“It’s fine,” I said. “And, yeah. We had an incident with Bruce. Fran, I owe you pretty much everything.”
“I didn’t do a thing except take him when offered. And sorry again about just barging in, but we thought we might be able to help.”
I was about to tell her we were fine—because how could I tell her we were knee deep in demons—when she continued.
“I mean, I figure you need all the help you can get if you’re fighting a demon like Lilith.”
I gaped at her, and she shrugged. “Oh, come on, Kate. My mom told me what happened with Nancy. And I’ve overheard some of the stories that Eddie’s told her, too.”
I shot a glare at Eddie, who only shrugged. Beside him, Rita flashed a smile. “You know how hard it is to keep secrets from family. And now that Fran and Elena are living with me, they hear so much.” She leaned closer. “D.I.V.O.R.C.E.”
I turned to Fran. “Sorry. I hadn’t heard.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s good, believe me. Although money is tight, so I’m not much help on her rent. Plus I’m cramping my mom’s style.”
“Mommy!” Elena tugged at Fran’s hand, demanding attention. “Can I play with Timmy?”
I glanced over to Stuart, who nodded. “Sure,” I told Elena. “Just play quietly. Mr. Stuart isn’t feeling very good.”
She nodded, then bounced off.
“I really would like to help,” Fran said. “I know you probably think it’s a lot for me to absorb in one day, but I swear it’s not. I’ve noticed the same things around town my mom has. And you have to admit you stand out a little bit, Kate, especially having gotten into all those fights.”
“And here I thought I was so stealthy.”
“I know there’s not a whole lot I can do, but Mom told me about Nancy. I thought maybe I could take over that job, but since Stuart’s awake, I guess you don’t need anyone watching him sleep anymore.”
“We don’t,” I said. “Thankfully, he’s doing great.”
“I’m really happy to hear that even though I guess it means you don’t need me. Unless there’s something menial I can help with. I really do want to help if I can. Eddie told me what happened with Allie. I can’t even imagine.”
I had texted him, of course. Telling him Laura and Cutter were on the way, and giving him the full story.
I was about to tell her I couldn’t think of a thing. Then I saw Timmy and Elena playing beside Stuart’s sofa, where he’d drifted off into a nap.
“Actually, Fran, I do have a job for you…”
16
Fortunately, Fran thought that the idea of playing daycare provider for Timmy at the school sounded like a great idea. Apparently, she’d lost her job when the insurance company she worked at downsized. Now, she assured me, she was excited to start down a new path. “Especially if you’ll teach me the demony stuff. And if I can watch Elena at the same time.”
Not only did I agree, but I offered her one of the staff bedrooms so that she and Elena could move in. The same style I had, with a bedroom for her, and a smaller attached nursery for Elena.
“Not necessarily the safest job or living arrangement,” I warned her. “But it’s yours if you want it.”
I was thrilled that she did, and even though Laura pouted and announced that she was being tossed aside for a new best friend, I knew that Laura was thrilled with the arrangement, too.
“I have no idea how I’ll put this on my resume,” Fran said with a laugh.
“Forza West, a private boarding academy for K-12. Stuart did all the paperwork. If anyone looks closely, we’re just a school.”
Fran insisted on starting immediately so that I could focus on Lilith and Allie. So while she went upstairs with the kids, the rest of us continued with the research and thinking. Which, honestly, had never been my strong suit. I was much better at action. Right then, though, I had no action to take, and the lack of either a mission or answers was starting to drive me crazy. My baby was out there, and it felt like I was getting nowhere.
I frowned, looking around the dining room for Eddie, but he was nowhere to be found. “I’m going to go find him,” I told Eric. “I need to know about this partial demon thing.”
I headed upstairs first, since I knew that Rita had gone up with Fran. He wasn’t with them—though Fran did tell me that Rita was going to watch the kids while she went home to pack a few thing—so I went next to my bedroom to check on Stuart.
He wasn’t there, and I cringed, realizing he’d probably gone back to the room with the temporary hospital bed.
