Therewerefewpeoplefrom her past with whom Sydney kept in contact.The unpleasant memories were enough.Foster care was a nightmare, mostly.That was until her final placement.
“Hey,” she greeted as she tucked a bit of hair behind her ear and turned away from Fink.
In the confines of the cab of a pickup truck, there wasn’t much in the way of privacy.
“It’s so good to hear your voice,” her former foster mother said.The relief was clear in her voice.
Sydney nodded.“Yeah.”She inhaled as she glanced skyward.“Been busy around here.”
“I know you’re out there living and don’t want me bothering you,” she said.
Sydney could imagine the enormous grin on the woman’s face.It warmed Sydney’s heart.Cassidy had the type of smile that could make the surliest of bastards return it happily.The best part?It wasn’t forced.She was merely a genuinely happy woman who wanted to do well in the world.
There should be more Cassidys out there.If there were, maybe Fink and Sydney wouldn’t be the people they were or have the jobs they did.There wouldn’t be a need for their type of work, that was for sure.
“I don’t want to take too much of your time,” Cassidy said, interrupting Sydney’s thoughts.“Hauwa and I are planning Thanksgiving and were wondering if you were stopping by for dinner?Desert?”
Shit.It was that time of year already?Wasn’t it recently Halloween?
Sydney ran her fingers along her forehead.“Uh.”
Would she be in town?Fink just asked her to move to Maine with him.
What if Fink got another contract?What if they both did?She doubted that murders took holiday breaks.
“Say yes,” he whispered softly beside her.
Whipping around, she gaped at him.How in the ever-loving hell had he heard the conversation?Sydney put the phone at the lowest volume imaginable.She could barely make out what Cassidy said.How the fuck had Fink?
“No pressure,” Cassidy said.“If you’ve got nothing to do, we would love to have you.”
Sydney chewed on her bottom lip.
Fink waved a hand in her direction.“Say yes,” he repeated.
She wanted to.Cassidy and Hauwa were the first people to actually open their home,andtheir hearts, to her.Two and a half years wasn’t enough time with them.There was a connection there.They were the only family Sydney kept in touch with.
Albeit not consistently.She hadn’t reached out for months.She’d been busy, didn’t think she should talk about it.Calling them with nothing to say seemed pointless.Though if she had, they would’ve answered, and if she needed it, their door was always open.
There were no kinder people on the planet than at her previous, and last, foster placement.They were the closest thing to a family Sydney had.
“Yeah.”She nodded.“I’ll be there.”
“Fantastic.”
“What?”Hauwa’s voice came through the line.
“She’s coming,” Cassidy practically squealed.
The delight in her tone made Sydney smile.These people were walking saints on Earth.
“By herself?”Hauwa, her other foster mother, asked.“I want to know how big of a turkey to get.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”Cassidy asked.“Bring them too.The more the merrier.”
Sydney glanced toward Fink.
Seeing someone?Well, that was tricky, wasn’t it?What were she and Fink?Captor and hostage?Heh.She mentally snorted at herself.That ship sailed.They were definitely something more than that.
