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the bus with.”
    “Oh, Abby, that’s so wonderful! I was worried about Anna. She doesn’t usually adapt so quickly.”
    “I knew you’d be worried, but your chicks are doing fine. Call back this evening and we’ll put both of them on the phone.”
    “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”
    “It will be good for the children, too. They’ll want to know that you’re in touch.”
    “Thank you, Abby. Are you staying down?”
    “Of course. Kate came and fixed me breakfast and fixed a lunch and put it in the fridge. I just finished it. I think my hunger is growing!”
    “If it is, it’s because the babies need it.”
    “Thanks, Sarah. You know exactly what to say.”
    “Okay, take care of yourself.”
    She handed the phone back to Brad. After a moment, he hung up. But he still stood in the open doorway.
    “We didn’t stop for lunch,” he reminded her. “Are you hungry?”
    “I can wait.”
    “Nope. I’m not going to eat by myself. I’ll give you five minutes. Then I’ll knock again.” He walked out and closed the door.
    Sarah knew Brad was used to being in control, but she wouldn’t let him control her. Then again, he had driven her here.
    This time when he knocked, she opened the door and smiled at him. “I’m ready.”
    They walked toward the restaurant next door, which the desk clerk recommended.
    “By the way,” he said as they crossed the lot, “Mike said for me to pay for everything. He thinks we’ll be reimbursed by the police.”
    She stared at him. “Are you sure?”
    “That’s what Mike said.”
    “But just in case, I probably shouldn’t spend too much. They might not pay for everything.”
    “Yes, you can, Sarah. Leave that for Mike to worry about.”
    “But he’s trying to help me. I can’t—”
    “Want me to call and ask him?” Brad asked, pulling out his phone.
    “No! No, I don’t want you to call him.”
    “Then plan on eating a decent lunch. You need to be strong when you testify.”
    “Am I going to testify? I thought I’d just talk to the police and—and tell them what I know.”
    “I thought Mike had prepared you.”
    “Not to testify.”
    “What you’ll do is talk to the police and then testify in a hearing to determine that your stepfather should be remanded to stand trial.”
    “And then I’ll be finished?”
    He shook his head. “If they hold him for trial, you’ll have to come back and testify again.”
    Brad held open the door to the restaurant and Sarah went in. She stopped when apretty young hostess stepped forward. “How many?” the woman asked her.
    “Two.”
    Brad came in the door after her.
    “Right this way,” the woman said, smiling under her lashes at Brad.
    After they were seated, Sarah said, “She was flirting with you.”
    “I know.” Brad shot her a broad grin that lit up the gold in his dark eyes. “But don’t worry. I’m all yours until we get back home.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    W HEN Sarah didn’t respond to Brad’s teasing, he decided he’d better keep an eye on her. He made sure she ordered a good meal. Other than that, there was no conversation during their meal.
    She finished eating before Brad. He looked at the food remaining on her plate. “Don’t you want any more?”
    “No, thank you.”
    “You saving up for a big dinner tonight?”
    “No.”
    “I was thinking…since we don’t have anything scheduled this evening—”
    Sarah interrupted him. “Of course you can ask her out.”
    “Ask who out?”
    “The hostess. She’s obviously interested.”
    “But I’m not. As I was going to say, I thought maybe we should go to a movie tonight. We don’t have any theaters in Sydney Creek. What do you think?”
    She stared at him, bewildered.
    “Are there any movies you want to see?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know what’s playing.”
    “Did you go to the movies a lot?”
    “No. I never went to the movies. It would’ve cost too much for all three of us to go.”
    Frowning, Brad asked, “Didn’t