Page 33 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

He nodded. “I am sorry.”

My brain wasn’t processing it. I kept waiting for something. Some more words to help me understand what he’d just told me. My mind wasn’t able to follow at all.

It all seemed so surreal. The blink of an eye, and I lost my sister, my best friend, my family. Lena and I had been through everything together, teenage hormones, first crush, losing our mother, boyfriends, college years, Callen. When I decided to move to England, she decided we’d do it together. Three musketeers, Lena, Layla, and Liberty.

“Oh my God!” I shot up. “Brandon! Where is Brandon?”

This time he frowned.

“Their son,” I clarified. “A neighbor’s daughter was babysitting him.”

“We went by the house, but nobody was there,” he said.

“Maybe they went to the neighbor's house?” I asked. “We have to find him.”

The next few hours were a blur. I was signing paperwork, although I wasn’t sure what they were. I kept shaking my head, but didn’t understand a word. I couldn’t believe any of it, hoping it was a practical joke. A joke in the poor taste but practical joke nonetheless. I just kept waiting for Lena to show up and start laughing.

Lena’s attorney showed up and was discussing papers with the officer although I couldn’t focus enough to understand what he was saying. The only thing I got out of it was that Brandon was going to be with me.

“Are you okay with that?” he asked me. I had no freaking clue what his name was although he repeated it several times.

“Yes,” I answered. “I’ll take care of Brandon.”

“Now, we’ll have a trial period and we’ll have to show you can take care of him in court. But we’ll get there. For now, let’s make sure he is with you since he knows you best.”

It was past three in the morning when Officer James and I were at the neighbor’s door. This was the third door we knocked on and I was starting to panic. She never told me which neighbor, and now, we couldn’t find Brandon.

An elderly woman opened the door with a cap on her head. For the most bizarre reason, I couldn’t stop staring at it. People still used caps to sleep with?

“Hello,” the officer started. “I apologize for such a late hour. Are you babysitting Brandon Dank, a four-year-old boy?”

I held my breath.Please say yes, please say yes.

“Yes, my daughter is,” she answered and I started pushing through the door when Officer James pulled me back.

“What is going on?” the woman watched me like I was crazy.

“There has been an accident,” he explained in his calm voice. I guess it was good he was calm. Otherwise, there’d be chaos with the way I was reacting. “Mr. and Mrs. Dank were in a fatal car accident. Miss Smith is his guardian.”

Sadness crossed the woman's face and tears started flowing down again, my heartache unbearable. I wiped them angrily.

“I want to take him now,” I meant to sound sure and firm, but I ended up sounding shaky and sobby.

“Of course, dear,” she opened the door wider to let us in. “You must be Livy.” I nodded. “He spoke a lot about you.”

I wouldn’t be able to stop tears if I taped my eyes shut. I gave up trying to hold them all in. She wrapped me into her arms and I returned the hug. This must have been a sight. A strange woman with a nightcap hugging me and I was actually letting her. Lena would laugh her heart out.

“It will all work out,” she whispered to me. I nodded although I wasn’t sure how it would.

I followed her quietly to the room where Brandon was sleeping peacefully. His blonde hair ruffled and that baby face of his looking angelic. My heart twitched. How would I tell him? I could barely admit to myself they were gone.

I leaned over him and picked him up into my arms. He stirred for a moment, opening those big blue eyes.

“Shhh,” I soothed him. “It’s just me.”

He wrapped his chubby arms around my neck and closed his eyes again. Right at that moment, I decided I’d do everything and anything to keep him safe. Now his life depended on me getting it all right.

Chapter Seventeen

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