Page 28 of Under the Mistletoe
Devin nodded past the lump in her throat. “Reunification is always the goal.”
“But?” Logan shoved the car into park.
“But the girls’ mom has a way of doing just enough to appease the courts and make them willing to keep trying—to give the girls hope. But in the end, drugs always seem to win out. The girls get their hearts broken again. Their caseworker is amazing and is trying to help them. But she can only do so much at this stage.”
“How do you handle getting invested in all these kids’ lives when you could end up having to watch them walk back into rough situations?” Logan turned his body toward her, his gaze penetrating.
“I just love them while I can. I can’t fix all their problems, but hopefully, I can model the love of God to them.” She looked away, then back. “I have to trust that God doesn’t give up on anyone. He’s not giving up on these kids, and I won’t either.”
He opened his mouth as if about to ask more, but Devin opened the door and hopped out. “Bye. Thanks again.”
She ran for the front door, the cold wind chasing her as she went. Distant, silent Logan she could handle spending time with. But Logan who dug into her past and saw beyond the smiles into the heartache this job could bring? That Logan was too much. That Logan would break her heart all over again.
Jess’s dog Pearl barked from her crate, which meant she had the place to herself. Not helpful. She needed to distract herself, not mull over how much Christmas had always been the worst time of year for her growing up. She got it. Her parents’ jobs were important. But so was she. She grabbed her phone and tapped her mom’s number. After two rings, it went to voicemail. She hadn’t expected anything different. Somehow, calling her mom and leaving a voicemail had become her therapy session.
“Hey, Mom, it’s me. I ha—” What was she doing? She wasn’t a rude person, but she was pretty sure her mother never listened to the messages anyway. At least, she’d never commented on them. Her mother probably didn’t even know how to access her voicemail. If it didn’t have to do with the lab, she didn’t bother with it. The calls had become her therapy because some days she needed to let it out. Like today. She drew a deep breath. “I hated the fact we didn’t have a tree growing up. I also hated that you never gave me a real present. I hate that you never answer your phone. Sorry, I’m just in a bad mood. I have to get my numbers up at work or they’re going to shut the position down and move me back to Detroit. But I don’t want to go—I like it here.”
She ended the call without saying goodbye like she usually did.
Devin stared out the front window into the darkness. She couldn’t wait until the days started getting longer again. She needed to distract herself. She ran her hand over the purple cover ofThe Defender,but she’d finished it yesterday. Though Victor Holt’s second chapter in the serial released today. It wasn’t a book, but it might be enough to keep her from spiraling.
She let the pup out, then kicked off her shoes and settled into the corner of the couch. She skimmed her email, locating today’s chapter, then tapped the link and let herself escape.
Stone of Anwar: Chapter 2
He’d never wanted to be king, but nothing had made Rand of Anathia more thankful that he’d been second born quite like tonight. Rand glanced around the great hall filling with guests. A few maidens eyed him from the corner. If only he could find the one from the river. He’d gotten a glimpse of her in the window this morning overlooking the training grounds and then again this afternoon as she rode from the stable. He’d taken Calavar to the river, but there was no sign of her.
Just before dinner, he’d caught a glimpse of her in the garden, but when he’d gotten there, she’d already disappeared. Always just out of reach. Well, if she was here tonight, he’d find her.
It wasn’t just that she was beautiful. There was something in her eyes that had captivated him from the moment he’d startled her. And when she’d spoken of the cabin by the river, it had taken all his self-control not to start building the cottage right then and there. Anything to ease the stress he had seen on her face.
But she was far from needing to be rescued. The way she commanded her horse, her hunger for adventure, and maybe the fire he’d seen in her expression when she’d first run into the cropping of rocks by the river. Whatever it was, it made Rand, for the first time in his life, want to shed the life of the noble bachelor and not just build her that cottage but show her the world. Or at least some of his own country of Anathia.
He angled his chin closer to Orin and spoke in a low tone. “I can’t believe you agreed to this without even meeting her.”
“Quiet, little brother.” Orin glared up at him. “It isn’t official until the announcement. And this is how they wanted it. This alliance is as vital to secure Anathia’s borders as it is for Cambria. It isn’t about love. It’s about duty.”
Rand crossed his arms over his chest. “Why do you think they’re hiding her? Maybe she looks like the candle lady who lives in the square. Missing teeth, warts?—”
“Can you pretend to act like your station, at least for one night?” Orin sent him a stern look but tugged at his collar.
“I am glad it’s not me. I don’t think I could put the crown above all in my life, and I could never marry out of obligation.” Rand snagged two goblets from a passing server and handed one to his brother.
Orin downed a gulp. “I guess we are both glad it is me and not you, then. You get the luxuries this life brings, but none of the responsibility.”
“Hear, hear!” Rand raised the frothy ale. “That is why I, dear brother, am most wonderfully blessed.”
A blast of trumpets interrupted them and filled the room. Thecrowd stilled as a woman stepped forward and paused at the top of the curved staircase.
He stopped breathing.
Her.
He’d found her.
She had been beautiful in her day dress, but this…She wore a pale-blue gown that hugged all the right places and matched the color of her eyes.
He took a half step forward, then Orin’s goblet appeared in his path. “Imagine, I will have to wake up to that every morning. But I suppose I’ll do what I must for the crown.”
