Page 142 of Sins of Innocence

Looks at me for guidance.

But I just raise my eyebrows.

"Call or text either your mom, me or McLaren...uh, Ellie. We'll make sure you get what you need."

Sadie stares at the phone. "Is this because of what happened before?"

She means the boys. The school. All the ways her father’s death followed us like a stain no matter how fast I tried to scrub it out.

I open my mouth to answer but mom beats me to it.

"Your stepfather just wants to be sure you’re safe. That’s his job now."

Kieran nods, jaw working like he’s chewing on every word he doesn't say.

I can feel myself being outmaneuvered, but there are worse gifts than security.

I catch Kieran’s gaze.

His expression is as serious as I've ever seen it. "I want them safe and the phone will help me keep them that way."

I nod. "I know, but you have to talk about stuff like this with me first."

"Good luck with that," Ellie singsongs.

"Men like Kieran are doers, not talkers, sweetheart," mom says. "Like your dad. Do you remember when he bought that airsoft pistol for Brady? I was fit to be tied."

Brady had loved going to the airsoft range with his friends. It's no wonder he joined the military right out of high school.

"I remember you yelling."

"And your father made a very nice apology to me later along with a promise never to do it again."

"Eww, gran," Sadie says, proving that unlike her younger sisters, who are entirely occupied with their new phones, she's still listening to us.

"Trust me, girl, your mom was not an immaculate conception," mom teases.

My daughter looks ready to bolt and I can't help laughing. I turn to share my humor with Kieran but he's staring at my mom, looking stunned.

"What?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "She stood up for me."

"Yeah. Mom is an equal opportunity pragmatist. Just wait until you get on her bad side though."

"No plans to do that."

A little while later, Ellie is gone. The girls are fully occupied with their phones in the living room, and Mom has started lecturing Sadie about not posting her location online "for predators and nosy girls from school alike."

My guess is the warning is unnecessary. If Kieran hasn't already had Ellie put something on their phones preventing the girls from doing that, she will.

I find myself standing at the sink rinsing plates that absolutely do not need rinsing. Mostly because I’m trying to calm down. Not about the phones exactly. Okay, partly about the phones.

But also about the way Kieran looked standing there in the middle of our tiny kitchen while Joy climbed his leg asking if Minnie Mouse could text back in emojis.

Like he belonged.

Warmth presses against my back.