Kellen smoothed Rae’s bangs off her forehead and thought she needed them trimmed, and knew she couldn’t do it. She would never trust herself with scissors so close to Rae’s eyes. “I know.”

“And your hand is better, but you can’t use a knife. That’s final.”

The kid could be bossy. “This probably changes our plans, but not right away. We’ll talk when Daddy gets back, figure out our next move.”

“Maybe go home?”

“To Yearning Sands? Do you want to?”

Rae squirmed. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I like it here.”

“I like it here, too.”

“But I miss it there.”

“I miss it, too.”

They heard the helicopter hum, and walked to the window to watch the R44 rise off the ground and zoom toward the mainland.

Rae slipped her hand into Kellen’s. “It’s scarier out here without Daddy.”

“Yes. But even with a bad hand, I can protect you,” Kellen promised. “I’m a heck of a fighter.”

“I’m learning, too!” Although Rae hated boxing lessons as much as Kellen hated piano lessons. “I didn’t mean we’d have to fight anyone. I just meant it felt lonelier.” Rae hesitated, looked at Kellen, looked out the window, looked at Kellen. “There’s something I wish I could…”

Kellen waited, wanting her to confide whatever was bothering her.

But Rae sighed and looked around as if lost.

“You can tell me anything,” Kellen encouraged.

“I know. Maybe. I shouldn’t because I…” Rae visibly struggled again with some issue, then brightened. “While Daddy’s gone, let’s read more of Ruby’s diary.”

Kellen understood, Ruby’s youth and life spoke to Rae, and her resilience taught good life lessons. “Let’s do that.”

“Up in the attic!”

“You like it up there, don’t you?”

“It’s safe up there. Away from…all the problems.”

“Do you have so many?” What was Rae keeping from them?

“No… No.” Rae headed for the stairs. “Let’s go. You read first.”

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