“Can I have apple cider?” she asked. “I know it won’t be as good as Aunt Rimmel’s, but I still want some.”
“Sure,” I told her. “I’ll get the water on.”
Trent pushed off the couch and bent down in front of Andi, tugging on the end of her long hair. “How you doing this morning?”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
Instead of putting the water on, I sank beside Trent. “It’s okay if you’re still upset. You can tell us anything, you know that, right?”
“I’m scared to talk to the police,” she said, tugging the bear in her hand against her chest. “What if they’re mad at me?”
“Why would they be mad at you?” Trent asked.
“Because I caused a scene and spilled my ice cream. Trav got mad and tackled that lady.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I said firmly. “And neither did Travis or London.”
Trent picked up where I left off. “What happened isn’t your fault. The police know that. They aren’t mad. They just need to ask you a few questions.”
“What kind of questions?” she asked.
“What that lady said to you. If she seemed mad,” Trent replied.
“She said she was my mom and you took me from her,” Andi said. “But it was a lie.”
“Lying is wrong. That’s why the police need to hear what she said. They’re trying to find her so she can’t bother you again.”
“Will she go to jail?”
I made a sound, and Trent gave me a look. I bit back theif I don’t send her to hell first!reply about to roll off my tongue.
“She might,” Trent reasoned. “But that’s for the police to decide. And if she does, it isn’t because she lied. Lying is wrong, but you don’t always go to jail for that.”
“She tried to kidnap me,” Andi said. “Is that why?”
Trent nodded. “Yeah. That’s definitely something people go to jail for.”
“She was scary.”
Trent pushed into a standing position and plucked her off her feet. Andi’s arms went around his neck to hug him, the bear hanging between his shoulder blades.
A lump formed in my throat seeing them like that. It never got old seeing him with our kids, and I knew it probably never would.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, baby girl,” Trent murmured, rubbing her back. “We’re gonna make sure she doesn’t scare you again. That’s why it’s important we talk to the police. Do you think you can do that?”
“Will you and Daddy be there?” she asked.
“We’ll be there,” I told her.
“Me too,” Travis said, stepping off the stairs and walking into the room.
Andi nodded against Trent’s shoulder.
“Okay.”
“After we’re done, we’re going to the shelter with Aunt Rimmel and London.”
Gasping, Andi pulled back to swivel and look at me. “Can I get a kitten?”
