A Million Wishes Read Free

eyes, at that moment she felt like she’d found her prince charming and she fell in love for the first time in her young life. At 14 years old he seemed so much more mature than her older brothers. He sweetly re-packed her backpack and stood his full height again plucking more fruit while he talked. Thinking since he was ok with her eating she once again bit into the juicy fruit and mumbled out an mmm of pleasure. He grinned at her and proudly announced “Sugar Ridge has the sweetest peaches, little Miki, but I don’t think they are nearly as sweet as you, little one.”
     
    Blushing ten shades of red and choking down the last bite of peach she stood up so fast she almost toppled over; luckily he caught hold of her hand before she slammed head first into the tree. “Boy, you are all kinds of trouble aren’t you little one?” His laughter barked out as she blushed again, this time getting mad.
     
    “ I AM NOT LITTLE!”
     
    It was a silly argument, especially since he stood at least a foot and a half taller than her but her brothers had always teased her about being littler than everyone else and it infuriated her. But Noah…it just made him laugh harder, holding his stomach and leaning over, he was cackling so hard. So what’s a girl to do when her newly found prince charming laughed at her? She stomped her little foot and shoved him as hard as she could and caught him unaware, knocking him to his rear on a few rotten peaches on the ground. The priceless look of surprise on his face had Miki laughing in delighted giggles, pointing and laughing harder when he stood and discovered the mess of peach guts on his backside. His laughter echoed with hers and he took off running towards her as she darted off, running like wild to the edge of the woods until she didn’t hear him anymore.
     
    She stopped, gasping for breath and squatted down behind the base of the tree with her hands propped on her knees. The only sound was her panting breath and the crickets calling out and the birds answering them. So when he suddenly jumped out from behind the tree and yelled “Rawr!” She fell over to her side and squealed, which only made them both bust out laughing again. Noah plopped on the ground beside her, smiling, handing her the backpack full of peaches and tugged her bright red pigtail. The journey of a long friendship started that day.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    “ Miki! Miki it’s time to go, come on.” Torn out of her daydreaming, she heard Callum calling her name. Tucking the binoculars in her jacket pocket she walked down the gnarled oak branch and made her way back to his truck, eyes darting back and forth searching for her Mother. There she sat on the porch steps, silently crying. Miki stopped, looked at her big brother and when he nodded she walked over to her Mother, standing straight, voice quiet but sure. “I want you to know I love you Momma. Even after everything you’ve done to me. I will always love you but I’ll never come back here, ever.” Her Mother choked a sob and reached one shaky hand towards hers, Miki took her hand and gingerly leaned over and kissed her cheek, letting go of her hand and walking towards Callum on weak legs that were about to fail her. He opened the door for her and whispered to her as she got in. “That’s a good girl Miki; everything is gonna be alright kiddo. Just you wait and see.”
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 3
     
     
     
    10 years later - Atlanta, Georgia - November 2005
     
     
     
    The call had come as a shock; 8am which was early for a girl that tended bar until closing time at 2am and didn’t make it home from cleaning up until just around 4am.
     
    Ring ring
     
    “ Dear God…”
     
    Ring ring
     
    “ Grr dammit!”
     
    The shrill sound startled her and had her arms flailing, reaching for the annoying thing that was disrupting her precious few hours of sleep. After all, she had her Creative Writing class at noon, then African - American History after