Jim patted Olivia’s shoulder.“We don’t get the pleasure of little ones very often.Your daughter is a joy.”
She nodded and swallowed hard again as the men moved back to the kitchen.
She didn’t correct them because they had the exact right impression of what she needed to convey.In a legal, sense Ella Maewasher daughter.Mary had left nothing to chance.
Had her friend worried about Adam specifically, or had she wanted to be prepared because, as foster kids, they all knew to protect themselves?
Despite not having much money, as soon as they’d discovered they were pregnant, Mary Mae and Liam had paid to have wills done.Wills that named Carmen Hall as guardian of little Ella Mae.The wills also specifically stated that Adam was to never have guardianship or contact, despite being a step-relative of Liam.
After their deaths, Carmen became Olivia, Bella became Ella Mae, and both their surnames were legally changed to Gonzalez.
She hoped the layers of paperwork weren’t searchable, and that Adam would never be able to figure out who or where they were.
A shudder ran through her, and then Ella squealed and pointed at the window.A bright red cardinal sat at the bird feeder.
Pushing the fear and the past to the back of her mind, Olivia smiled at Ella Mae.“That’s a bird, a cardinal.And he’s bringing us good luck.”
Knowing she hadn’t been eating properly on their moves throughout New England, Olivia ate as much of the food as she could.For Ella’s sake, she needed to take care of herself.
Ella loved the oatmeal and banana blend and happily drank her milk.It was the most relaxed morning Olivia and Ella had enjoyed since Mary Mae and Liam had died.
“What do you think, Ella Mae?Does this feel so right because it’s our place?Do you think we can fit here?”
Ella didn’t answer Olivia’s whispered questions.Instead, she mashed more berries before lifting them to her smiling mouth.
That was as good an answer as any.
With a bite of her own breakfast, she decided to take it as agreement.
Phail might be their place.There was only one way to find out.
Chapter5
Here And There
The farm was far larger than Nash had expected.There were apple trees in all directions.Even though the trees had no leaves, they covered the landscape.It was impossible to see any buildings or signs of anything human from where they stood with Gray.
Charlie turned in a slow circle.“It’s like we’re in the middle of an apple forest and there’s no one for miles.Even though it only took us a few minutes to walk here.”
Nash nodded.“Just like the worlds in some of your books.”
Charlie grinned.“I wonder if there are any dragons or brucans hiding in the forest.That would be cool.”
A happy bark sounded, and a huge white dog flounced through the trees.When he reached Gray, he sat with his tongue lolling out.Gray knelt down to rub down the dog while Charlie looked on with longing in his eyes.The kid wanted his own dog in the worst way.Nash would look into it once they’d settled into some kind of routine.Gifting his son a dog would make Nash the King of Christmas.
Gray motioned Charlie over.“Come and meet Fox.”
“Fox?”
Claus grinned.“Yep.He’s not a dragon, but he’s a fabulous dog.The Malssum’s grandfather was named Fox.His brother Jay owned this farm.We think he named the dog after his brother.”
Nash knew there was more to it than that, but neither of them went into the details in front of Charlie.Nash knew the current Malssum owners hadn’t even known about Jay until after both he and Fox had died.They were hoping to find clues on the farm as to what had happened between the brothers, but they might never know.
Nash had spent the last decade ensuring Charlie had memories of his mom.They didn’t have other family, and Nash did his best to fill Charlie’s soul with memories.Whatever had happened between the brothers had to have been pretty bad to break that family bond.The Malssums were all about keeping family together.They’d learned that from their parents and Fox, who’d raised them when the couple had been killed in a car accident.
They learned Fox was a Great Pyrenees and that he loved the outdoors.He’d adopted Thea as family and then Knox.Gray grinned.“Fox loves us all and demands a good rub down when he sees us.But Thea and Knox are his true family.He hugs them just like a human.”
“I’ve never seen a dog do that.”Charlie hugged Fox.
