Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Mrs. Fields gave her a discerning look. “If you don’t want to come back, I understand. That’s another reason your caseworker is coming. She can find another foster family where they’ll have a hard time finding you.”
“I don’t want another home.” Blinking back tears of fright, Alanna stared at her foster mother imploringly.
“I don’t want you, too, either. I’ve decided not to take in any more foster children. You’ll be the only one here, other than Sam. You and Sam get along okay, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She sniffled. “I like Sam.”
“I’m kind of partial to him myself. Of course, he’s my son, so I could be biased. With you and Sam to take care of, I’ll be able to take you back and forth to your appointments, and you won’t have to ride the bus anymore. You can go outside and sit on the back porch; think about it until your caseworker arrives.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Taking her dishes to the sink, Alanna started to head out the back door, but paused. Unable to hold back her happiness, she returned to the table to hug Mrs. Fields.
“Thank you. I like living here.”
“I like having you here, too,” Mrs. Fields returned gruffly. “Scoot. I hear a car in the driveway. I need a few minutes with your caseworker.”
Nodding, Alanna practically skipped out the back door to take a seat on the swing.
As she stared out at the overgrown lawn, she promised herself she would learn how to work the lawnmower, which gave Mrs. Fields such fits in her back each time she had to use it. Owen had refused to mow the grass each time he was asked. She also promised to do all the chores Kate hadn’t helped with.
Without Owen and Kate in the house and not having to see them again, it felt as if a whole new life was opening up to her. One where she wouldn’t have to be so afraid.
She bit her bottom lip as her happiness dimmed. No matter how much Mrs. Fields would try to protect her, she had a sinking feeling in her stomach that Kate and Owen would just be waiting to strike when she least expected it.
“Should I not come back?” she mused out loud to herself. The last time she had left a foster home, she was stuck in a group home for thirteen months before Mrs. Fields accepted her as a placement.
There was nothing about her that drew the attention of prospective foster parents. She was too young to do many of the chores that would make life easier for those who wanted to foster. When she had been younger, she lived in several foster homes, and was shuffled out the door each time her foster parents found themselves expecting a child of their own.
“I don’t want to go to another home,” she mused out loud again. Mrs. Fields always made sure she had enough to eat and changed her bed as much as she did Sam’s. One of the biggest reasons that she didn’t want to leave was Sam. Despite the five-year age gap, she had grown closer to him while she and Kate had grown further apart. Both Owen and Kate were smart enough to keep their hands to themselves where Sam was concerned. Since he was Mrs. Fields’s natural son, they didn’t want to chance being thrown out by her. As far as foster homes went, Mrs. Fields’s was the best any of them had ever lived in.
“They’ll know where to find you.” Alanna knew Kate would never let her slip out of her grasp. On the other hand, did she want to chance being placed in a foster home where someone worse than Kate and Owen lived?
“I’m scared. I don’t know what to do.”
The leaves on the tree next to the porch started waving on the branches as a calming breeze gently blew through them.
“Stay. Grow stronger. I’ll tell you when to run.”
Alanna didn’t blink at the wind talking to her. It was just as normal as Mrs. Fields talking to her or anyone else. It was her imaginary friend who had always been there when she had needed him.
“I don’t know …”
“Don’t I always tell you where to hide? Haven’t I always protected you?”
“Yes … but I’m scared of Kate and Owen.”
“I know you are. I’ll be there with you.”
Alanna used her foot to make the swing start rocking. “Yeah … but you’re not real. It’s not like you’re a prince or anything and you’re going to come and save me.”
“I’ve told you before; you have to come and find me.”
“That’s hard to do when you won’t tell me where you are.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“You have to find me.”
Alanna gave a tired sigh. “Are you very far away?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer. This was the same conversation she’d had with her invisible friend many times before. “I’ll never be able to find you. You’re invisible.”