past each other, and both stood there, looking wildly in all directions except ahead. If it hadn’t been so sad, it would’ve been laughable.
K.O. could see that it was definitely Wynn’s car. He smiled when he saw her and started to ease toward the curb. At the same moment, he noticed his father and LaVonne and instantly pulled back, merging into traffic again. He drove straight past K.O.
Now LaVonne and Max were staring at each other. They still hadn’t moved, and people had to walk around them as they stood in the middle of the sidewalk.
K.O. had to find a way to escape without being detected. As best as she could figure, Wynn had to drive around the block. With one-way streets and heavy traffic, it might take him ten minutes to get back to Blossom. If she hurried, she might catch him on Port Avenue or another side street and avoid letting Max see them together.
“I think my ride’s here,” she said, backing away and dragging her suitcase with her.
They ignored her.
“Bye,” she said, waving her hand.
This, too, went without comment. “I’ll see you both later,” she said, rushing past them and down the sidewalk.
Again there was no response.
K.O. didn’t dare look back. Blossom Street had never seemed so long. She rounded the corner and walked some distance down Port, waiting until she saw Wynn’s car again. Raising her arm as if hailing a taxi, she managed to catch his attention.
Wynn pulled up to the curb, reached over and opened the passenger door. “That was a close call,” he murmured as she climbed inside.
“You have no idea,” she said, shaking her head.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“I don’t know and, frankly, I don’t want to stick around and find out.”
Wynn chuckled. “I don’t, either,” he said, rejoining the stream of traffic.
They were off on what she hoped would be a grand adventure in the land of Z.
Chapter Fifteen
This is Zoe,” K.O. said as her niece wrapped one arm around her leg. After a half-hour of instructions, Zelda was finally out the door, on her way to meet Zach at the hotel. The twins stood like miniature statues, dressed in jean coveralls and red polka-dot shirts, with their hair in pigtails. They each stared up at Wynn.
“No, I’m Zara.”
K.O. narrowed her eyes, unsure whether to believe the child. The twins were identical and seemed to derive great satisfaction from fooling people, especially their parents.
“Zoe,” K.O. challenged. “Tell the truth.”
“I’m hungry.”
“It’ll be dinnertime soon,” K.O. promised.
Zoe—and she felt sure it was Zoe—glared up at her. “I’m hungry now. I want to eat now.” She punctuated her demand by stamping her foot. Her twin joined in, shouting that she, too, was hungry.
“I want dinner now,” Zara insisted.
Wynn smiled knowingly. “Children shouldn’t be forced to eat on a schedule. If they’re hungry, we should feed them no matter what the clock says.”
Until then, the girls had barely acknowledged Wynn. All of a sudden, he was their best friend. Both beamed brilliant smiles in his direction, then marched over and stood next to him, as though aligning themselves with his theories.
“What would you like for dinner?” he asked, squatting down so he was at eye level with them.
“Hot dogs,” Zoe said, and Zara agreed. The two Yorkies, Zero and Zorro, seemed to approve, because they barked loudly and then scampered into the kitchen.
“I’ll check the refrigerator,” K.O. told him. Not long ago, Zelda hadn’t allowed her daughters anywhere near hot dogs. She considered them unhealthy, low-quality fare that was full of nitrates and other preservatives. But nothing was off limits since Zelda had read The Free Child and become a convert.
“I’ll help you look,” Zara volunteered and tearing into the kitchen, threw open the refrigerator door and peered inside.
Not wanting to be left out, Zoe dragged over a kitchen chair and climbed on top. She yanked open the freezer and started tossing frozen food onto the floor. Zero and Zorro scrambled to get out of the way of flying frozen peas and fish.
“There aren’t any hot dogs,” K.O. said after a few minutes. “Let’s choose something else.” After all, it was only four o’clock and she was afraid that if the girls ate too early, they’d be hungry again later in the evening.
“I want a hot dog,” Zara shouted.
“Me, too,” Zoe chimed in, as though eating wieners was a matter of eternal significance.
Wynn stood in the kitchen doorway. “I can run to the store.”
K.O. couldn’t believe her ears. She hated to see him cater