The One Safe Place by Kathleen O`Brien Page B

I’m good at what I do. I don’t break everything I touch.”
    â€œOf course you don’t.”
    â€œAnd I’m not weak. I never cry. Never. I don’t know what happened to me last night. I’d hate for you to think that I—”
    A sudden noise in the kitchen doorway stopped her.She looked up and saw Spencer standing there, staring at them curiously. She glanced at Reed, who let go of her hand. She stood up, all the ferocity instantly draining from her expression.
    â€œHi,” she said to her nephew. “Don’t come in, honey. I broke a glass, and it’s all over the place.”
    The little boy didn’t protest. He waited in the doorway, holding on to Tigger’s collar to keep the puppy safe, too. They finished cleaning up the shards quickly, and then, at a nod from Faith, Spencer walked in, holding out a large piece of paper.
    She took it with a smile. “What’s this? Oh—how cute! I’ll bet you drew this for Dr. Fairmont, didn’t you?”
    Spencer didn’t answer, of course, but he didn’t snatch the paper back, either, and even Reed could see that the little boy was comfortable with Faith’s deduction. His somber brown gaze transferred to Reed, as if he were waiting for his reaction.
    â€œLook,” Faith said, handing it over. “It’s the kittens you were talking about at dinner.”
    The kid was pretty good. Reed could clearly see three tiger-striped kittens sleeping inside a large, domed birdcage. Spencer had even added a colorful parrot on top of the cage, staring down, bewildered by what had become of his home.
    Reed chuckled and looked over at Spencer. “Nice job,” he said. “It’s very good, and it’s funny, too.”
    Spencer didn’t smile, exactly. But he worried at his lip, as if he had to work to keep himself from smiling,and that was good enough for Reed. It felt good to see even the tiniest bit of pleasure on that pinched, freckled face. Kids weren’t meant to be so sad.
    â€œSpencer, what’s that?” Faith bent down and tugged on a bit of leather that stuck out of the little boy’s back pocket. “You brought Tigger’s leash? Why?”
    Spencer darted a quick look over at Reed, and Faith made a low sound of sudden comprehension. “Oh, I know. Maybe you’ve decided that you would like to go out with Dr. Fairmont to see the kittens?”
    The little boy answered by leaning down and affixing the leash to Tigger’s collar. The puppy immediately began turning around in frenzied circles of joy.
    Faith looked up at Reed, delighted surprise written all over her lovely face. Apparently it was something of a miracle that Spencer would actually be willing to go out into the night with a stranger, even to see newborn kittens.
    â€œSure,” Reed said easily. “I’d love to take him along.”
    Oops—he must have phrased that wrong. Spencer’s brow wrinkled deeply under his shaggy brown bangs. He tugged on Faith’s sweater. When he got her attention, he walked to the far counter and grabbed her purse. He came back and handed it to her.
    The implication was unmistakable. Spencer wasn’t going anywhere without his aunt.
    â€œReed?” She lifted her eyebrows. “Do you have room for all of us?”
    â€œOf course,” he said. “It’ll be fun.”
    And he realized that, much to his surprise, he actually meant it. He had thought he’d have trouble relinquishing his accustomed solitude—and yet here he was, downright pleased that he wouldn’t have to make the long drive out to the Lofton estate alone.
    Someone knocked on the kitchen door. Spencer froze, then sidestepped behind Faith’s legs, dragging Tigger with him. Soon all you could see were his little white-knuckled fingers around her hips.
    â€œIt’s probably just Theo,” Reed said reassuringly. “She’ll be wanting her