Chapter 234

“Oh, honey, you scared me to death,” Uncle Scooter said. He was petting her, like she was Muffin. Touching her hair, her face, hugging her again. “I was so worried.” A moment later, Uncle Andy practically threw the door open, not even knocking. “Is she okay?” He sounded sort of wheezy and out of breath. When Billie looked up, his eyes were sort of red. “Oh, God, Billie,” he gasped. He came and hugged her and Uncle Scooter together. “You okay, buttercup?”

She nodded, though all the hugging was making her want to cry some more. “I don’t wanna dad,” she said, and her voice sounded funny. “I don’t wanna leave.”

“Oh, honey,” Uncle Scooter said again. He sounded like he might cry. “Uncle Andy and I are gonna do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen. Okay? We’re not giving you up without a fight. I promise.”

Billie clung tighter. “But you said,” she sobbed. “You saidit wasn’t right.”