrive at the gallery, I park the car and enter through Sterling’s studio. He’s working on a piece of marble. He says it’s going to be the next David or The Thinker. He’s making a self-portrait. I wish Wes knew about this. We’d be cracking jokes about it.

Who cares about the joke? I’d be staring at his chiseled face and enigmatic eyes. We’d be catching up and …

“Hey,” I greet Sterling and try to stop thinking about his brother.

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