Page 56 of Found Objects

“I got her to come take care of people at my shelter.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You’re Merritt Baker?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.”

“Oh, she speaks so highly of you, Mr. Baker. Diane and I have been friends for many years. She’s the absolute best.”

“She certainly is.”

“Well then.” She turned to Cole. “Your brother may go home later today, Mr. Swann. I’m going to keep him for a few more hours, but with Diane popping by to check in on him, I won’t worry about any ongoing issues. I do want you to follow up with your regular doctor next week, however.”

“Yes, I certainly will,” Cole said, still hugging his little brother. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re so welcome.” She sighed. “He’s very fortunate.”

“I know,” Cole rumbled in return, his eyes locked with mine. “Believe me, I know.”

I called Diane, and after she told me how naughty I was to lie to her friend, I said I would bring Evan by the shelter the following day. I also promised her a massive pumpkin cheesecake pie for her family.

“Fine,” she muttered, but I could hear the smile in her voice. “I forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s lucky I adore you, Merritt Baker.”

And it was. Very.

Once I was off the phone, I realized everyone was looking at me. “What?”

It turned out that Evan wanted a really big, utterly massive cheeseburger, a vanilla shake, and onion rings. Everyone wanted him to have that, no question, but no one wanted to go get it.

“I can go,” I offered.

“No,” Reggie snapped at me. “You’re the reason no one wants to leave.”

“If you go, I promise not to explain anything until you get back,” I told him.

“You swear?”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah, all right,” he muttered as he turned for the door.

“Hey, wait,” I ordered, as was my way. “Grab six regular cheeseburgers and fries for the nurses—they’ll appreciate it. And I need a vegetarian burger.”

“A veggie burger?” Reggie sounded like I’d asked for a helping of the plague.

“Yeah. Please.”

“Gross, man,” he said, but he left with Fletcher, because Evan, it turned out, wasn’t the only one who was hungry. They had all skipped several meals while keeping vigil.

I took a seat in the chair closest to the bed, and when Evan rolled over to face me and held out his hand, I quickly took hold.

“You know, I should’ve figured that a guy with an elf for a friend was probably magic.”

I shook my head. “Not magic, just old. You pick up some things.”

“How old can you be?”