Page 73 of Moros

“He said the baby was in very bad condition.” Theodore explained. “That it was so bad, he was protecting us from having to see her like that. He said the fire department had to legal destroy the car seat since it was in an accident. Where have you been?”

“Um—” Ryanne looked over at me.

I reached over to hold her hand closest to me, squeezing in gently.

“They placed me in foster care.” Ryanne told them. “Said they couldn’t find a family for me?—”

“You were adopted, right?” Morgana pleaded.

“I’m sorry.” Ryanne’s voice cracked. “I wasn’t adopted. I was born not breathing. And it seemed that was a bit of my life story they would tell everyone. They’d then be terrified, thinking I was cursed. So, they’d bring me back.”

“What a load of shit.” Morgana grumbled.

“Gana.” Theodore called sweetly.

The elderly woman huffed.

“But I’m okay.” Ryanne told them.

“I’m not understanding why your son’s friend—this—” I looked at the letter. “This Paul Freeman, didn’t tell them about you. It’s obvious he had intimate details of the crime—some that aren’t entirely true, but to get these pictures?—”

“We’re now wondering the same thing.” Theodore nodded. “Why did he lie? Why tell us our grandchild was dead when she wasn’t. And from what you’re saying, he knew she wasn’t?—”

“He knew where she was.” Morgana added. “Why break our hears like that?”

We were still throwing around conjectures when someone hollered for Morgana from the front door. It was obvious they were in the house and my back immediately went up.

“Military?” Theodore asked.

“What gave it away?” I asked, trying to smile.

Morgana left to greet the person.

“It’s the way you react to sudden sounds.” Theordore explained. “The way you sit with your body with easy access to the doors. The way you move between possible dangers and Ryanne’s body. My father had that when I was a kid.”

“Sorry.” I managed.

“No need, son.” Theodore smiled. “You did an honourable thing, an unselfish thing. Never let anyone make you apologize for that.”

“Thanks…” I told him. “I mean that.”

Morgana entered the space with a young man carrying a large duffle. He waved to us, but he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Ryanne.

“This is Todd Price.” Morgana introduced him. “He’s Teddy’s live-in nurse until Teddy can move around a little. Todd, this is my granddaughter Ryanne and her special friend Khadri.”

While Ryanne shook his hand, I ignored it.

He smiled too much.

He was entirely too handsome for his own fucking good.

I didn’t like him.

Though I didn’t want to, Morgana talked us into staying the night. Theodore and I talked about life and what had happened to Ryanne. Morgana spent time with her granddaughter while Todd lurked around the women.

Before I knew what was happening, Ryanne was off on a walk with this man.

“Why didn’t you tell her you didn’t want her to go?” Theordore asked from his seat on the back veranda as I tried seeing Ryanne and Todd along the beach.

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