Page 46 of Firefly

“He says hello, and that grandfather has been naughty.”

Sarah nodded seriously, running a hand absently over a cobalt velvet armrest.

“And that he’s been staying in the house, but he can’t see us for another two weeks. So in the meantime, we must make do with his letters.”

“Did he say if he was bringing us a present?”

Rebecca laughed. “He did mention a present. He’s working on something for both of us, but it won’t be ready for a while. Maybe another month or two.”

Sarah frowned, her lower lip jutting out. “Two months is a long time.”

Rebecca ran a hand over Sarah’s raven curls. “We must be patient for the things that matter most to us. Good things always take time.”

She folded the letter, sliding it into her pocket.

“Hey! That’s my letter,” Sarah protested.

“Would it be alright if I held onto it for you?”

“Put it somewhere safe. It's my first letter.”

Rebecca smiled, tugging Sarah’s curl. “I’ll keep it very safe.” She leaned over, kissing Sarah on the cheek.

They went to the studio Rebecca had taken over, and Sarah sat with her arms folded over her lap, staring absently at the wall. Rebecca arranged her paints and brushes, sitting down in front of the easel.

As she worked to capture every small detail of Sarah’s perfect cherub face, the girl yawned loudly and blew out a loud breath.

Rebecca’s lips quirked as Sarah tugged a curl and twisted it around her finger before yawning loudly again.

“Come, it’s time for you to get to bed, sweet girl.”

“What about my ice cream?”

“Tomorrow. I promise.”

When Sarah was tucked into bed, Rebecca pulled out the letter, inhaling its lavender scent.

She read it again.

Her first thought was to storm into her father’s underground room and confront him, but Simon’s words were clear: the month could stretch into something far worse if they pushed him. They would wait. In the meantime, he was working on a plan to help them escape.

She paced her room. Could they truly leave? It was the answer to her prayers. Sarah would be safe, and she and Simon could start a life together for however long she had.

She read the letter a third time. Soon. Soon, they would leave and never come back.

Chapter 35

Simon

Simon tossed his cards down on the table. “Nineteen!”

The dealer turned his cards over. “Seventeen. Player wins.”

Simon swiped up a pile of bills as a round of cheers went up around him. That was three in a row—he’d more than tripled his money tonight.

Large men in black suits were pushing through the crowd of onlookers. His sign to go. He flipped his hat onto his head and tipped his chin to the girl serving drinks. She blushed, smiling coyly.

The men closed in. Simon backed up, ducking behind two men vying for the seat he had just vacated.

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