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They don’t pack up everything, but they do grab a few things they can fit into Romey’s backpack before we leave. One of those things is a photo of Romey with the Millers that she taped to the warped wood next to where she obviously slept. Seeing it, my chest aches for her because she must have been torn between wanting to look out for her brother and being with the family she knows.
The snow as we start to hike is falling even harder than before, so I go slow, making sure the two of them are okay and giving each of them one of the emergency blankets from my pack, since neither of them has an actual coat. When we’re near the stream I crossed earlier, my phone service returns, so I call dispatch and let them know that I have both kids and give them an estimate for when we should arrive at the sheriff’s office. I ask them to send someone out to get the kids something dry to put on when we arrive.
When I hang up with them, I send Genevieve a text with the news that I found the kids but ask her to keep the information to herself for now so that there isn’t a frenzy of activity when we get into town. I don’t wait for her reply before I tuck my phone away and continue on our trek. Between the weather and the terrain, it takes us a long while to make it out of the woods, and when we reach my truck, both kids are cold and their clothes are wet, despite their best efforts to keep dry.
After we arrive at the sheriff’s office, I take them right back to a room that is set up with a couple of couches, a small table, and an attached bathroom. It’s mostly used when the guys are working extra hours and need a place to take a nap, but right now it’s empty.
After getting them settled on the couch with the TV on and Storm resting on the floor at their feet, I step out of the room and find Mike standing just outside the door.
“You found them.”
“Storm did.” I can’t hide the pride in my voice.
“They okay?”
“Scared,” I mutter, and he nods. “You mind hanging with them for a few minutes? I want to call Barbra and Steven and let them know that Romey is here. I also need to get ahold of their caseworker and Officer Tide to let them know that we have Ezra.”
“I got them.” He pats my shoulder, and I head toward my desk. It takes me a few minutes to make all the calls I need to make, but Barbra and her husband tell me that they will be on their way as soon as I give them the all clear, and Sandie, the kids’ caseworker, lets me know that she won’t be long. After I hang up with Officer Tide, I head back to the kids with the clothes I asked for.
As I step into the room, all eyes come to me.
“Did you get ahold of everyone?” Mike asks, and I nod, then look at Romey.
“Here, you can change, then Ezra can.” I pass her one of the bundles in my arms, then give Ezra his stack.
“Are you two hungry?”
“Yes,” Ezra says.
“What do you two want to eat?” I ask, and Romey shrugs, while Ezra turns to his sister like he’s trying to figure out what he should say.
“He likes McDonald’s,” she answers for him.
“We can do that.” I look over at Mike. “Do you mind asking one of the guys to run out?”
“Of course not.”
“What do you want?” I turn back to the kids.
“A Big Mac,” Ezra tells me, while Romey drops her eyes.
“Romey,” I say, and she shakes her head, the tears she’s been holding at bay starting to fall.
“I know you’re worried, but for now I want to get you something to eat. Is there something you’d like to have from McDonald’s?”
“The nuggets and Coke,” she mutters before she goes into the bathroom and closes the door with Ezra watching.
“Is she okay?” he asks me quietly.
“She will be. You guys have a lot of people who care about you two.”
“No one but Romey cares about me,” he says, and my chest cracks wide open, while Mike turns away, clearing his throat.
“I’m gonna get someone on their food,” he says, his voice sounding gruff. He’s a father and grandfather who is close with all his kids, so I know he hates the idea of any child feeling like they don’t have a place where they belong.
“I’ll be here.” I watch him leave. Then a minute later Romey comes out of the bathroom with her dirty clothes, and she tells Ezra to go change.
“Do you mind talking to me for a minute?” I ask her, and she looks at the door to the bathroom. “We won’t leave the room; we’ll just talk over here at the table.”
