AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No one wanted to leave. For all of them, this was the best foster care home they ever had. In fact, it was better than most of their family homes.
“Why are you acting so weird?” Henry asked.
How could he even ask her that?
“You know why!”
“Look, I’m sorry...”
“No, you aren’t.” Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.
“Sissy,” he said, using his pet name for her, “what’s going on?”
“I don’t like Javier and I don’t want to be anywhere near him. I told you that.”
“That’s not fair. Is that why you didn’t come over yesterday?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You can come visit me,” she said, “but not him. You should stay away from him.”
“He’s my brother.”
“He is not your brother. Your real brother is in trouble and he needs us. Javier is not a good person. You know it.”
“You are such a Goody Two-shoes sometimes.”
She was near tears and she didn’t want to cry. “Don’t let him walk me home today. Please. I don’t like the way he looks at me. I don’t trust him. Please, Henry.”
“I’ll tell him to be on his best behavior. He doesn’t mean anything by the teasing.”
Why didn’t her brother see how Javier looked at her? How he made crude gestures? Henry looked up to him because Javier was older. But he was bad, and Sergio told Henry the same thing. They had argued about it, but Sergio expected Henry to follow his rules.
“We are family, and we’ll be together soon. I promise.”
“You’ve been promising for a year!” Henry snapped.
“I’ve done everything they want. The next home visit is scheduled. Soon.”
“I don’t believe you. It’ll never happen.”
The foster home Henry lived in was run by Brenda Oliver, Javier’s mother. She was a single mom who didn’t care what the boys did, as long as they didn’t bring trouble to the house. She didn’t care when Javier used to come into Sophia’s room and touch her hair. Sophia pretended to be sleeping, but she soon rarely slept. When he started touching her skin, she told him to stop, and he left her alone. But he watched her. Always watched her.
She had never told anyone because she was ashamed, certain she had said or done something to encourage his behavior.
Sergio had asked her what was going on when she moved to Mrs. Edgar’s house. She didn’t tell him, even though he pushed. He might have suspected. But Sophia didn’t want her brother to get in trouble, and if he knew the truth, he might have hurt Javier.
“Henry,” she said, trying to regain her courage. “Javier is dangerous. I’m worried about you. I know you’ve done things—things you shouldn’t.”
He scowled at her. “You don’t know anything. You left me, remember?”
It was an old conversation, a tired conversation.
“What happened when I left you and Sergio on Wednesday?”
“Same lecture our big brother always gives me.” Henry rolled his eyes, but he didn’t look at her.
“Why was Sergio arrested? Mrs. Edgar said he confessed to a murder. I don’t believe it.”
“Stay out of it, Sophia,” Henry snapped. He turned to her and she saw fear in his eyes.
