AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They obviously cared about her, because they’d put her in a huge room with an enormous bed. A lovely hand- carved wooden crib stood in the corner, the baby’s soft blankets visible from the entranceway. They couldn’t have just made the room for Kitty and Raine, could they? Was every room in their home so intricately designed? It was nicer than Clarke’s room, which I had seen once from down a hallway.
Raine rocked her baby and grinned when we entered. “Raven!”
“Hi.” I smiled at her. “This is Ransom. Darkness said we could come see you and the baby for a little while.”
“I’m so glad that you came. This is Kitty. I was hoping to introduce you. If you didn’t find me soon, I was going to figure out how to come find you.” She rose. “I wasn’t staying here at first. This lovely family took us in, but—long story—I needed to leave. Since then, they’ve been so nice to me. Darkness and the others. They didn’t have to do this.”
I looked between them. He was silent, but he gazed at her as if she’d just created the world. Oh yeah, I bet they’re being nice.
And as long as she was happy, it was great. Still, I needed to verify, or it would bug me. “We could bring you home when this lightning is over. We could take you back to where you were before you were held captive.”
She cleared her throat. “My family disowned me five years ago. I don’t have anyone to go home to anymore, so I need to figure out how to be independent. I’m grateful to have a few days before I have to figure things out for me and Kitty.”
“You can stay as long as you like.” Darkness said with a nod then exited the room. Ransom shook his head but didn’t comment.
Okay. Well, that is the last I’ll say about that.
“I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll be outside with Darkness.”
Yep, like they can’t hear everything in here anyway.
15
THE CABIN PROBLEM
Raine nodded, her pretty face flushed. “I know. Trust me, I know, but these guys try to be polite, which I appreciate.” She held up Kitty. “Do you want to hold her?”
I smiled at her. “I have very little experience with babies. I haven’t been around many after they’re born, unless they’re sick.”
She nodded. “That’s okay. You delivered her. I trust you.”
She was right, but it wasn’t like I had any alternatives at the time. Still, the birth had beautiful moments we shared, and then we saved them both from Net. I took the baby and held her to my chest. “She’s so beautiful.”
New life never ceased to amaze me, but Kitty was particularly beautiful. She looked just like her mother, with her lovely eyes and rosebud lips. I could maybe see Net’s chin, but I couldn’t see much of her father in her. I stroked my finger down her cheek, finding it petal soft to my touch. “I’ve helped with the deliveries at home sometimes. I’m glad I could help you. I wasn’t exactly prepared to do anything, if it had been very difficult. I’m not a doctor. I can’t even read. You did all the work, and you were amazing.”
She sank on the bed and sighed. “I’m trying to see it as a joyful day. I’m trying. I love the baby, and I’m so relieved that he’s dead and can’t be near her, not ever.”
Raine had been through so much. “I think you’re amazing. I want you to know that.”
“I’d like for us to be friends.” She dropped her head slightly, and I could see that she had dark circles under her eyes. No way had she gotten any sleep with Net, and with a newborn to take care of, she likely still wasn’t getting much. “I don’t have friends. Not usually.”
That was quite a confession. I knew what she meant, but people didn’t usually say it aloud. “I didn’t really have people, either. My brother did. He was a social butterfly. Everyone loved him. I was his sister, so I was tolerated, but they weren’t my friends. They were his, and his husband was my friend, but first and foremost he was my brother-in-law. They’re all dead now, though.” It still hurt to say it. It seemed impossible to live in a world where I’d never hear them laugh again.
The baby made a noise, and I rocked a little bit, cooing at her. Raine explained, “I didn’t have that. I was born into a rich family, but when they died very suddenly in an accident, I didn’t have anyone to take me. I ended up becoming a ward of our town.” She sighed. “I was pretty alone. People treated me like my condition—not having family—was infectious and they might catch it. Now Kitty has that same situation ahead of her, if anything happens to me.”
I took her hand, squeezing her fingers gently. “Then let’s be friends, so we’ll both be able to say we have friends. I mean, you’re staying here, right? They’re your friends, now, too, right?”
“They’re on a quest to make up for what they did in the past. Taking care of me fulfills their quest for the moment, but I can’t live on their good graces forever.” She chewed on her fingertip; her gaze full of worries.
I sat down next to her. “Do you want to go home? When the lightning goes away, they could take you home. Well, someone could, I’m sure. I’m not sure exactly who does that, and I sincerely don’t recommend the pilot I used.”
“There’s no point in going home. I don’t have anyone there or anyplace to go. I could stay here, but I don’t want to be trouble for anyone. I’m a teacher, or I was becoming one, when this happened. I could teach, except I don’t even know if they have openings for that.” She rubbed her eyes again. “I could teach you to read.”
Well, that was a jump, but my interest piqued. “I’d be so grateful. I don’t have any money to pay you, so we’d have to wait until I can figure out something to do to earn my own keep.”
“You think I’d ever charge you for anything?” Her voice broke. “You saved our lives. It would be the least I could do.”
I put my arm around her. Some of her initial I’m great façade was coming off, which was okay. I was always a mess; I understood struggling more than having it all together. “Well, I want to compensate you somehow.”
