Sunlight was creeping into the cabin when McKenna awoke. She yawned and stretched lazily. It was nice to sleep next to Dane and not worry about being caught. Getting to her feet, she dressed quickly and opened the cabin door. The chill of the fall wind made her shiver.

"Dane!" she called out, her voice sounding muffled from the trees. Oh, no, she thought. Not again. "Dane!" she called again.

"I'm here."

She whirled around. Dane was standing behind her from inside the cabin.

"You scared me."

"I'm here," he repeated. "Always.”

"But sometimes you're not, and that's when I panic. I woke up, and you were gone. Sometimes when I really need you, you're not there."

"But I am here, McKenna," he insisted. "I am always here."

"You're not!" She felt the anger rise in her. "You're not here enough!"

Dane lowered his gaze from her and stared at the ground. "I can't seem to make you understand," he said quietly.

"Then help me, Dane," she pleaded. "Help me to understand."

"You will in time," he insisted. "Very soon, I think."

Her anger flared. She was getting the same answers that her grandparents had given her. "In time," she cried in despair. "That's the only answer I ever get, but I don't know what that means."

"McKenna," Dane said suddenly. "Your parents are coming."

She furiously wiped at her tears with the back of her hand. "Oh, my God. Why won’t they just go away and leave me alone.” She squinted down the path but saw no one. "I don't see them."

"Trust me, they're coming."

She turned quickly to him. "Dane," she moaned. "Please don't leave me. I can't go through this alone."

"I won't leave you," he said softly. "Pinky swear."

A sad smile crept through her tears, and she reached for his hand. "I love you, Dane."

"I love you, too, McKenna. Always.”

McKenna held tight to his hand as her parents rounded the bend on the path heading toward the cabin. She tossed a quick glance behind her and smiled. He squeezed her hand in answer.

"McKenna," her mother approached her.

"Leave me alone, Mother,” she hissed. "Oh, God, I can’t even call you that anymore. You need to go away. Go away and leave Dane and me in peace.”

"Dane?" her mother questioned.

Once again, McKenna squeezed Dane's hand, and he squeezed hers in return.

"Yes, Dane. I have a future, and you’re not in it. Dane is. He’ll always be there for me. Isn't that right, Dane?" she asked as she turned and looked at him.

He gazed down at her. "Always," he confirmed.

“Did you hear that? He means it, too.”

Her mother turned to her father. "Help me, Connor.”

"Kenna, honey, you have to come home," he said.

"Home! I have no home with the two of you. You’re not even my real parents. My life is in shambles, and it’s all because of your lies. I meant it when I said I never want to see the two of you again!”

Her father stepped toward her. McKenna clung to Dane.

"Tell them, Dane," she cried. "Tell them I have you, and I don’t need anyone else. Tell them I’m happy here with you.”

He wrapped an arm tighter around her shoulders. "I can't, McKenna," he said sadly.

"Why not?" she sobbed. "Why can't you tell them?"

"Because they won't listen to me."

She turned back to her parents. "You see? You won't even listen to him. Why won’t you listen?"

Her mother started to cry, and her father placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Kenna…” he started to say.

“Don’t call me that,” she hissed.

He held up his hands. “Okay, but will you at least come with us, just for a bit? Your mother and I want to show you something."

"I can't trust you," she answered.

"You can," her father said. "Just this one time, you can trust us."

She looked to Dane. He had a look of concern on his face, but he nodded in agreement.

"Go," he said sadly.

Her parents didn't try to touch her or take her hand. They only turned and started down the path toward the lake.

McKenna turned around once to see Dane wave at her. For some reason, she felt like he was waving goodbye.

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