Page 117 of Born for Starlight

The bastard.

“Angelica, are you listening?” Maddie asked.

“Huh?”

“Sister Beatriz says that Luzia is now asking to talk to you, it’s not just her waiting for your calls. She’s reported that to the people in the Welfare Department. That’s really gone a long way to processing your paperwork.”

“I still don’t understand why they just didn’t let me get an apartment close to the orphanage where I could live next to her.”

“They want children to be adopted by Brazilian families first. That is their priority,” Maddie explained to me for the umpteenth time.

“Yeah, I can see how well that’s gone, considering there were over a hundred and fifty orphaned girls at the school and over seventy at the orphanage.” I was disgusted with the whole process.

Maddie placed her hand over mine. “The good news is, after all of the news coverage, almost all of the girls from the Instituto Aurora have been placed.”

“Yeah, there is that,” I agreed glumly. Sister Beatriz had done her damnedest to make sure that Luzia had been brought to Casa Semente, so she was kept away from Aurora, and under her care. She knew I wanted to adopt the little girl.

“Is there anything we can say or do to make you feel better?” Trenda asked.

I looked at the oldest Avery sister who had such a compassionate expression on her face and I tried to smile. “I think I just want to be alone right now. I really appreciate all of you coming over. I really do. But until I get to go to Brazil and pick up Luzia, I just want to be alone.”

Zoe winced. “Are you sure?”

“She’s sure,” Chloe said.

Kit, Chloe, Zoe and Trenda all stood up and I followed them to the door and waved them away. When I turned back to the table, Maddie Avery-Beaumont was still gathering up papers and putting them into her satchel.

“I know this seems impossibly long, Angelica, but I have to tell you, this process is going fast.”

“Thank you for saying that, Maddie. I really do appreciate everything you’re doing.”

“My gut says we’ll see action in the next week or two.”

“Your gut to God’s ear,” I said.

Maddie laughed.

I pulled the last dozen cookies out of the oven and put them on the rack to cool, then went over to the couch. I’d been doing everything I could to stay busy so I wouldn’t just spiral. The house was immaculate. Even the tops of the closets were organized.

Jase had been on my case to come over for the last three days. I knew if I didn’t show up, he’d just come over. That was the reason for the cookies. Hopefully, he wouldn’t ask as many questions if his mouth was full.

I plumped up the cushions that didn't need plumping. My phone was on the coffee table. Matthew had texted again. He’d said he’d keep texting until he got back to Jasper Creek. That he was hungry for a cinnamon roll and my kiss and not in that order.

Dammit, he’d made me smile.

If he was so damn hungry, why in the hell was he gone? He’d left the hospital eighteen hours after his surgery. I’d just gone down to the cafeteria. I came back up and he was gone. Poof. Nobody knew anything. And I hadn’t believed one of them. Not Simon. Not Dantas. Not Bruno. Not Billy. Not Jase. Okay, maybe Jase.

As for Pedro, Vargas, Deke and Beto, it was like they never existed. Dantas said they had been found to be helpful in bringing down a child trafficking ring, but after they were questioned they had returned home. I asked for their contact information. Dantas said that was confidential, and he couldn’t provide it. He suggested I ask Matthew for it.

When we all got back to Jasper Creek, I ended up believing the men of Onyx, they really didn’t know where Matthew was. I didn’t question Jase too closely, I’d been avoiding him. He wanted to question me, and between Matthew and Luzia I just wasn’t up to it. I guess today was the day.

My phone buzzed again. I snatched it up from the coffee table, hoping it was Matthew again, even though he never texted twice in one day.. It was Bonnie.

BONNIE:You on your way?

ME:Just boxing up the cookies.

BONNIE:Good. Jase is making me crazy. Come save me.