Making sure the door was locked, James left the booster seat where it was against the front desk and picked Lily up.

  “Want some ice cream?”

  The girl smiled and nodded.

  “Let’s go see if Max has any.”

  She was feather light and James didn’t have an issue carrying the four-year-old up the stairs. What she had issues with was that she had never really heard the girl speak. Whitney said she hadn’t spoken the entire time she’d been in foster care. She also reported that Lily had no concrete diagnosis other than being mute or simply choosing not to speak, the doctors were not in consensus. There was also what Whitney called “the oddity”, which was that everything had checked out at the doctors. No damage, no smoke inhalation. Nothing. As shocking as that was for Whitney, James didn’t find it odd at all. She gave Lily a bowl of vanilla ice cream and watched the girl eat quickly. Half of the boys had gone to the racks and the other half was hanging around the television, watching a recorded baseball game. James had never understood watching recorded sports—the excitement was already gone.

  Addison strolled out of her office, yawning until she stopped in her tracks, seeing James at the dining table with the blonde girl. Moving around to the side of it, she saw both of them eating ice cream.

  “Want to share?”

  Lily nodded vigorously and Addison lifted a brow at James. From what the doctor said, he was concerned about Lily’s mental well-being, but physically, she was fine.

  “All right then, where’s my bowl?”

  Lily leaned up and stood on her chair, taking James’ bowl and sliding it across the table to Addison.

  “You share.”

  Taking the large spoon from her own bowl, she shoved it in her mouth and grinned. Her eyes were no longer cold and unfeeling like in the picture Addison had seen earlier, but they were filled with life and energy instead.

  “Okay.”

  Taking the bowl, Addison had a few bites before returning it to James. The child gave her a puzzled look, and she answered.

  “You told us to share. That means when I’m done, James gets it back.”

  Lily nodded her head as if she understood and grinned, drops of melted ice cream running down her chin to land on her shirt.

  “Jamsey likes you.”

  James choked, and Addison’s eyes glimmered. “Does she now?”

  “She likes you a lot.” Lily nodded and took the last bite of ice cream. It was mostly melted at that point, and she dumped half of it down her neck. “More?”

  “No, I’m afraid not. That’s enough for tonight.”

  James took the bowls and silverware and set them into the clean sink, knowing she would be cleaning up after breakfast, which she would be making. Taking hold of Lily under the armpits, James swung her around and onto her hip.

  “Think you’re ready for bed?”

  Lily nodded and rubbed her eyes, laying her head on James’ shoulder. Changing her in the bathroom in a closed stall and tucking her in was far easier than James ever suspected. She put Lily in the bottom rack closest to the door and left the door cracked. James sat on the couch and watched as one by one her coworkers headed off to their own beds. She was far too hyped up to even consider sleep.

  Dawn rolled around far sooner than she would have liked, and James hadn’t slept a wink in over twenty-four hours. Standing and stretching, she made for the kitchen and started to pull out the ingredients for the breakfast that she was going to make. Looking over all the items to make sure she had everything out, she was startled to hear the door creak open.

  Lily stepped into the room, rubbing her eyes and dragging her teddy-bear over to where James was standing. Plastering her face into the woman’s leg, she let out a deep breath. Kneeling low, James gripped her lightly around the waist and stared into the dark chocolate eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I had a scary dream.”

  “I’m sorry. Did the scary dream end?”

  Lily nodded her head.

  “Is it good now that the scary dream is done?”

  Again, Lily nodded.

  “Want to help me make breakfast for Uncle Max and his friends?”

  That earned a quick grin and a nod. Pulling over the step stool, James set Lily on the top step and lifted a large mixing bowl out of the cabinet below.

  “What we make?” Lily dropped her teddy and looked around with curious eyes.

  “Egg casserole.”

  Lily made a funny face that caused James to giggle.

  “You’ll like it, I promise.” She took the eggs and cracked them open while Lily filled the bottom of the pan with frozen tater tots. Mixing milk and cheese into the raw eggs, James poured it on top and slipped it into the already heated oven.

  “Now we wait.”

  James slipped her arm around Lily and threw her into the air before heading over to the couch. Two of the boys emerged while they were cooking and were off doing their morning workout before heading into the shower. James pulled out her phone and quickly downloaded a ‘kid friendly’ application and let Lily have her way with it. It kept Lily entertained until the footsteps behind them startled James. Lily gripped on tightly to James’ shirt and looked over the back of the couch to see Addison’s eyes smiling brilliantly at them.

  “Morning.” She leaned down and pressed her lips quickly to the girl’s head. “Did you sleep okay?”

  Lily shook her head. “I had a scary dream.”

  “Oh, baby.”

  Addison opened her arms, and Lily shot into them, burying her face in her chest. James cocked her head to the side, wondering why that hadn’t happened when she talked to Lily about it but dismissed it as the girl emerged, laughing.

  “What’s funny?”

  “Your heart goes fast!” She took a finger and poked it into Addison’s breast to the beat that she had heard when her face was close enough. “See, fast!”

  “You’re right, that is fast!”

  There was a beep behind them, indicating breakfast was ready, and Lily stood. Lily ran to the oven, but didn’t open the door. When James caught up, Lily’s eyes were like a puppy begging for a treat yet knowing she had to wait. James moved over and pushed Lily lightly to the side, so that she could take the casserole out. Setting it on the counter, she watched as Lily regarded it with curious eyes.

  “I like it!”

  “You haven’t tried it.”

  “It smells good.”

  James shook her head and waited as the crew sat down after setting the table, she would be heading home the next morning to begin her one week suspension. Saying a quick prayer for those they’d lost that week and for the calls they were to receive, they started their morning meal, hoping for a better day than the last.

  Chapter Six

  Lily had been extremely quiet at the meal and it threw James off. The crew had been called out for an early morning training seminar with the local driver’s education class—in other words, don’t drink and drive, don’t text and drive, be safe—and James noted Lily’s change in demeanor once the building was empty of everyone except the staff downstairs. Lily went from being tense and insecure to being giggling and a normal four-year-old. Pushing the oddity to the back of her mind, James decided that they needed to get some toys, especially if Lily would be staying for at least a week. James gathered the necessary items, car-seat and snacks, and set the child’s booster seat into the back of her extended cab truck.

  The radio was set to a random station that James usually listened to only in the mornings—she liked the hosts. When she went to turn out of the parking lot, the small voice singing Big and Rich’s “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” at the top of her lungs shocked her. Turning her head, James locked honey eyes with dark chocolate ones.

  “You like this song?”

  Lily nodded and grinned.

  “Well, all right then.”

  Turning up the stereo and opening all the windows, she let the music blast out into the streets around them, both girls singing at the top of their lungs. They finally made it toward the end of the song and James was at her first stop light. Twisting back to face Lily, she smirked and moved her hands flat up and in toward each other making a sliding motion with each “Woot! Woot!” that sounded. It threw Lily into a fit of giggles that took minutes to recover from.

  They made it to Wally-world in record time. Taking Lily out of the backseat, James set her down and grabbed her hand, holding on tightly. The parking lot was filled, as it always was, but that didn’t deter James. They walked up to the sliding doors and Lily stopped, staring wide-eyed at them as they slid open. She didn’t budge a step further. James furrowed her brow and knelt down low to Lily’s level as the door attendant gave them a funny look and held a cart awkwardly.

  “You okay, Lily?”

  Lily turned her head to the side and watched as a woman exited the store and the doors slid shut. Turning her head to the other side, she grinned and jumped across the threshold planting both feet firmly on the ground. James shrugged and took the proffered cart, setting Lily in the basket.

  The attendant smiled at the child and then at James; her weathered voice was soft as she spoke, “She’s beautiful.”

  “Um… thanks,” James said before turning to leave.

  The greeter didn’t stop there and gripped onto the metal side of the cart, making it so James couldn’t move.

  “You are a wonderful mother.”

  “I’m not her mother. I’m just watching her for a while.”

  “My mistake.”

  The old lady backed away and put her hands up as if she was defending herself.

  James shook off the odd feeling that lodged in the pit of her stomach and pushed the cart through the secondary doors and completely into the store. They went down to the food portion of the store first, and it was then that James looked down and noted Lily had tears running down her face. Sliding over to the girl, she picked her up and held tightly.

  “What’s wrong, baby?”

  Lily sniffled and pushed her snotty nose into James’ neck. It didn’t faze James. “You don’ want me.”

  “Oh, I want you, baby.” She rubbed a hand over Lily’s back in circles and swung her lightly. “I want you.”

  Pressing a kiss into the long hair, James shifted Lily into one arm and started pushing the cart forward through the aisles, letting the girl have a good cry. God knew she deserved one. James thrust a box of Frosted Flakes into the cart as well as some yogurt before Lily spoke again.

  She was whispering into James’ ear. “You don’ want me. You’re not my mama.”

  James’ heart plummeted when the words hit her full force. Slipping two hands around the child’s bottom, she pulled away so that she could stare straight into the dark eyes that were filled with hurt.

  “Do you want to stay with me, Lily?”

  Lily nodded her head and wiped at her eyes where the tears were still slowly streaking down her cheeks.

  “How about we try this week, and if it goes really well then we can talk about it again. Does that sound okay?”

  Again Lily nodded and buried her face in James’ neck. Moving her back to one side, James continued shopping for food until she decided it was time to head over to the toys. That had been the main purpose of the trip to the worst store on earth—at least that was James’ opinion of it; her mother loved it.

  Grudgingly, James set Lily in the basket and the child started to sort through the food. James pushed and then pulled the cart to a quick stop. All the contents slid and jerked, including Lily. Lily ruffled her brow and looked up at James, who had a mischievous grin gracing her features.

  “Why d’you do that?”

  James lifted her shoulders high and cocked her head before repeating the motion.

  “Jamsey!” Lily was giggling and frantically grabbing at the edges of the cart, her eyes glittering with the excitement.

  “Has no one shown you what these carts were made for?”

  Lily bit her lip and shook her head, waiting for the information to be departed on her.

  James bent down low and whispered, “Well you have to keep it a secret. You can’t tell Addy, all right?”

  “I won’ tell no one.”

  James looked around to make sure the coast was clear. Smiling broadly, she pushed the cart quickly and then jumped up on the bottom rung so that they were both gliding across the laminate floor at a fast pace. Lily was laughing and clapping her hands when James jumped off. She did it twice more before they were at the back of the store and the toy section.

  She was just about to do it one more time and make her way into the aisle when the double doors to her right swung open and Jimmy stepped out in front of them. James’ face dropped, and her eyes looked him over. He noted her and started to walk toward her. Lily saw the shift from playful to serious, and it puzzled her. Twisting her neck around to see who was coming, Lily turned back to James to watch for signs on how to interact with the new comer.

  Raising a hand in a wave, Jimmy smiled; his brilliantly white teeth set James on edge.

  “Hey, James.”

  “Hi, Jimmy.”

  She held a breath tightly in her chest until he looked down and saw the girl sitting cross legged in the cart.

  “Working today?” James asked.

  “Yeah, my shift is starting soon actually, so I can’t talk long.”

  There was release of tensed muscles in James’ neck and back. “Long one?”

  “Eight hours, the usual.” His body turned to Lily, and he held his hand out to her. “And who do we have here? I’m Jimmy.”

  James waited a moment to see if Lily was going to reply, but quickly figured that she wasn’t.

  She answered, “This is Lily. She’s staying with me for a bit.”

  “A bit?”

  “Yeah, maybe longer than a bit, we’re taking it a week at a time for now.”

  She gave a quick smile to Lily, reaffirming that she did actually want her there before glancing back at Jimmy who was giving her a disconcerting look.

  “You’re a mother.”

  “No. I’m a foster care provider. I regularly have my respite kids one weekend a month. Lily was a bit of a surprise, but I’m glad she’s around.”

  James was narrowing her eyes at him, and tried to decide where he was going with the conversation.

  “We’re at the station a few more days and then I’ll be home.”

  “So, the bar this week isn’t going to happen?”

  “Um… no.” She said shortly, watching as his curly hair that was close to being an afro jingled when he shook his head.

  “When were you planning on telling me?”

  “Closer to the date. Look, we have a few more things to pick up and then I have to head back to the station. Can’t take that much time away from the crew, you know?”

  She hoped he understood, but she had already started pushing the cart ahead of her. He disappeared through an aisle and the two girls started a toy shopping expedition. Lily ended up with one doll and one princess dress that she wanted desperately to show Addison as soon as they got back. James had to keep reminding her that Addison wasn’t going to be there, that she and the others were gone for the day.

  Moving to the register, James purposely chose one as far away from Jimmy’s as possible, even though she had to wait in line longer. She liked the man well enough, he was fine, but there was something that put her on edge when she was around him.

  Lily was passed out with her head in James’ lap when the crew returned. James shushed them as they came up the stairs. As usual, Addison was the last one up, having returned the rest of their equipment to the storage closet in the garage. Addison came up the stairs and headed straight for the racks. Deciding that it would be better to let Lily sleep in a quiet area, James lifted her up and carried her, following the path that Addison had made. Laying her once again on the closest bed to the door, she shut it completely and covered her and the teddy-bear—that one she refused to let go of—with a blanket.

  “How’d it go?” James’ voice was hushed, but James wanted to talk to Addison.

  “Good, good. I think we scared some kids.”

  Chuckling, James responded, “Isn’t that the point? Scare some kids, maybe more will live?”

  “Yeah, I suppose.”

  Addison changed out of her bloodied clothes. She had apparently been the guinea pig for the car accident and the victim that the team worked on. She’d done it the previous year as well, so the clothes had been recycled.

  “How’s Lily?”

  “Good, but something’s off.”

  “What do you mean?” Addison craned her neck so that she could check on the sleeping child.

  James was leaning on the post of one of the beds while Addison pulled a clean shirt over her head. “She doesn’t talk to anyone except us.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, didn’t you notice at breakfast? That was odd, but then we went to the store and it was weirder. She really wouldn’t talk to anyone except me.”

  Addison shrugged and pulled on the edge of her shirt. “Maybe there’s just something special about you.”

  “And you too?”

  “Can’t there be something special about the both of us, and it not just be a random or strange coincidence? Like, maybe there’s something in our demeanor that she connects with.”

  James shrugged. “Well it’s not because we’re women. She didn’t talk to Whitney, the families she’s been placed with, or the cashier at the store today. She just had this blank look about her. It’s kind of creepy, actually.”

  James’ head turned, and she looked over at the sleeping form. She’d have to wake her soon for dinner, but with the excitement from last night and not sleeping much, she was sure the girl could use the rest.

  “You could use a nap too, you know.”

  Addison was giving her a pointed look and it set James on edge.

  “How did you know I was thinking that?”

  Addison shrugged and smiled. “Maybe I can read your mind and hear your thoughts every second of the waking day.” Addison bit her lip and bounced on her toes. “Maybe I can hear what you’re thinking right now.”