SoLuandhischildhoodfriendMoxi—whowerealwaysmorelikeswornsiblingsthanlovers—pletedthefosterpaperworkasacohabitingcouple.Justlikethat,thetwoofthembecameReya''''''''stemporaryfosterparents.Yetthisso-called"temporary"stretchederthananyoneexpected.
"Yourkidisperfeormal.Stopwastingourtime."
Whenevershevisited,Moxiwouldughandsay,"LookhowourReyatur!Andwhosedoingwasthat?Mine!"
herofthemwas.
Traumatizedbywhatevershehadehewoods,shehadlosthervoidckedevebasiclifeskills—notevenonparwithathree-year-old.Moxienrolledherinaspecialeducatiram,butwithiheteacherssentherback.
Reya,atfirst,wasahandful.
Butshewasn''''''''tbuiltfornormalcy.
"Ruiningmylifeisenough.I''''''''malreadyalostcause.Don''''''''tletherruinyourstoo."
Officially,Ludidn''''''''tmeettherequirementstofosteranorphan.Butthegirlrefusedtoletgoofhim—evenwhendoctorsexaminedher,orwhenpolienbathedandgedher,shegstubbornlytohisclothes.
Herfamilyhadbeenthrilledinthebeginning,imaginingtheirdaughterwouldfinallysettledownwithanoldfriend''''''''sson.Butfatewasn''''''''tontheirside.Afterafewfailedattempts,theygaveup.
Thesy,dark-skinnedgirlhadgrownfairer,putonsomeweight.Herfeaturesremainedpin,butwhenshesmiled,herdimplesturadorable.
Luwasabachelor,cluelessaboutraisingachild.Moxibeganvisitingstantly,whichsparkedgossipatfirst.Butafteryearspassedwithnohintofromahenosyneighborslosti.
Moxiknewwhathemeaillhopedshe''''''''dfimaledown,havealifeuntouchedbytheshadowsthatswallowedhisown.
Luxurynurturesbeauty.UnderMoxi''''''''scarefulhand,Reyablossomedintoagraceful,delicateyoungwoman.
ItwasinthatsingleweekthatLuoticedhissedsurprise.
Morethanonce,MoxisuggestedReyaelivewithherpermaly.
Sinosuitablefamilycouldbefhtaway,andtheiigationintomissingchildrenrecordswasstillongoing,leavihLuseemedthemostpracticalchoice.Ifherrealparentseversurfaced,shewouldbeeasiertorecim.
Butthetruthwas,withhisworkasahomicidecaptain,hecouldn''''''''ttributemucheveried.Hewasoftencalledawayinthedeadofnight,disappearingfordays,onlytostumblehome—exhausted,sweaty,sometimesevenstaihblood—beforecolpsingintobed.
de.
Lualwaysrefused.
AdorableinawaythateerilyresembledthechildhoodphotoofthatotherReya—thevictim—hehadrievingmother''''''''shome.
Moxiadoredthegirl,spoilihgifts.Later,afteraluckystreakiockmarket,shethrewLuoutofthemasterbedroomandredecorateditintoafairytalesanctuary—hardwoodfloors,plushrugs,aprincessbed.Adreamfitforachildwhohadneverhadone.
Lualwaysrolledhiseyes.Asifhehadn''''''''ttributedatall.