“You’re brave, and you stand up for yourself. You know what you want out of life, and you’re willing to put yourself on the line to get it.”

For once, Lucy was speechless. It didn’t last, however, and her expression grew fierce. “I love you, too, Nell. And I promise I won’t ever let anybody give you any shit!”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

The teenager gave her a blazing smile and raced from the sunporch.

Lucy had been so excited that she hadn’t even looked at Mat, let alone consulted him. He came toward Nealy.

“I wish you’d talked to me about this first.”

“Why? I’m the answer to your prayers, Mat. In less than an hour, you’re going to have everything you want. No females and the story of your life.”

“That’s not . . .” He seemed to be struggling for his words. “I’m not sure this is the best thing for them.”

“I know it’s not. Do you have something better in mind?”

He started to sit, then seemed to change his mind. He began to come closer, stopped. For the first time since she’d known him, he looked ungainly, as if those long legs and strong arms didn’t belong to him.

“I think . . . it’s . . .” He shifted Button from one side to the other. “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t have anything better in mind. I’ll give you the name of the attorney who’s been handling this. I’m sure your friends in Washington can straighten everything out with the Pennsylvania Child Services people.”

“I’ll get it taken care of.”

“Yoo-hoo!”

Nothing could have told Nealy more clearly that her adventure was over than the sight of Bertis and Charlie standing in the backyard, with Toni detaining them on one side, Jason on the other.

“These people won’t let us in!” Bertis exclaimed, waving wildly.

Nealy felt her shoulders sag. This was the world she was thrusting those children into.

“I’m sorry, Nealy.”

Startled, she looked up to see Mat regarding her with something that looked like compassion. She didn’t want his sympathy, hated him so much at that moment for giving it to her that she could barely manage a shrug. “Life goes on.”

“Yeah, it sure does.”

In the end, he was the one who rescued the Waynes and brought them inside. They’d already figured out Nealy’s identity, but when she tried to explain why she’d left Washington, she couldn’t manage it, and he took over. He also told them what was happening with the girls. When he was done, Nealy waited for them to change into different people, but Bertis merely shook her head and extended the plate she’d been carrying.

“Have some fudge, you poor thing. It’ll make you feel better.”