Page 62 of Strangers She Knows

“She is.”

Kellen released him.

“She’s with Irene and Annabella, in the old family village where everybody knows everybody and all strangers are kept under careful observation.” Max made the dressing and tossed it with the salad. “Don’t worry, Rae, I’m sure Grandma is fine, and missing you, too.”

Before Rae could react to that platitude, Kellen said, “That pizza smells done.” She mouthed to Max,Never let Rae get hungry.

“Right.” He opened the oven, and the wonderful smell of basil and garlic, fresh crust and bubbling cheese wafted out.

Greatway to change the subject.

Max cut them each a hearty piece, turned off the oven and slid the pizza inside to stay warm.

As they seated themselves, Kellen looked around the little table and thought that they had become a family. Not a perfect family, not a family with no problems, but a bonded family that in a crisis supported each other.

Max must have been thinking the same thing, because as he served the salad, he said, “This is nice.”

Rae nodded, her mouth full of pizza.

Kellen picked up her fork and dug into the salad. “What are we going to do tonight?”

“The same thing we do every night.” Max did a great imitation of The Brain. “Try to take over the world.”

Rae, who didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, said, “Daddy, you are so weird.”

Kellen asked, “Are we going to read? Play cards? Play a board game?” All activities they’d enjoyed in the past. “Watch a movie?” They had a stack of DVDs that the old caretaker, Olof Humphreys, had owned: war movies, mostly, and some really gruesome horror.

“We could read more of Ruby’s journal.” Max sounded eager.

Kellen and Rae exchanged guilty glances.

“Really? You read it without me?” Clearly, Max was hooked on the story.

“It’s okay,” Kellen said soothingly. “Rae and I don’t mind. We can read it again.”

“And more!” Rae polished off her first piece of pizza. “I’ll get it. Come on, Luna!” She bounded out the door.

Max took advantage of their alone time to kiss Kellen, and when they heard Rae coming back down the stairs, they separated and smiled a promise to each other.

Rae returned with Ruby’s journal in one hand and in the other, a broad red leather-bound book. “Mommy, look what I found. It’s blank. It’s a journal. Nobody’s written in it. Can I have it?”

Kellen took it and leafed through. “Where did you find it?”

“In the attic on the desk.”

Kellen looked Rae up and down. “I don’t remember this.” She really didn’t, but why would Rae lie? “Has it always been there?”

Rae shrugged. “I guess. Can I use it?”

“I don’t see why not.” Kellen handed it back. “Writing in a journal is a great idea. I did when I was your age.”

“I’ll be like Ruby!”

Max said, “I sincerely hope your story is a little more upbeat.”

Rae sat in her chair, pulled the salad close and ate all the tomatoes and cucumbers. “Can I have another slice of pizza?”

Theyallhad a second slice of pizza.

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