Girl in the Shadows (Shadows 2)

taken care of her."

"I couldn't have done otherwise. No one would

have expected less, but it's not enough to guarantee

they'd agree with us. Na. we'll have to face the music

one way or the other eventually. I'm afraid. Best we

can hope for is putting it off as long as we can.

Maybe, just maybe she's grown up some. too." I looked down. I was happy she included me by

saving "we," but I had no false hope about Rhona

having changed for the better. Just the little I had seen

of her had already sickened me. I didn't have the heart

to disagree. however.

"You just make sure Echo is okay." she

continued. "If you see something bad happening,

come right to me. Don't be afraid and don't hesitate.

I'm happier than ever that I have you here to do all

this with me."

I nodded, tears building in my eyes.

"You're a sweet child," she said. "Your parents

were lucky folks and I'm sure you were lucky to have them. too. But you see how unjust things are with their being gone too early? We can't depend on the right things always happening on their own. We have to do our best to ensure they do and that's all we can

do. I think you already know all that."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Eat up. I know you won't have any of my

homemade apple pie,.'

"Maybe just a small piece." I said. relenting. "I don't put all that much sugar in it like starebought pies."

"I know, Thank you."

She smiled and we finished eating silently, both

of us lost for a while in the hopes and the dreams that

gave us reason to go on.

I enjoyed the pie, helped clean up, and then

went up to my room. As the hours marched by and I