“Fischer, Bastian, and I are working on it. We’ve started some experimental therapies, but he’s strong and determined,” I said.
“He’s scared,” Laxmi said.
Wrinkling my brow, I nodded. “Of course, he is.”
She held her finger up and shook her head. “He’s not scared of you, or of anyone in particular. Ellie, how old was he when you were taken for the stable?”
“Five. He’d just turned five.”
“And for the two years before that you did what you had to, to keep him fed and clothed.” Laxmi presented that as softly as she could. She’d also picked up on the fact that Ellie hated those years more than her years in the stable because while she’d had her choice taken away then, the two years she’s spent as a prostitute were her choice.
None of us brought it up if we could. Not unless she wanted to talk about it. So, Laxmi had to have a serious, salient point.
“Before that, he’d had a very sick mother who left him at just four. Before that, he’d been a part of a family that struggled. How many times did you have to move, after Sheehan abandoned your mother.”
Ellie picked at her napkin. “We were being evicted about every six months or so. Sheehan had—” Swallowing, she bit her lip. “My father left us a comfortable amount of money, and a paid-for double wide trailer. We could have stayed there for years. Mom was proud of her home. It might have been a trailer, but she cleaned and maintained it.
“When Sheehan came along, he basically defrauded her out of the money dad had left. We had to sell the trailer, and that held us for a few months. Then Ben was coming, and she tried to get Matthias to pay for him—but all he did was offer an abortion, and then paid the hospital bill. Never talked to her again.
“She got sick and that took the rest of the money we had. Then she died, and I…had to make decisions at twelve.”
I pursed my lips, and slipped my hand out next to hers. I didn’t want to touch her if she wasn’t ready, but she was and she grabbed my hand.
“So, to say that Ben hasn’t had a steady stable life would be a bit of an understatement. Then add the Pipeline in, and what they had done to start breaking him…he’s traumatized to a whole new level.” Laxmi took a sip of her beer. “He sees you all caring, but he’s trying to not get attached. He knows, in his short little life, that none of this is going to last, so why get used to it?”
She was dead on. This poor seven year old didn’t want to have his heart broken again. I drummed my fingers on the table. “We need to figure out a way to convince him that we’re here for good. That he’s not just going to have his sister—and that explains why he behaves for you—but all of us.”
Ellie perked up. “The adoption—”
“It’s papers and scribbles to him. We need something big, something a boy of seven would really get.”
“A party,” Miriam said. “A big fat welcome party. With as many of your friends and relatives as you can scare up.”
“With his favorite theme,” Lily offered.
“He loves Lightning McQueen,” I chorused with Ellie. I went on alone after a laugh. “But we have to get him home first.”
“We’ll work on that,” Ellie said. “Get the papers signed and we’ll throw a huge Gotcha Day party for him.”
Smiling, I dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Perfect.” I turned to Laxmi. “I’d kiss you too, but you’re across the table and your wife is likely to run me through with her flameblade.”
“That I am.” Miriam smiled, lifting an eyebrow. She was totally teasing me.
Laxmi shook her head and looked at Ellie sitting there. “How is school going?”
Ellie lifted a shoulder. “Eh. Good. We’re gearing up for SATs and I found out that they take juniors around to a few colleges. If you know you’re not going to that one, you can opt out to visit the college of your choice. We’re going to Villanova, Rowan, Rutgers, Princeton, and I’m going to opt out of West Chester, St. Joe’s, Upenn, Rider, and LaSalle.”
“Why those?” Miriam asked.
“Well, I practically live at the UPenn campus, thanks to Fischer, I didn’t see the programs I wanted at West Chester, Rider or LaSalle, and Mason is already on the legacy admit for St. Joe’s.”
Lily glanced over at her. “Don’t let Mason determine your career…”
“He’s not. I just think that it’s better if I’m away from him. I’ll do better in school.”
“What are you thinking?” Miriam asked.
“Engineering, maybe pre-med. Princeton’s is brand new, but the others are established. I also want to check out UVA, Georgetown, MIT, and Rensselaer.”
“Ow, ow!” I gasped and twisted in the seat.
“What? What?” Ellie was wide eyed.
“My pocket! It’s burning up from the money flying out of it!”
She punched my arm. “You are so awful. You and Fischer could put me through anything without breaking a sweat.”
Narrowing my eyes at her, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. “Get the grades, we’ll foot the bill. Wherever.”
“Thank you,” she answered.
Two phones alerts went off at the table. Lily and I pulled out our phones, and I glanced at the message there.
PPD: Request on scene, multiple fatalities. Shining Bright Daycare.
I jerked up and looked at Lily. “No…”
“Fuck me,” she breathed.
There was just a moment of hesitation before she grabbed her purse and darted out of the booth. I pushed Ellie after her, and grabbed my own bag.
“Go with Miriam and Laxmi. Go.”
Ellie shook her head. “No. I’m going with you.”
“You can’t—”
She grabbed my arm and pulled me to a halt. “This isn’t a request, Mom.” I saw the barest hint of wings flicker behind her. She was getting good with that.
“Okay, let’s go, but you’re not going to like this.”
“Good?” Miriam called.
“Good. We’ll talk later!”
“You’re never going to have a full meal with them again,” Ellie teased.
Lily was long gone as Ellie and I slipped into the Lexus and pulled away from the curb. “Ellie, this is a serious fucking crime scene we’re going to. I’m there as psychological support for children who may well have seen their friends and siblings shot. I need you to hang back and let me work. Whatever your preternatural senses are telling you. This is going to be gory.”
“I’ve seen gory,” she whispered.
The road sped by quietly. “I guess you have.”
Horrific.
It was the most accurate word I could come up with.
I’d worked outside first, gathering the children, the survivors together and getting Ellie to help me calm the worst of them. They were hysterical—three, four and five year old children, covered in blood and brains.
Some from their own siblings.
Slowly the children were claimed by a parent who were escorted over by Lily or Officer Balin after being vetted.
Lily sent the ones with their children alive and well first, picking up one or two.