Chapter 23: A Place to Be a Kid

"I took a job in Indianapolis," Kendra said.

We stood on Eli's mother's porch in the cold.

The little girl sat on the top step with her rabbit and a suitcase nearly as big as she was.

"It's a daycare director position. A real one, with a salary and a contract, and nobody's name on it but mine."

"When did you apply?"

"The Monday after the church. I didn't tell you, because I thought you'd say it was too fast."

"I wasn't going to say that."

"No?"

"I was going to say congratulations."

She laughed, and her eyes filled, and she wiped them with the heel of her hand.

"I can't stay in this town, Cassidy. Every person at the grocery store knows my daughter's whole story."

"Half of them think I'm a victim and the other half think I'm a thief."

She took a breath.

"I want her to have a place where she's just a kid with a rabbit."

"That's the right reason."

"Ron wants to help. I told him I'd take child support, in writing, through a lawyer."

"The legal amount and not a dollar more. No rent. No favors. No more envelopes."

"What did he say?"

"He said he'd drive down every other Saturday."

"He said he'll sit on the floor in the new house and let her paint his boots."

"Will you let him?"

"She asked me to," Kendra said. "She asked, and she meant it. I'm done deciding what she's allowed to love."

I held out my arms and she walked into them.

She was thin and shaking, and she smelled like toast.

"Thank you for opening that door," she said into my shoulder. "In the sleet. You could have shut it."

"You knocked."

"I almost didn't."

"I know," I said. "I'm so glad you did."

Behind us, the screen door opened.

Eli's mother came out carrying the baby in a green blanket, with Eli behind her holding a paper bag.

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