Page 19 of Shadows Relived
And now, boredom loomed like a monster.
Before she could suggest an activity, Lucas looked up at her, brow furrowed. “Did you talk to my mom and dad yet?”
Her heart stilled for a beat. “I tried, sweetheart.” She crouched beside him, gently brushing a curl from his forehead. “I called, but I couldn’t get through. I left messages, though. I’ll keep trying, though. Promise.”
Lucas’s eyes dropped to the floor. “They don’t really answer. They’re always busy doing something.”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“They’re always busy,” he said, voice flat, not angry but matter-of-fact in a way no five-year-old should sound. “Sometimes they don’t even come home for days. My grandma picks me up when that happens. And they yell a lot at each other. I think Mom is mad at my dad.”
Her throat tightened. “I’m so sorry, Lucas.”
He shrugged, then buried his face in a throw pillow, the conversation obviously over. It was a child’s version of shutting a door.
Meaghan stood slowly, rubbing her palms on her jeans.
“Can we roast marshmallows later?” Willie piped up,clearly trying to change the subject. “Like, outside? With sticks? And an actual fire?”
“And play in the woods?” Sophie added, with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
“Mr. Callen said it would be like a vacation,” Lucas added, staring at Meaghan, but not looking very hopeful. “It hasn’t felt like a vacation yet.”
She shook her head. “And that’s why we’ll have to wait until Mr. Callen gets back to see what he wants us to do. Remember, he’s in charge for our safety. No going outside without him here. That’s our rule.”
Lucas made a twisted face. “He’s bossy.”
Meaghan huffed a laugh. “Yes, he is. But he’s also a kick-butt Ranger who works with a very special team of protectors. He won’t let anything happen to us.”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “Like superheroes?”
“Exactly like that. And he already saved us once, didn’t he?”
That got a round of nods.
“He’s watching out for all of us,” she assured them gently. “So we have to listen to his rules, even if they’re no fun. He’s doing his best to get each of you back to your families.”
The kids grumbled but didn’t argue.
Meaghan glanced around, chewing her lip. She needed to keep them focused on something. Anything. Something that didn’t feel like the world was ending outside their four walls. She grabbed the empty pancake mix box, flipped it over, and laid it flat on the table.
“Okay, new mission,” she said, her voicebrightening. “We’re going to draw our own comic book. About Ranger Callen and the Forest Heroes. You each get a page.”
“Oooooh!” Willie bounced in place.
“Can I make Sophie have flying powers?” Lucas asked.
Sophie scowled. “Only if I get to fly and shoot sparkles.”
“Deal,” he said.
While they scribbled with crayons—bright explosions, cape-wearing animals, and a very muscular version of Callen with glowing eyes—Meaghan sat back and let the sounds of their laughter wrap around her like a warm blanket.
It was temporary, and she knew it.
But it was something.
As they bent over their crayon masterpieces, little hands smudged with color and concentration, she let her gaze drift from one child to the next, so small, so loud, so impossibly brave.
