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.