Part 5 (2/2)

The stale scent was stronger there, old liquor, ripening garbage,

molding rags. Brian's shoes stuck to the linoleum as he crossed to the

cupboard, then crouched. He pulled open the door and peered inside.

He couldn't see the girl clearly, only that she was hunched back in the

corner, her blond hair in her eyes and something black hugged in her

arms. He felt his stomach turn over, but tried to smile.

”h.e.l.lo there.”

Emma buried her face in the furry black bundle she held.

”Nasty little brat. I'll teach you to hide from me.” Jane started to

make a grab, but a look from Brian stopped her. He held out a hand and

smiled again.

”I don't think I can fit in there with you. Would you mind coming out a

minute?” He saw her peep up over her folded arms. ”No one's going to

hurt you.”

He had such a nice voice, Emma thought, soft and pretty like music. He

was smiling at her. The light through the kitchen window was on

his hair, making the deep, rich blond s.h.i.+ne. Like an angel's hair. She

giggled, then crawled out.

Her new dress was smeared and spotted. Her wispy baby hair was damp

from a leak under the sink. She smiled, showing little white teeth with

a crooked inciser. Brian ran his tongue over a similar one in his own

mouth. When her lips curved, a dimple winked at the left corner of her

mouth, a twin of his. Eyes as deep and blue as his own stared back at

him.

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