Every time we left for a new city, before Valley Falls, I’d had a friend or two who said they’d keep in touch. It would last for a few weeks before it would eventually fizzle out. Distance does that to relationships.

But I was so young and only knew those people for a few months. Things with the Gleasons would be different.

It has to be.

Paula’s phone begins to chirp nonstop. “Goodness.” She silences the ringer, but I can see the messages popping up on her screen. “Oh, no.”

“What is it?” Craig asks.

Paula looks at me, concern etched on her face. “It’s the media. They found out we’re coming in today. The airport is surrounded.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter

TWENTY-SEVEN

“I am going to kill whoever did this!”

“Don’t make a scene. It’s going to be okay.” Craig attempts to calm Paula down as she paces outside the arrival gate for our flight.

For nearly a week, I’ve been in a tiny town where every single person knew I was Amanda Linsley. There were reporters everywhere and not one person talked. Not a single one.

I’ve been in Florida with my new “family” for less than five minutes, and the media has swarmed the arrivals area.

Someone talked.

Craig steps away as he takes a phone call. I don’t know what to say to Paula. I should probably comfort her, but I’m also pissed. It’s my face that’s going to be plastered all over the news. Most of what I want is impossible, but I should have the right to salvage an attempt at a regular life. While I realize that’s somewhat impossible, a girl can still dream.

“Okay.” Craig comes up to us with a confident nod. “Here’s what we’re going to do: Paula and I are going to go ahead and deal with the media. If they corner us, we’ll simply say you’re coming next week. We will ask, once again, for your privacy. We’ll also tell them you’re only here for a visit. Hopefully that will throw them off. I’ve also talked to the sheriff, who will have police at our house in case there are any issues. Luckily, we live in a gated community, so only authorized people can enter. The reporters won’t be able to get near us. Ally, are you okay waiting here for about thirty minutes until we have everything sorted out? Paula’s mom is going to meet you and take you to our house.”

“No.” Paula shakes her head, and tears start streaking down her cheek. I glance around the boarding area and see we’re attracting some attention. My defenses immediately pick up. How much have they heard? What if someone figures out who we are? A single click of a camera phone could have everything crashing down.