This time she poked out her tongue, turned away, and continued shopping.
“You got a problem with that girl, Newman?”
Declan approached him.
“No, we just always do this kind of thing. It’s been this way between us since we first met each other. We were only three and five then.” Newman offered the Irishman some fudge.
Declan gave him a steady look that suddenly had Newman digging his toes into his worn trainers, and then took two pieces.
“You have to wonder why it’s still happening.”
“No I don’t.”
“Sure you do.” Declan gave him that calm smile of his. “Because that girl certainly changed when she heard Mac call out your name, and I have to say I haven’t seen that particular look in your eyes before.”
Newman was literally struck speechless, but as Declan wandered off, he didn’t have to answer. Sure, he felt something when he saw Hope. But it wasn’t anything more than annoyance, and yes, he had to concede that was now tinged with awareness.
He found her looking at a magazine. She didn’t hear him approach, and as he drew level he noted her hands were shaking.
“Hope?”
Her head shot up, and the look was filled with anguish.
“What’s wrong?” He looked down at the magazine and saw a picture of a bird. It was surrounded by trees, and the beauty of it was hard to describe. It almost flew right off the page at you. He read the name of the photographer. Jay Herald.
“That’s an awesome picture.”
She slowly closed the magazine and turned away. Newman tucked the fudge in his pocket before placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Talk to me.”
“I took that picture.” The words were torn from her. “He stole it from me.”
“Jesus.” Newman whistled. “I’m guessing this is what you were alluding to when I found you that night?”
She nodded, then shrugged his hand from her shoulder and walked away. Newman picked up the magazine and followed. When he got to the counter she was paying for her things.
“Thanks, Hope. You say hi to your mom for me.”
She gave Mac a jerky nod, then clutched her bag to her chest and walked out.
“What the hell did you say to upset that girl?”
“Nothing,” Newman said. “She was reading a magazine when I found her, and was already upset.”
They looked out the door and watched her walk down the steps.
“Always liked that little girl. She had a tough time of things because of who her mother was, but the folks in this place are not entirely right about Millicent either.”
“Sure we are,” Newman said. “The woman tried to break Buster, and spends most of her time objecting to everyone and everything, Mac. How the hell could we get that wrong?”
Mac’s mouth formed a disapproving line, but he didn’t say anything else, so Newman paid for his fix, and left.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Hope inhaled and exhaled several times as she left the Roar.
“Hello, Hope.”
