“Jesus, baby. What did I do to deserve you?”

“Don’t be silly. There’s no deserving unless it goes both ways.”

“How did Elisa know about those books?”

“When she was younger she had a friend who started using cocaine to lose weight for dance, and it turned into an addiction. Elisa helped her get clean and get a job outside of the industry. She’s supportive of us. She’ll always worry about me and the people in my life, but we talked for a while. It was reassuring to hear that her friend hasn’t gone back to using drugs.”

“You can’t imagine how much it means to me that you’re so invested in my recovery.”

“Yes, I can, because I see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice. We’d better get going, Uncle Quincy.”

He grabbed her jacket from the hook and held it up for her. As she put it on, she said, “Where are we taking the kids?”

“You’ll see.”

“Mysterious, aren’t we?”

“I’m an open book.” He swatted her butt and pulled the door open. “Let’s go, sunshine. We’ve got kids to entertain.”

Chapter Fifteen

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Quincy carried Lincoln and Roni held Kennedy’s hand as they left the Harbor Theater, where they’d watched the original Toy Story as part of a Toy Story marathon. Kennedy had gotten all dolled up for their date in a purple dress with black tights and black biker boots that her aunt Crystal had given her, with a cute quilted black coat over it.

“Did you like it, Miss Woni?” Kennedy asked. “I heard you sniffling. Were you cwying?”

“I loved the movie,” Roni said. “But I was sad for Woody. I didn’t like the way Andy pushed him aside for a new toy.”

“It’s okay, Miss Woni. They’re fwiends now.” Kennedy smiled up at her, her pigtails swaying as they walked along the sidewalk.

“Did you like the movie?” Roni asked.

“Uh-huh,” Kennedy said. “I’ve seen them all, but Uncle Quincy wanted you to see it. He said you guys didn’t get to see movies, or go to pawties, or dances, or anything when you were kids, and he wants to do all those fun things with you. I want to do them with you, too!”

Roni looked at Quincy, and he lifted one shoulder, as if his sharing his feelings for her with Kennedy and setting up the date for her as much as for the kids wasn’t a big deal. For all his casualness, his eyes were full of affection. She was falling so hard for him, she wondered if he, and everyone else, could see it in her eyes, too. She’d been as enthralled with him and the kids as she’d been with the movie. He was patient and loving with them, always kissing and hugging them, making sure they were comfortable. She thanked her lucky stars that she hadn’t walked away, because she’d have missed out on the best things in her life.