If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(18)

Ashlyn nodded. Despite her unwillingness to give a verbal answer, she was paying attention.

"Maybe we should try one of the pictures out, see if it is fun," she added, reaching for the top piece of paper. While she did want to make copies before using all the originals, she didn't think one large peacock picture would be missed. She put it between her and Ashlyn and then grabbed some markers. "Let's do it together."

Ashlyn hesitated for a minute, and then picked up one of the markers. It was navy blue, so dark it was almost black. She colored in one of the peacock feathers. Mia chose a bright red and started working on the opposite side of the bird.

She found the coloring surprisingly stress-reducing. It was a nice break from cleaning, and Ashlyn seemed to like it, too. Although, as their efforts got closer together, she was struck by how dark Ashlyn's side of the page was: nothing bright or hopeful, just blacks and browns and heavy blues.

The sadness the little girl was mired in showed in every stroke of the marker. Maybe the coloring would help ease her pain, too.

She wondered what exactly had happened to Ashlyn's mother. Jeremy had said that she'd been killed, but he hadn't said how. Her heart went out to the little girl, and she wished she could do more for her than offer her lemon bars and the opportunity to color.

Ashlyn finished coloring in the last feather with black and then pointed to the lemon bars.

"Uh, I think we should wait on another one of those until after lunch." It was almost noon. Jeremy would probably be back soon.

"Now," Ashlyn said.

The demanding word didn't surprise her, but the voice did. She looked Ashlyn in the eye, and for the first time the girl did not break eye contact with her. In fact, there was defiance in her dark gaze.

"No," Mia said, even though it took every ounce of strength she had not to say yes.

Ashlyn looked shocked by her answer.

"You need to eat a healthy lunch first. I'd make you something now, but I have no food in the house. Your dad will be back soon."

Ashlyn threw her marker in Mia's face and then slid off her chair and ran toward the gate. She'd slipped through the gate before Mia could open her mouth. She jumped up and ran after her, yelling, "Ashlyn, come back."





Five

As Mia got to the front of her house, Jeremy pulled into the driveway.

He jumped out of the car, concern in his eyes. "What's going on?"

"Ashlyn got mad at me and ran home."

He hurried down the driveway. "She must have gone in the back door. Didn't you tell me everything was going to be fine, that I should feel free to leave her with you?"

She knew his angry words came from concern, but they still stung. "She slipped away from me really fast."

They walked into the backyard and up the steps. The sliding glass door was open.

"Ashlyn," Jeremy called, moving quickly through the hallway toward the stairs.

Mia stayed on his heels all the way up to Ashlyn's room.

Ashlyn was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Ash, are you all right?" Jeremy asked, sitting on the bed next to her.

Ashlyn didn't respond.

Jeremy looked to Mia for an explanation. "What happened?"

"She wanted a second lemon bar. I told her she had to wait until after lunch. I would have fed her lunch, but I didn't have any food. I haven't gone to the store yet." She looked past Jeremy to Ashlyn. "I thought we were having fun coloring together, Ashlyn."

"Why didn't you just give her another lemon bar?" he asked, running a hand through his hair.

"Because I thought it would be too much sugar." She paused. "When I said no, she said now."

His gaze swung back to her. "She spoke to you?"

Mia nodded. "She seemed pretty upset about my answer."

"Damn," he muttered. "A little extra sugar wouldn't have killed her. She doesn't want anything, Mia. It's the first thing she's asked for in weeks."

"Well, I didn't know that." She looked at Ashlyn. "Ashlyn, I said no, because I care about your health. It's not good for little girls to have too much sugar at one time. But we can have lunch, and then if it's okay with your father, you can have another dessert. What do you think about that?"

Ashlyn finally turned her head to look at her.

Mia's heart tore at the streaks of tears on her cheeks. Why hadn't she just said yes to the damn lemon bar? This little girl was suffering. But it was too late to change the past.

Ashlyn sat up and slid off the bed.

"Okay, good," Mia said with relief. She looked at Jeremy. "So what's for lunch?"

"Whatever we want to order off the menu at…" Jeremy paused, looking at Ashlyn. "Dina's Café?"

Ashlyn nodded.

"Good," he said, getting to his feet. "Why don't you wash your hands before we go?"

Ashlyn walked down the hall to the bathroom.

"Sorry," he said to Mia. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. Connecting with her is so difficult and frustrating that I probably would have given her anything she asked for if she'd said the word out loud."

"Maybe it's good that I didn't give her the second lemon bar. Kids need boundaries, even kids with a lot of issues."