“Should I not come back?” she mused out loud to herself. The last time she had left a foster home, she was stuck in a group home for thirteen months before Mrs. Fields accepted her as a placement.

There was nothing about her that drew the attention of prospective foster parents. She was too young to do many of the chores that would make life easier for those who wanted to foster. When she had been younger, she lived in several foster homes, and was shuffled out the door each time her foster parents found themselves expecting a child of their own.

“I don’t want to go to another home,” she mused out loud again. Mrs. Fields always made sure she had enough to eat and changed her bed as much as she did Sam’s. One of the biggest reasons that she didn’t want to leave was Sam. Despite the five-year age gap, she had grown closer to him while she and Kate had grown further apart. Both Owen and Kate were smart enough to keep their hands to themselves where Sam was concerned. Since he was Mrs. Fields’s natural son, they didn’t want to chance being thrown out by her. As far as foster homes went, Mrs. Fields’s was the best any of them had ever lived in.

“They’ll know where to find you.” Alanna knew Kate would never let her slip out of her grasp. On the other hand, did she want to chance being placed in a foster home where someone worse than Kate and Owen lived?

“I’m scared. I don’t know what to do.”

The leaves on the tree next to the porch started waving on the branches as a calming breeze gently blew through them.

“Stay. Grow stronger. I’ll tell you when to run.”

Alanna didn’t blink at the wind talking to her. It was just as normal as Mrs. Fields talking to her or anyone else. It was her imaginary friend who had always been there when she had needed him.

“I don’t know …”

“Don’t I always tell you where to hide? Haven’t I always protected you?”

“Yes … but I’m scared of Kate and Owen.”

“I know you are. I’ll be there with you.”

Alanna used her foot to make the swing start rocking. “Yeah … but you’re not real. It’s not like you’re a prince or anything and you’re going to come and save me.”

“I’ve told you before; you have to come and find me.”

“That’s hard to do when you won’t tell me where you are.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“You have to find me.”