Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(113)

Mom bit her lip and scrunched up her face as if she was going to cry again.

“I promise I’ll be there, Mom.”

“I know. I’m just so happy to have you back.”

“Me too. I’ll see you guys in a few days.”

“Do you really have to go?” Tyson blurted suddenly. He sounded on the brink of tears.

I let go of my mom to pull the kid into my arms. “Hey. No pouting. Ryan does enough of that already.” The dig made Tyson crack a smile. “You have my number. Call me any time you have free time, and I will be there. We’ll have supercontests or something. You and me against Abiodun, Betty, and Natalia.”

Tyson’s sad face turned into one of glee, but he quickly swallowed his excitement and tried to play it cool. “I don’t know. Seems unfair. Too much awesomeness on one team.”

“True. Maybe we’ll have to let Shortstop be on our team, too. You know, give us a handicap.”

Shortstop’s protest was loud and whiny. I shot him a wink while everyone else laughed and then ruffled Tyson’s hair. “We’re family now, Tyson. I’ll come hang out with you so much you’ll be sick of me in no time.”

As I said good-bye, I kissed his cheek and all of the ACEs hooted and whistled. Tyson, again, tried to play it cool, but he couldn’t hide the little pink spots that warmed his cheeks.

Stepping back to Ryan again and clasping his hand, I filled him with the energy he needed to make the run with me to the desert. We waved and turned to leave and were stopped once more, this time by a mouselike voice. “You’re really going to let her leave?” Natalia asked Major Wilks, gaping up at him with her big pale-blue eyes. “You’re really not going to stop them? Not going to force Jamie to stay with you and be part of your team?”

Her question—so tragically skeptical—broke my heart. It had been a long time since the girl had known trust and basic human decency.

Major Wilks bent down to her level. “Of course I am, Natalia. I hope she’ll change her mind and come back someday, but I understand and respect her decision to leave. She’s free to go.”

Natalia glanced at me, chewing on her bottom lip and hugging her arms around her frail little body as she looked back at Major Wilks. “And me? Would I be allowed to leave, too?”

The question shocked the entire group and brought tears to both Betty’s and my mother’s eyes. Major Wilks swallowed and took longer than normal to reply. “Of course, sweetheart, if that’s what you want. We would just have to find someplace suitable for you.”

I knew what would happen next before my mother stepped forward. “She could come with us.” My mom glanced at my dad, who smiled and nodded. “We know a little something about raising special girls, after all. You could have Jamie’s old bedroom.”

My mom and Natalia both looked at Major Wilks with so much hope that there was no way he could refuse them. Sighing, he rose back to his feet. “The base really isn’t the best place for a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Baker, I’m sure we could work that out; however, I’d like her to stay until we can make it official, and she’s gained a little strength back. It shouldn’t take her long, considering her gift.”

“Of course.” Mom bent down to Natalia’s height. “Would you really like to come live with us? You don’t want to stay with Betty, Abiodun, and Tyson?”

Natalia chewed her lips again, making eye contact with her fellow PACs one at a time. “We could still come see them, right?”

“Sure,” I said. “I can come get you and bring you here anytime, if you’re not scared of a little superrunning.”

Natalia considered my words and then shyly nodded to my mom before whispering, “The soldiers kind of scare me, and the base reminds me too much of Visticorp.”

Holy freaking heartbreaking Batman. Thank heavens for my mother. “Oh, sweetheart!” She pulled Natalia into a fierce hug, blinking away tears, and then brushed the little girl’s hair out of her face. It looked like I was gaining an adopted sister. “Would you like me to stay at the base with you until Major Wilks says it’s okay for you to come home with us?”

Natalia nodded again, and that was that. Becky would be flying home alone. My parents piled their luggage back into the military transport truck we’d driven here in.

With everything settled, I gave one last round of hugs to everyone and made Geek promise to call me if he ever cracked Teddy’s microchips (or the ACEs talked Teddy into giving them the password). I also made Smut promise to dress as a pirate captain for Halloween and send me the picture. The guys all got a good laugh out of that.

Ryan and I turned to leave, and Natalia broke away from the crowd to wrap her tiny arms around me. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I knelt down to give her a proper hug. “You’re welcome. Looks like you and I are going to be sisters now. I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“Me too!” She beamed a blinding smile at me and squeezed me around my neck. She placed a small, cool kiss on my cheek and suddenly whispered, “Hold still.”

The comment startled me, but I froze anyway, waiting to see if she would explain. After a second, warmth seeped into my body from her little hands. It took everything I had in me not to gasp.

Be still, Betty’s voice whispered in my mind. Don’t react.