She gave Lucy a sympathetic smile. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I was an angel compared to you. My father wouldn’t have had it any other way. And that’s another big problem. My father.”

“Is he mean?”

“Not mean, but he can be very difficult. He’s a big part of my life, though, so you’ll be stuck with him, too. And even if I tell him not to, he’ll give you lectures about how you have to set an example. When you do something wrong, he has this way of looking at you that makes you feel bad about yourself. He’ll always be comparing the way you are to the way I was, and he’ll make sure you come up short. You’re not going to like him very much, but you’ll still have to put up with him.”

Lucy’s chest quivered as she took a breath. “You really mean it, don’t you? You’d adopt us like . . . forever?”

“Oh, sweetheart, I know this is what you think you want more than anything, but it’s not going to be easy. And here’s the thing . . . you have to make this decision for two people, not just for yourself.”

“For Button, too.”

Nealy nodded. “At least you’ll remember what it was like to live as a normal person, but public life will be the only life she’ll know. And I promise you, the day will come when she’ll blame you for that.”

Lucy studied her for a long time. “You’re really serious?”

“I’m serious. Unfortunately, you don’t have much time to think it over, even though this is probably the biggest decision you’ll ever make.”

“My mind’s already made up.” She jumped up. “We’re coming with you!”

Nealy wasn’t surprised, and she almost wanted Mat to object, but when she glanced at him, his expression was stony.

“Go get your things together,” she said quietly. “We have to leave soon.”

Lucy rushed toward the door, only to stop. “There’s something you should know. Button’s name. It’s really . . .” She grimaced. “It’s . . . Beatrice.”

Nealy managed a smile. “Thanks for telling me.”

For a moment Lucy simply stood there, and then those abused fingernails shot to her mouth. “I know why you want to adopt Button—because she’s so cute and everything. But . . .” She withdrew her fingers, picked at her thumb. Her voice became small and defenseless. “Why do you want to adopt me?”

Nealy rose from the ottoman. “Because I love you, Luce.”

“That’s so bogus.” Despite her words, she looked puzzled instead of belligerent. “How could you love me after what I just did?”

“Because you’re you. I guess you’re the kid I always wanted to be.”

“What do you mean?”