Page 57 of Bring Them Home

Zoe didn’t say a word and didn’t so much as look in Amanda’s direction. She dropped into a chair at the end of the table. Amanda sat in the one on her right, and Zoe turned her body slightly away from her.

“Thank you for coming in, Ms. Steele,” Lila began.

“Please call me Amanda.”

Lila dipped her head. “Zoe seems to be having a hard time with the news of Mr. Archer’s murder.”

“Why didn’t you tell me his family was taken too?” Zoe leveled the accusation at Amanda. Her eyes were ablaze as they now met Amanda’s gaze.

Amanda had her reasons. To start, she was trying to protect the girl from too much tragic news. She figured disclosing Archer’s murder was the priority. Why pile on more by telling her about Valerie and Brooke? And why was the school disclosing that information? It pissed her off that they had. These were children. She appreciated it wasn’t possible to shield them from everything, but telling them about the murder of their teacher would have been sufficient. “Zoe, I knew your primary concern was Mr. Archer’s welfare.”

“You’re trying to find out who killed him and took his family, right?”

“Yes, Trent and I are doing everything within our power.”

Zoe stuck out her chin and crossed her arms. Amanda looked back at Lila.

“I have a feeling that I’ve stumbled in on something I have no knowledge about,” Lila began. “Zoe, it might be best if you give your mother and me time to talk alone.”

“She’s not my mother.”

Lila’s gaze snapped to Amanda’s, and there was no time to hide the impact of Zoe’s words. Amanda’s eyes instantly burned with tears.

“Of course she is.” The teacher spoke softly, turning her gaze from Amanda and respecting her space.

“No, she’s not.” Zoe shot Amanda a sideways glare.

Lila stood and prodded Zoe. “It might be best if you waited outside while I speak with Amanda.”

The teacher’s transition from referring to her as Zoe’s mother to using her name pierced like a hornet’s stinger. But Amanda didn’t want any more secrets from her daughter. Whatever the teacher had to say to her, she could say in front of Zoe. Also Amanda couldn’t bear the thought of letting Zoe out of her sight. “She’s fine to stay. Please, just continue.” Her words came out, carried on a breath.

“If you’re certain?” Lila asked, angling her head.

Amanda would love to say she and Zoe didn’t keep secrets from each other, but in Zoe’s current mood, the girl would argue that. After all, Amanda had held back from sharing information. “I am.”

“Very well, then.” Lila returned to where she had been sitting. “After the assembly and the announcement, the class was given an assignment to write about a vivid memory they had from when they were younger. It was supposed to be a happy recollection, but Zoe refused to adhere to the guidelines of the exercise.” Lila glanced at Zoe, as did Amanda. The girl wasn’t looking at either of them, and her jaw was clenched tight. “Zoe wrote a dark piece. Did you want to tell your mother what you wrote about, or do you want me to?”

“I don’t care,” Zoe pushed out.

Lila sought out Amanda’s gaze and said nothing, yet spoke volumes.

Amanda leaned toward Zoe. “What did you write about?”

Zoe continued to stare into space.

“Sweetheart—”

“I’m not your sweetheart,” Zoe spat, “and I want to go home.”

“We can soon,” Amanda told her.

“No, I mean my real home with my real mom and dad.” Tears beaded in the girl’s eyes.

This was Amanda’s fear come to life. Paul Archer’s murder had triggered a backslide. “Zoe, you know they’re gone.”

“No, they’re here. They’re always here.” She pounded a hand to her chest. “You told me that. Or did you lie?”

“I did tell you that, and they are. But your home is with me now.”