to extend an overture to Sam just so you could get your hands on her keys,” Zoe said in disbelief. “She’s a child, and you violated her trust in the worst way. But then you’d already done the same thing to her mother, so why should Sam get in your way?”
With each word, with each revelation, Ryan’s stomach rolled in sick disbelief. “I don’t know who you are,” he said, glancing at his uncle.
“Sometimes I don’t know the answer to that, either,” Russ said.
Zoe’s hand still in his, Ryan pulled her toward the door.
“Ryan,” his uncle called to him.
Ryan paused.
“I’ve always loved you—you and Faith,” Russ told him. “And I pray that someday when you’ve had time to think this over, you’ll see through my weakness and stupidity and realize that.”
Unable to see anything at the moment, Ryan strode through the door with Zoe without looking back.
Chapter Fourteen
Zoe folded her last tank top and placed it into her suitcase. A few more items and she’d be good to go. She glanced around the small guest room she’d called home for a short time and realized she’d always felt comfortable here. Not just here in this room, but here in Ryan’s apartment and in his life. Surely that was because he hadn’t been in his normal routine any more than she’d been in hers.
As she’d told him already, they needed to return to their jobs, their friends, their lives and then their differences wouldn’t just be apparent, but dramatically so. Of that she was sure—no matter how much her heart hurt at the thought of leaving him.
Sam knocked, interrupting Zoe’s thoughts. She bounced into the room and plopped herself cross-legged on the bed. “So we’re going home?” she asked, her gaze on the bag.
Zoe nodded. “It’s about time, don’t you think?”
“I guess.”
Catching the uncertainty in Sam’s voice, Zoe knew the young girl had started to care for her new family and would find it difficult to leave them behind—even if it wasn’t for good. The next chapter in all their lives promised to be a challenge.
“You had fun here, didn’t you?” Zoe asked.
Sam twirled a long strand of her hair around one finger. “This last day or so, yeah I guess I did. Even the old lady isn’t so bad as long as I keep Ima away from her.” Sam snickered.
“Be nice, you,” Zoe chided, but she was laughing, too.
Suddenly Sam sobered. “Am I gonna have to come live here?” she asked, her eyes deadly serious and too wise for her fourteen years.
Zoe turned and sat down beside her, joining her on the bed. “I wish I could say no, but there’s a good chance you will.”
Sam nodded slowly. “I figured.”
Zoe narrowed her gaze, wanting to be sure she was reading Sam’s mood correctly. That her lack of tantrums and yelling meant she’d begun to accept the inevitable and even look forward to her future a little bit.
“You’re okay with this?” she asked the teen.
“I don’t have much of a choice, right? The Baldwins are my real family. I love you guys, but even I know the law and kids always end up with their relatives even if it’s not what’s good for them.”
That damnable lump rose in Zoe’s throat. “Is that how you feel? That Ryan’s family isn’t good for you?”
“No,” Sam whispered. She hung her head, shaking it from side to side at the same time. “They’re not bad people. Grandma Vivian said she’s learned from her mistakes. A person who says that can’t be too awful.”
Zoe smiled. “Good point.”
“But I feel guilty.”
Sam looked up with watery eyes, and Zoe felt her pain like a punch in the stomach. “Why? All we want is for you to be happy.”
“You guys took me in and wanted to adopt me.” Her bottom lip quivered as she tried to find the words to explain. “I love you all so much, and I feel bad liking these uptight people at all.”
Zoe shook her head, rejecting Sam’s guilt. “Liking them doesn’t mean you love us any less.” She reached for Sam’s smaller hand. “You have a big heart, honey. Big enough for everyone in your life.”
“As big as my mouth?” Sam grinned, and at that moment, Zoe knew the teenager would be okay.
“When’s Ryan driving us back?” Sam asked.
“Actually I thought we’d fly. I didn’t want to put Ryan out and—”
“Isn’t that for Ryan to decide?” The man himself stood in the doorway, eyeing the open suitcase with an unreadable expression.
Zoe’s stomach cramped at