Ezra’s illness was taking its toll and Justin stayed with him until the evening, when Rick Tackett arrived. The boy was too dazed to make any decisions for himself, and I encouraged him to go with Rick. He was going to need a father, and Rick had the quiet strength, I thought, to help his son.

All Julia had wanted to do was help her son, too, but she had gone about it the wrong way. Godfrey had treated her badly, driving her to choose Ezra instead of going back to Rick. I had no doubt now she bitterly regretted that choice. She seemed determined, however, to make Godfrey pay for what he had done, and even though Godfrey realized Justin wasn’t his son, he must have felt guilty enough to give her money anyway. He probably thought he could simply buy her off, but by then Julia was, I suspected, so irrational that she simply acted without any consideration for the consequences. Otherwise she wouldn’t have forgotten Justin’s cell phone or have let something so simple as the time stamp on her deposit receipt trip her up.

The tragedy of it all was stunning, and I felt such pity for Julia. I could do something for her, though, by continuing to look after her son however I could.

“How are you?” I examined Justin with concern. He looked like he had slept very little the past two nights.

Justin shrugged. “I don’t really know. It’s all too freaky.”

Diesel rubbed against his legs, and Justin squatted down to hug the cat.

“Yes, it is,” I said. “I want you to know, though, if I can do anything to help you, I will.”

“Thank you,” Justin said, looking up at me. Besides the fatigue, I thought I could see the beginnings of a new maturity in his face. He stood.

“Actually, there is one thing you can do for me, if you will.” Justin watched me calmly. “I’d like to stay here with you for now.”

“Of course you can,” I said. I had to speak around a lump in my throat. “Diesel would miss you terribly, you know.”

Justin gave me the ghost of a smile. “I’d miss him, too. Rick wants me to move in with him and my brothers and sisters.” He shook his head. “That sounds so weird. I have brothers and sisters now. Half, that is, but still.”

“I’m glad. It’s good to have family.” I paused. “But it can be a bit confusing to try to get to know them all at once. Maybe you need a little time to get used to the idea.”

“Yes, sir,” Justin said. “Thank you, Mr. Charlie, and you too, Diesel.”

He stood there for a moment, and my heart ached for him. But Diesel and I would do our best to help him.