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Myra Binks had lived in the Outer Banks her whole life. Kildare was her home. Even if she'd been gone for two years. A lot had happened, she figured. Although she had no idea how much. As she stood outside the home of Topper Thornton, she wondered.
Wondered for all of two seconds, before Topper was running out of his house, skipping three steps as he jumped off the porch and ran over to her. "Binky!" he exclaimed, picking her up into a spinning hug, causing her to drop her duffle bag.
Luckily, nothing fragile was inside. "Lil' Top!" she exclaimed back, laughing as she hugged him back. He huffed, putting her down.
"I told you to stop calling me that. I'm not little," he said, crossing his arms.
"And I told you to stop calling me Binky. Here we are."
He rolled his eyes playfully, shoving her shoulder. "Whatever, I'll help you get your stuff."
Myra laughed, opening her trunk so her and Top could get her few boxes. She didn't bring much from Portland. Mostly keepsakes and her clothes.
They carried the boxes inside, and Topper showed her to her new room. His mom was out on a vacation right now, but she knew. She wasn't the happiest, but Myra was a respected Kook, so she hadn't minded too much.
Well, that's what she was told anyway. Who knows how far Topper stretched the truth.
Her room was good sized. Smaller than her one with her grandfather, but good enough. Myra wasn't picky. "You didn't tell anyone I was coming, right?" she asked Top after they had put her boxes down in her room.
Top shook his head. "Nope, not a soul."
She had a feeling he was lying, but for the moment chose to believe him. "Perfect, I'mma go see Jombie and them," she told him.
Topper huffed. "So you hate me."
Myra chuckled. "No, but I'm gonna be living with you, so I'll see you all the time."
He shrugged. "Fair point, I suppose."
She smiled, before heading back downstairs and outside. Kildare was much, much warmer than Portland. Dryer too. Although, she had a feeling that wouldn't last. It never seemed to around here. Storms were as popular as the fish.
As she drove the familiar roads, she couldn't help but feel the happiest she's felt since she left. Since that night. Deep down, her thoughts shifted to Rafe, but she tried to ignore it. She couldn't get caught up in old habits.
Rafe had moved on—or so she hoped. And so had she—or so she lied.
As she pulled down the road to the Chateau, her heart almost stopped. There it was, ashes on the ground. She jumped out of her car, running up to the burned down building. "What the hell?" she mumbled to herself.
