brother to both her and your Uncle Lanny.” He laid a hand on Simon’s shoulder. “But I’m here now.”
Simon didn’t seem appeased. “She said you had to move around a lot ’cause you work for the railroad.” The boy put a protective arm around his sister’s shoulder. “Does that mean we have to travel around the country with you?”
Callie found herself as interested as Simon was to hear Jack’s answer.
Jack took a minute, stepping back and crossing his arms again. “Well, now, I plan to stay right here in Sweetgum for the time being. We’re going to stick together, just like families are supposed to.”
Emma sidled closer to her brother’s side, drawing Annabeth with her. “But where are we going to live? Our house is all gone now.” Her voice was so soft Callie had to lean forward to hear her.
Jack nodded solemnly. “I know, and I’ve been giving that some thought. Your house may be gone but Annabeth’s house is still sound. And I’ll just bet she’d be glad to let us all live there with her.”
Annabeth, who hadn’t yet taken her eyes off Callie, turned to Emma. “Oh, yes,” she said, nodding her head emphatically. “There’s lots and lots of room there. You could even bring Cookie and nobody would care how much he barked out there.”
“There now.” Jack gave Emma an encouraging smile. “You’ve been to Annabeth’s house before, haven’t you? It’s the same house your momma lived in when she was your age.”
Emma nodded, tentatively responding to Jack’s smile.
But Simon was far from won over. “Annabeth’s house is on a farm way out in the country. All of our friends live here in town.”
Annabeth’s face crumpled into a hurt expression. “But Simon, it’s a very nice house. Don’t you want to come live with me?”
Emma gave her young cousin’s hand a squeeze. “Simon didn’t mean anything by that. Of course he likes your house.” She gave her brother a little nudge. “Don’t you?”
Simon gave a grudging nod.
Appeased, Annabeth turned her attention back to Callie. She let go of Emma’s hand and took a tentative step forward, her head cocked at a questioning angle. “Are you going to come live with us, too?”
Callie clasped her hands together tightly, fighting the urge to reach out for the child. She didn’t want to frighten her. “Would you like for me to?”
Annabeth crossed the room and stopped directly in front of her. With pudgy fingers that weren’t quite clean, she reached up and started to push aside Callie’s bonnet.
Callie’s first instinct was to pull back, to stop the child from revealing the hidden ugliness. But something about the hope in the little girl’s expression changed her mind.
Forcing herself to sit completely still, Callie held her breath and waited for Annabeth’s reaction.
Chapter Six
As soon as the bonnet fell back, Callie heard a startled gasp from Emma and peripherally noted the way Simon’s eyes widened.
But Annabeth’s response was entirely unexpected.
A large smile blossomed on her face and she touched the discolored skin almost reverently. “It’s you,” she said, her voice tinged with delight. “You finally came.”
Callie’s heart hitched painfully as she expelled the breath she’d been holding. “Annabeth, do you know who I am?”
The child nodded emphatically. “Oh, yes. You’re the lady Daddy said was going to come live with us, to be my new mommy.” Her face took on a more somber expression. “I was so scared you wouldn’t come since Daddy wasn’t here anymore.”
“Oh, sweetheart, there wasn’t any reason to worry.” Callie smoothed the child’s hair. “I came here as much to be with you as with your daddy.”
Callie’s heart lightened at this further evidence that Leland had never wavered in his commitment to keep his promise. “So, your daddy told you about me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Annabeth smiled. “He said we were lucky you were coming to stay with us, that you were a friend of Momma’s ever since she was my age. But it was supposed to be a secret so he could tell Aunt Nell and Uncle Jed first.” She gave Callie an anxious look. “I didn’t tell anyone, I promise.”
Callie touched the child’s cheek. “I know you didn’t, sweetie. Your daddy would be very proud of you. But how did you know I was the one?”
“Because of what daddy said about you. He told me you were very special because you have angel kisses on the side of your face.”
A lump formed in Callie’s throat. That’s what Julia used to say when they were little girls. It had always made her feel so special.
Annabeth stared deep into her eyes. “Do you think my daddy is up in heaven getting angel kisses, too?”
Callie pulled the child onto her lap. “Of course I do. And your mommy is right there with him. I imagine both of them are watching you and smiling at how brave you are.”
Annabeth gave a satisfied nod and then threw her arms around Callie in a tight embrace.
Callie buried her face in the child’s curls, feeling an immediate bond with her. The fierceness of her desire to cherish and protect Julia’s child was almost frightening.
Dear God, please don’t put this sweet child into my life just to separate us again. If it be Your will, help me make Lanny’s brother understand that I need to be here.
She glanced up to find Jack staring at her, frowning uncertainly. Surely he could see how right it was that she have some hand in the child’s upbringing, couldn’t he?
But Annabeth wasn’t the only child who needed reassurances here. Callie gave Julia’s daughter one last squeeze. Then she put her down and stood, looking at the other two children. “You must be Simon and Emma Carson. I’m a very good friend of your Aunt Julia, and I came here to live with Annabeth.”
Neither child said anything, but their gazes remained locked on the red splotch that marred Callie’s face.
Callie drifted closer, casually pulling her bonnet back in place and tying the ribbons as she did so. “Your Aunt Julia and I used to write to each other. Her letters were quite long and wonderful. She shared all kinds of things about this town and her favorite people here. And that included you two, of course.”
“It did?” Emma seemed more at ease now that Callie’s bonnet was back in place.
“What kind of things did she say about us?” Simon’s voice held a note of challenge.
“Well, I know you’re eleven years old, that you’re a good student, and that you’re also good at building things.”
Simon seemed surprised by her words, but she noticed his chest puffed out with pride a bit.
Callie
