She shook her head. “That’s not how it works. He’s not going to want me anymore, and I’d rather just go.”
Dread started to slide down my back. What exactly was she talking about?
Chapter28
We were quiet for the remaining drive until we reached Aiden’s place. “Come on. You might as well face the music,” I said. “I wish you trusted me.”
“I do trust you,” she said. “But we just have to leave things the way they are.” Tears filled her violet-blue eyes. “I’m really sorry.”
“So am I.” I wanted to help her more than anything.
We jumped out of the truck and crossed through the billowing snow to the front door. She walked inside, and Buddy instantly pulled her forward into a hug. I was gratified to see her grab him tight and hold on. He drew her over to a sofa near the fireplace.
I frowned. “When did we get a sofa?”
“Rory brought it over earlier this morning after you left,” Buddy said. “We keep meeting here. We needed furniture. There’s more coming later.”
It was one of Rory’s creations. He had carved it out of wood and added thick, black cushions. The piece looked wonderful.
Violet sat, and Buddy knelt before her. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?” he asked, his voice calm and gaze intense. Compared to her, he was a barrel of a man and towered over her, but he seemed to be trying to be gentle.
She shook her head. “I’m not hurt. I got a little cold, but I built a fire to stay warm.”
“Smart,” he said with approval in his gaze.
She blinked and then blushed. “It wasn’t that big a deal.”
“It was intelligent,” he said. “And you took food to survive. That’s good.”
She looked away and then back. “Thanks.”
“Why did you leave?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I can’t tell you. I don’t want you to know.”
He nodded. “I understand that. I’ve done things in life that make me sometimes wonder if they were right or wrong. But they are what they are. Violet, what you don’t seem to understand is that you’re not alone. No matter what you’ve done, no matter what danger you might be in, it’s not just you anymore. It’s us.Wewill handle it. All of us.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “What if you don’t approve?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “We’re a family. We don’t need the judge to sign those adoption papers. It’ll be nice when he finally does, but we don’t need that. We’re family. If there’s a problem, even if it’s one we created, we fix it. It’s awesituation, not ayousituation. You need to understand that.”
Tears finally filled her eyes and started to drop. I wasn’t surprised to find that my eyes had filled, as well.
“Now tell me,” he said gently. “Whatever it is.”
She gulped. “There’s a man.”
Buddy straightened, just slightly. “Go on,” he said very calmly.
Tears hung on her lashes. “There were times my great-aunt couldn’t pay the rent at the apartment.”
“Did this man help?” he asked.
She looked down at her hands. “Yes. Kind of, I guess.”
Nausea rolled in my stomach. “For what?” I asked, not really wanting to know.
She sighed. “I know how to pickpocket.”
