Upstairs, Loretta was sleeping in Evie’s bed. At least Jax had left Loretta to her, although once he had time to think about it, he might decide otherwise. By reading the denial in his stepfather’s aura, she’d pushed too hard and brought disaster down on his head.
She didn’t think she could have done anything else. She had to believe she’d been given this weird gift for a reason.
Changing into her nightgown and curling up beside the child who’d chosen her dubious protection, Evie vowed to earn the confidence Loretta had placed in her.
And that had to start with giving her security.
* * *
A week later,Evie had made a few steps toward keeping that vow. Even though Jax didn’t return, Ariel stayed. Roark and Reuben hung around, playing Bubble Witch with Loretta enough for them to develop a routine. Kids needed routines and people they trusted.
That wasn’t enough. Loretta needed more than simple routine.
Evie was furious with Jax for not answering emails or calls. She was about ready to consider filing the fake guardianship papers when she picked up an envelope at the post office with the Stockton firm’s return address.
“He’s probably suing me for child endangerment,” she told Honey as she walked the dog back to the shop. “Respect” poured from the café’s speakers, but Evie didn’t feel like dancing to it.
Respectwasn’t enough anymore. She had plans. She just needed Jax to remember she existed. She’d thought she’d developed a rapport—with a military lawyer. What had she been thinking?
It was Saturday and the shop was busy. Loretta was arranging a shipment of Harry Potter books in the window. Evie unleashed Honey, pried open the envelope, and breathed a sigh of relief.
“He’s not suing us,” she announced.
Mavis glanced up from her customer and nodded happily, as if she knew what Evie was talking about. Loretta gave her a critical look.
Evie waved the enclosed check. “We need to open your bank account, tadpole. Want to buy a bike?”
Beneath the black-framed glasses, a grin spread across her ward’s thin face. She jumped down from the window set. “We can both have bikes?”
Good kid. She didn’t askhow muchbut if she couldshareher money. Evie gave her a hug.
“The letter says it’s for your daily expenses, upkeep, and includes an allowance for your caretaker, which would be me, for now.” She’d probably have to sue for a more formal arrangement. She’d save herallowanceto hire another lawyer.
“Can we go to the bank now? Mr. Wright has Gummy Bears.” Loretta turned politely to Mavis. “Will that be okay? Do you still need my help?”
Mavis winked at Evie. “You’ve done a brilliant job and deserve the rest of the day off. Hank has some nice bikes.”
An hour later, they were peddling out of town on their new, used bikes. The fake guardianship papers would soon be safely locked up in their new lockbox, and Evie was ready to carry out her plans. Maybe. Somehow.
“Do you think Ariel will let us visit?” her Indigo child asked. “She must get lonely.”
“I don’t think she understands lonely quite the way we do. If you’ve never had friends or much family, it’s hard to miss them.” Admiring the dogwoods blooming in the woods, Evie wondered if Ariel was enjoying the view on the other side.
Someone had scraped up the mess at the pond and rebuilt the earthwork. One by one, rocks had started accumulating in an impromptu memorial where the bodies of the Posts had been found. Evie had checked with the mortuary, and a funeral had been arranged, presumably by Jax. If Loretta’s parents were cremated, there would be room to bury them in the family cemetery. She’d made certain a name plaque had been ordered.
“But Ariel emails you sometimes, doesn’t she? Isn’t she our friend now?” Loretta’s balance on the bike wasn’t practiced, but she pedaled earnestly.
“As much as she can be right now. The guys made sure she had a connection to the security cameras so she can see us when we visit. We could bring a picnic out here someday.” Evie steered the bike across the empty highway to the side road behind the Hill.
“Will Roark and Reuben be there? Can we visit them?” Loretta pedaled a little more vigorously.
“Let’s see if we can surprise them.” Probably not a good idea, but Evie still didn’t have a cell phone.
As if reading her mind, Loretta added, “We can get phones now!”
“Don’t like it, but you may be right. If you text me twenty times a day, I may drown mine, though, so be careful.”
The kid made a rude noise. “Then I’ll text you forty times a day. Is that enough?”