“My guess is Lucy, but she’ll spill it when she’s ready.” Cain stood and squeezed her fingers before walking off.

Hannah’s silence was starting to bother her, but Cain was right. They couldn’t force the kid to talk. She finished with the lipstick and went to stand outside Hannah’s door. If Hannah would talk to anyone, it’d be her idol. Hannah loved everyone, but she adored Cain. That had been true from the first time Hannah saw Cain, and Cain’s love had transformed the skittish little girl into a child who knew her mom would always be there to catch her if she stumbled.

“Hey, kiddo,” Cain said and whatever Hannah had been tinkering with stopped. “You look a little down. Is something wrong?”

“No,” Hannah said, not convincing anyone that was true.

“Come see,” Cain said, and Emma stepped into view. Hannah was sitting in Cain’s lap with her head down.

She sat next to Cain and took Hannah’s hand, not minding the silence that stretched on for a few minutes. Hannah didn’t seem uncomfortable with the silence and dropped her head to Cain’s chest, and Emma waited to see if Cain would say anything.

“You know what the best thing about meeting your mama was?” Cain asked, and that got Hannah to lift her head and shake it. “I had someone to talk to when I was sad.”

“And I had someone to talk to when I was sad,” Emma said, kissing Cain’s cheek, then wiping off the lipstick she’d left behind. “The best part was, no matter what I said, your mom never got mad.”

“Then you and your brothers came along, and your mama and I want to hear if something is making any of you sad. You can tell me whatever it is, and I promise I’ll try to fix it.” Cain jiggled Hannah, finally getting her to smile. “What’s wrong? Did Lucy and you have a fight?”

“No.” Hannah’s head went down, but at least she’d answered.

“Then did something else happen?” Emma asked, glancing at Cain for a moment. “Did she say something you didn’t like?” That got her a nod. “Please tell us,” she said, kissing Hannah’s hand.

“Lucy said her mom and dad are mad all the time, but there was something that would make them happy.” Hannah glanced at Cain then quickly at her. “She said I had to do it, so they wouldn’t give her away again. If that happened, then she’d have to go back to bad people.”