“You look tired, Sloan,” Gloria said, changing the subject.
“I think I’m more worried.” Sloan’s fingers picked at a cuticle. “I don’t know enough to make a judgement call on anything. I’ve no idea where her parents live, or how to get in touch with them. I don’t even know their names yet. Would she even want me to contact them?” She blew out a breath. “Does she even want me there?” She swallowed. “I don’t even know what I’m meant to do.”
“Shall we have a cup of tea? A nice brew always makes things easier.” Gloria grabbed for her cane and heaved herself up out of the chair. “Come on, you can see how good I am at making one.”
***
Sloan hovered at Gloria’s shoulder as she slowly set out what she needed to make two mugs of tea.
“Sit down, will you? I’m not an invalid,” Gloria grumbled when she turned and almost bumped into Sloan.
“Sorry. I just feel useless.”
Gloria sighed heavily. “I’m supposed to be showing off.” She half-smiled. “Get the milk,” she instructed as she flicked the kettle on.
Sloan scuttled across the room to the fridge and found the bottle of milk. She brought it back and set it on the side, unscrewing the cap.
“Anything else?” she asked, like she was twelve again.
“No, I’m all set,” Gloria said, “but you can carry it in when it’s done. Matty never lets me carry two cups.”
Matty. The name cracked something open in Sloan. Tears stung hard and sudden, and she had to turn her face away before they spilled.
“Oh, my poor girl. Come here,” Gloria said, already reaching for her and pulling her close. “Don’t you look away from me when you cry.”
“I just feel…” Sloan could barely get the words out through the sobs. “So utterly…useless.” She dragged in a breath. “I don’t know where she is. I don’t know what they’re saying she’s done. I can’t do anything.”
“Join the club,” Gloria murmured, patting her back like she used to do when Sloan was small. “She’s going to sort all of this out and then she’ll be back and it will all be like nothing ever happened. That girl’s tougher than she looks. Matty’s got sense. She’ll find her way through it.”
“What if…” Her shoulders hitched with each sniff. “What if she’s done what they say she has?”
“She hasn’t. You know she hasn’t.”
Sloan wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “I thought I did.”
Gloria gripped her firmly on the arm with her good hand. “Yes, you do know. That’s why you’re falling in love with her.”
Sloan’s breath caught. She didn’t argue. She couldn’t.
“You think I can’t tell?” Gloria grinned at her. “It’s written all over your face. And for once, I actually can’t blame you. She’s no Maggie. Not this one. She wouldn’t run out on you.”
Sloan didn’t interrupt.
“And you’re not running out on her. Whatever has happened. Whatever she has or hasn’t done. We’re going to be there.”
“We?” Sloan blinked, surprised.
Gloria nodded. “You’re not the only one to fall for her.”
Sloan laughed. “She is kind of easy to fall for, isn’t she?”
“She is, but so are you. And I can guarantee that if you’re feeling this way, so is she. Only she’s the one sitting in a cell and you get the pleasure of keeping me company until she’s released.”
“When do you think they’ll let her go?”
Gloria chuckled. “I might have had a more exciting life than you originally thought, but getting locked up isn’t one of my experiences, so I’ve no idea. But she’ll be alright.”
Chapter fifty-eight
