Page 118 of A Captive Situation

That was her resting face.

Oliver added, “Maybe we could have this conversation somewhere else?” His eyebrows were raised.

“Yes. An eatery. I’m famished.” Clara was nodding along.

Bess’s smile brightened. “Food’s always good when the family gets together.” Her gaze caught on Maude, and her smile went rigid. “Or most family.”

Maude sneered at her. “That attitude right there. Why do you think my boy moved away and my girls—”

“Mom!” Graham interrupted this time, his tone sharp. He and Oliver both looked strained and his voice had an edge to it. His patience was thin. “Stop talking on my behalf in the future. Also, everyone back into the minivan. Sawyer, do you and your friend, here, uh—”

“Her name is Blake, and yes. She’ll come with us.” I’d decided.

Blake hadn’t, though. “Uh. What?”

My smile was forced but had an extra meaning in it. “Yes. You’re coming with us.”

Blake tentatively took a step backward.

My eyes flashed. Sorry, but I knew the card to pull. I turned to all of my aunts who had moved back to the minivan. “She grew up in the foster system, and she recently moved to the city here. She has no family.”

Blake was horrified. So were Graham and Oliver.

My aunts were not.

My mom’s reaction was instant. “She has no one?”

Clara grumbled, scowling, “Not anymore, you don’t. You hear me?”

Bess chimed in, “You are never alone anymore.”

They swarmed her. Even Maude went with them, blinking back tears.

“Come here.”

“You’ll come with us.”

“A good family sit-down is what we need.”

“You’ll tell us all about yourself, Blake. First, though, what’s your favorite kind of food? Do you have a certain kind of pie you like?”

“Did you grow up eating casserole? A good Tater Tot hotdish has to be experienced. Did you go to a potluck with any of your foster houses?”

My aunts were speaking over one another as they pulled Blake into the minivan with them.

Bess looked her over, frowning. “Where’s your car keys, hun? We can put them behind one of the tires and call a mechanic to come getyour vehicle. That’ll need to be fixed. Clara’s got Triple A. She can call for you.”

“Oh. Uh ...” Blake cast me one last look before she was tugged into the back seat.

Maude crawled in first. My mom went after Blake. Clara and Bess took the two middle seats. Bear jumped up inside, his tail wagging so hard he was hitting Clara and Bess while his nose was turned toward the back end.

Pooh clambered up so she was standing on top of Bess’s thigh, panting, and waiting for her dads.

Oliver remarked under his breath to Graham, “I’m pretty sure that car was stolen.”

Another screech of brakes sounded from the street, this time closer.

An engine revved loudly.

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