Charity bit back a smile. “I thought you wanted children.”
“Not that one.”
Blue pulled a face. “I wouldn’t live with you if you asked. You’re newlyweds. You’re either going to be fighting or kissing.”
“Kissing,” Enzo said.
“Gross,” Blue said.
Charity said, “There’s a Welcome Center that helps incoming residents until they find work and housing. I’m sure they’ll know what to do. As soon as your paperwork is done, I’ll help you enroll in school. Then you’ll be a student like every other teenager.
“The city is working on a college. Maybe it will be finished by the time you graduate. Or who knows, maybe you can get a new identity and go to one of the state universities.”
Blue said something in reply. Charity didn’t hear what.
The dark fields around the car had been replaced by a street of townhomes—a place she vaguely recognized as a street in New Salem. Blue stood in front of Charity, taller and more mature, with brown hair that had a bright blue streak on her left side. She held a photo in her hands. “So once I find this guy, he’ll just come with me?”
“I don’t know,” Charity said. “I haven’t talked to Callum since the day we left Kansas City. It may take some convincing on your part.”
Blue slid the picture into her pocket. “What am I going to say to him—hey, you’ve never seen me before, but my sister, Charity, really needs your help. The dude will think I’m lying.”
“That’s why it may take some convincing on your part.”
Then Charity jolted back into the present.
Blue finished with, “Although, since New Salem is supposed to be such a great place, they probably don’t even have a police academy. I mean, why would they train people to harass their citizens?”
“You’re adorable,” Enzo said. “Maybe the citizens don’t want to take their chances with raiders, slavers, and other unsavory elements.”
Blue snorted. “From my perspective, the police are the unsavory elements.”
“That’s because you’re a child,” Enzo said. “And I’m sure you’ll make lots of nice hoodlum friends at the orphanage.”
Neither Blue nor Enzo had seen her eyes go white. That was probably for the best. She didn’t think either of them wanted to hear about this vision right now. Still, she found herself saying, “I bet when my parents arrive in New Salem, they’ll want Blue to stay with them.”
Blue dipped her chin petulantly. “Because they feel sorry for me?”
“Because my father needs help. He can’t use his hands or feet right now, and you don’t have to use yours.” She turned to better see Blue. “Could you use your powers to support him while he relearns to walk?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is that why your father rescued me? So I’d be his physical therapist?”
“Why do you keep asking that question?” Enzo said. “The point is he rescued you. Is helping him in return so much to ask?”
She blew out a breath and folded her arms. “If that’s all I have to do, okay. I just want to know when my debt will be paid.”
Charity smiled. “Maybe there’s not a debt to be paid. Maybe he rescued you so you could become part of our family.”
Enzo sent Charity a firm look. “No. Blue has her heart set on becoming the leader of a hoodlum gang of orphans. I can tell.”
Instead of being at all happy at Charity’s pronouncement, Blue’s mouth dropped open. “Are you suggesting I marry your brother?”
Charity coughed and then laughed. “Of course not. Gregor is way too old for you. Why would your mind even go there?”
She waved a hand at Enzo. “Your dad picked out your husband. Now I’m worried that’s what psychics do.”
“Enzo was a special case,” Charity said. “He needed some extra persuasion that we were supposed to be together.”
He reached out and put his hand on Charity’s knee. “Not all that much persuasion.”
“What are you talking about?” Charity said. “I think I’m still persuading you.”
He grinned at her. “I hope so.”
Blue leaned back against her seat and groaned. “Ugh. Newlyweds. This is why I’m not going to live with you.”
“Yep,” Enzo agreed.
Charity didn’t say anything. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could relax. She felt like she could be happy, and she wanted to enjoy that feeling.