Page 2 of Graciously His

“Did you run away?”

She nodded. I took a step closer, staring into her eyes. Soft brown shot through with striations of amber. Their expression of pain and wisdom held me captive.

“If that’s your house, you’ve not gotten very far, have you?”

“No, I never manage to get far. But someday I want to run away properly.”

I held out my hand. “Come with me, little heart. I can take you away. Right now.”

Her eyes widened, the smile replaced by a serious expression that was too old for her small face.

“Yes, please.”

That brought me up short. I hadn’t expected her to agree, let alone so sweetly.

“Where will you take me?” she asked.

I hesitated, but only for a moment.

“Back to the North Island. There’s a spare bunk under a table in the caravan, so you can stay out of sight. My dad and stepmother won’t even notice.” My confidence built as I considered the plan. “Once we’re home, you’ll live in my room. I’ll keep you.”

“Really?” Her chest moved too fast beneath the lace. “Will you really?”

“Yes.”

“And do you have food that doesn’t hurt?” She looked away, back towards the dilapidated house. “Mother’s food hurts my stomach. Do you have food that won’t hurt?”

“Yes,” I said, though I had no idea what she meant. “I’ll find you some. Come on, we should hurry.”

I took her hand, ready to sneak her into the caravan and hide her in that little bunk under the table. We were at the edge of the playground, her fingers laced through mine, when Nick spoke from behind us.

“I did eleven! Oh—” He saw Grace. “Who’s that, Nate?”

I stepped in front of her, already sensing the inevitable shift when people realised he was the better twin.

“She needs help,” I said.

He frowned. “Why?”

I didn’t know how to say what I’d sensed, but the answer arrived before I could say a word.

“Graciously?” A woman shouted from the street side of the playground. “GRACIOUSLY!”

I tightened my grip on Grace, stepping forward to block the woman’s view of her.

“Nick,” I hissed, “help me hide her.”

His eyes, a warmer grey than mine, darted from the girl to the woman. She marched across the grass towards the playground, the morning light glinting off her sunglasses, her scowl visible at a distance.

“Is that her mum?” Nick asked nervously, stepping up beside me. I wanted to shove him away.

“Yes,” Grace answered for me, “she’ll make me come home and—”

She bit her lip and my jaw tensed.

“Nick,” I said, “you go distract Grace’s mum. Tell her you saw Grace going up the road towards the beach. Lead her that way. I’ll—”

“We don’t even know that girl. And her mum looks really worried.”