“‘Cleaned out’ meaning put down like rabid dogs,” Allie suggested quietly.

“It’s pretty much what they are in such cases,” Tricia said with an unapologetic shrug, and then drew her to a halt as they reached the kitchen doorway. Eyeing her expectantly then, she asked, “Is it not glorious?”

Allie started to look around, but stilled as a shriek drew her gaze to the boys by the sink. In the next moment, Liam was streaking toward her down the length of the long white kitchen. The boy was still several feet away when he leapt at her, flying through the air so that she had to drop the hairspray to catch him. She was aware of, and grateful for, the bracing hand Katricia put on her back as Liam crashed against her chest, otherwise she might have toppled over. This leaping jump was something he only did when he was very happy, and not something a mortal child could have done. It always took her a little aback, but now she was relieved to see it. It reassured her that he was okay.

“Mom, you’re up! I have so much to tell you. I drank blood from a bag, and Teddy’s mom made us pancakes and— Are you feeling better?” he stopped his rapid fire chatter to ask with wide concerned eyes. “Teddy’s mom said you were over the weather and we should let you sleep in this morning. Are you off the weather now?”

Allie stared at the child in her arms, her heart just melting with love. He was such a beautiful, precious little boy she just wanted to squeeze him silly. Which she did now, pressing him to her chest and turning from side to side a little.

“Yes, my sweet, I’m feeling much better now,” she assured him, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead, before leaning back to look over the color on his rosy cheeks. “Did you have fun outside?”

Guilt immediately flashed across Liam’s face, followed by worry as he said, “Yes. I told them I wasn’t allowed to go outside. But they said it would be okay. It was safe here and you wouldn’t be upset. Are you upset?”

“No,” she assured him solemnly. “I’m glad you got a chance to have fun.”

“It was fun,” he said, his smile returning to full wattage. “We built a snowman, and made snow angels, and now we’re going to have hot chocolate . . . if that’s okay?” he added with concern, and then blurted, “Teddy says hot chocolate is the best. I can have some, can’t I?”

“Of course you can.” The words had barely left her lips before Liam was squirming out of her arms and dropping to the floor. Whirling away from her, he rushed back to his new friend, squealing an exuberant, “Yay! We can have hot chocolate.”

Allie smiled faintly, but guilt was niggling at her as she watched his excitement. Liam had never had hot chocolate. It was a luxury, and there wasn’t a lot of money for luxuries in the life they’d been forced to lead.