Mack squeezed Kaylin to get her attention. “Would you like to play with them for a bit?”
He hated the fear on his baby’s face, but she needed to make friends her own age.
“We have the third office here that you can turn into a living area for something to do when we’re working.”
“We can help, Kaylin. I’m really good at stuff like that,” Lacey said.
Kaylin looked up at him.
Mack kissed her forehead. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart. I promise.”
Kaylin nodded and slid off his lap.
“I’ll show them the room and be right back,” Jace said.
Mack nodded. Damn, he hoped they were doing the right thing. Kaylin was just starting to come out of her shell. He didn’t want to do anything that might make her close down again.
Chapter Seven
Kaylin followed the other girls into a room. The area was a good size and had a wooden desk and empty shelves.
Jace kissed the top of her head. “We’ll be down the hall. There should be paper and pens in the desk to use to make a list of what you’ll need for your room, but if you need anything right away, just come get us.”
The three other girls nodded.
Her gaze stayed on the doorway Jace had just gone through. The urge to run was so immense, and it took all her pride to stay in place. Someone touched her arm.
“Hey, don’t be afraid of us. We want to be your friend,” Emma said.
Kaylin took a breath and faced them. “I don’t think you’ll want to be my friend after you get to know me.”
Ava shook her head and closed the door. “I’ll grab some paper and a pen. We can sit on the floor and make a list of things we’ll need for the room.” She stared at Kaylin. “And I meantwe. Nothing you can tell us will make us dislike you.”
“Except if you kick puppies and squish butterflies,” Lacey said.
Kaylin smiled and shook her head. “No. I’m not mean to anyone or anything except asshole cops.”
The three girls laughed.
“I want to hear that story later,” Lacey said.
The four sat in a circle on the floor.
“Tell us why you think we won’t like you,” Ava said.
Kaylin swallowed. She didn’t know why but she felt she was able to open herself up to them and share her secret. She knew it would end any friendship they wanted to have. “I’m retarded.” Here it goes. She’d see the sad, pitiful looks, and they’d make an excuse to leave.
The women all scowled.
“Who told you that?” Emma asked.
Kaylin’s eyes widened, and she sat in total shock. They really want to stay?
“Mostly my parents, but people at school did, too.”
“Why?” Ava asked.
“I can’t read or write.”