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She squeezes my hand then walks around to get in her car.
Zane leans down to give me another kiss, sliding his tongue with mine before moving his lips to my temple and inhaling at the side of my head.
My fingers curl in the front of his shirt. “I still wish I was going with you.”
“Stay and take care of Eddie and Miss G and the kittens.” He kisses me once more. “Let me handle this.”
“Okay.” Our eyes meet once more, and he gives me one last kiss.
I stand waving as they take off up the road, and when they’re out of sight, I do my best to breathe through my anxiety.
It’s Monday morning, and everyone’s getting ready for school. Dylan has ballet class and Christmas program rehearsals. Edward’sgoing with me to Miss Gina’s today, and I walk slowly upstairs to be sure he’s awake.
He’s in his room, pulling on hisThey Might Be Giantstee, and I prop my hip against the door, watching him. He’s growing up. He’ll be thirteen before long, and I’m sure he’ll want more privacy.
We’re supposed to be finding our own place to live, although I kind of lost sight of that task in everything that’s happened.
“I was really proud of you last night. First place—wow.”
“I don’t think the other players practiced as much as I did.” He walks across the hall to the bathroom to brush his teeth. “Except Ben.”
“Your buddy Ben won second.”
He nods and spits, shutting off the water and crossing the hall again. “He’ll be first next year.”
“You’re not planning to play again?”
“I won’t be here.” He sits on his bed, picking up his dog-eared copy ofThe Outsiders.
My chest aches, and I walk over to stand beside him, placing my hand lightly on his back. “Zane has gone to Birmingham to try and fix this. Don’t worry.”
He nods, but his expression doesn’t change. “This place is magical.”
He says it so calmly, I’m curious. “What makes you say that?”
“Everyday I wear this shirt. It’s my favorite shirt because it’s my favorite band.”
“Right…”
I don’t know where he encountered They Might Be Giants. I never listened to them, but they’re quirky and funny. The shirt is two simple cartoon characters.
“Yet every day when I get up, it’s clean again.” He frowns looking down. “Yesterday, I got blue chalk on it at the tournament…”
Chewing my lip, I think it’s time I come clean, although I’m not sure if he’ll be angry or laugh or demand I stop. “What do you think is happening?”
“Miss Dylan talks about fairies, and she says to knock wood so they don’t hear you say things.” His brow furrows. “I didn’t believe her.”
“It’s not fairies.” I sit beside him on the bed. “I bought three shirts just alike, and I’ve been swapping them out since we’ve been here.”
His lips twist, and his eyes are still on the hem of his tee. “You’re the fairy?”
“Zane would say I’m an angry pixie.”
“Like Tinkerbell in the Walt Disney movie?”
“I think that’s exactly what he meant.”
“I can see that.” He nods, standing off the bed, and turning to put the book in his pack. “I think he’s going to help us.”
