Getting into the Guarderobe limo for work the next morning, is just as surreal as it was being in this same limo yesterday. Possibly even more so, because it was sent all the way from the Orb Hotel to the Perino house for the sole purpose of collecting me and only me.

Angel had already left for work when it arrived promptly at 6:30 in the morning. Its arrival was announced by a sharp knock at the front door from the same Mr. Cranky Chauffeur who, though polite, still treated me with utter disdain. Disregarding his curious glances through the rear view mirror, I act busy and check the still-installed car seat, then pick up a lost pink pacifier that’s been wedged into the back of the seat. I turn it over and over in my hands, wondering if poor Gregory and Mrs. Felix spent the night searching for this thing again.

Before I left the Perino’s house, Mrs. Perino had asked the driver to load up some last-minute pastries she’d baked for Gregory as the promised thank-you order. As she followed the chauffeur out to be certain he handled the boxes properly, she’d called over her shoulder ask me to remind Gregory how these are a gift.

I’d nodded in agreement, but I’m not sure if I’m going to be brave enough to be able to do anything but place the boxes in a kitchen somewhere. While Mrs. Perino was bossing the chauffeur around and probably making the salty dude even more cranky, I’d cornered Sage in the kitchen, who was gobbling up the leftover apple pastries Mrs. Perino had saved aside just for him.

I reach over and break off a bit of his pastry before asking, “Are you going to be okay?”

“Duh. Of course. Stop asking me that.” He rolls his eyes and stuffs the rest of the apple-butter concoction into his mouth and then speaks with a full mouth, “I’m still bitter I can’t just hop in that limo with you and meet my favorite band, you know?”

“Yeah. I get you. Have patience, be happy I’ve got a job. One thing at a time, right?”

“Tell them about me at least, would you? Mention how awesome I am and that I’d be happy to come with you each day should they need extra help.”

“I promise as soon as I’m comfortable there, I’m going to do that, and more, but I can’t promise I’m going to mention you today. I don’t want questions asked, you know?”

Dropping my voice, I’d added, “Please remember we can’t share any of our secrets to the Perinos, either. None. Do not talk about Dad, or us, or where we used to live, or what is going on—nothing until my birthday. That’s when me, taking charge of you, should be legal. In a week, I’ll officially be an adult according to the law. That’s when I can approach a lawyer to help me.” I grin. “And I’ll even have money to pay him.”

He’d nodded a couple of times before taking another huge bite of pastry while talking again with a too-full mouth, “Mrs. Perino said if these first days work out she might be able to hire me as a paid babysitter for the whole summer.”

“Did she? That’s so nice,” I’d said trying to keep my voice light.

“Yes.” He’d licked his fingers clean. “You act all tough, like you’re in charge of both of our lives, but you forget that you aren’t all alone in figuring out what we’re going to do here. There’s two of us, and I’m thirteen, Robin. I know what to say, what not to say, and exactly what to do and I’ve got a new job to start today, too. Stop worrying about me. We’re in this together.”

“Fine. Okay. We have to take this slowly. I need to research if the Perino’s can get in trouble for giving us a place to stay. It’s only been one day. And if Mrs. Perino mentions she wants to pay you or whatever again, please don’t accept her money—”

Swallowing his last mouthful, he’d interrupted me. “I know, Robin. I’m not an idiot. And, FYI, this is already our second day. I also really like it here. Love it. Love this whole family from the rabbits to the princess bride kids. I won’t do anything to get anyone in trouble. And I get that me, helping Mrs. Perino out, could work as some sort of a payback for the cool things they’re doing for us. I’d feel great about that. It would mean I could be part of the responsibilities. I also feel like we somehow belong here. I mean, meant-to-be here. Don’t you feel that, too?”

I’d decided not to answer that, but Sage had kept on, “What if after today I want to stay a few more days—or longer, like Mrs. Perino keeps offering? I overheard her tell Angel that we might be able to stay in one of the cottages they have out the back.” His eyes were too bright, full of too much hope and longing. “Maybe we could rent here. We might not even need to apartment-hunt or do those credit check application things you were so worried about. What do you think?”

“That’s just it, Sage. I can’t think right now.” I’d deflected, then grabbed one of the pastries for myself and acted all focused on wrapping it up. “I’m queasy from nerves about my job, because in case you didn’t notice, I’m about to go work for Guarderobe. A situation I’m sure you can imagine is stressful. Can we please work on getting our car fixed and getting my job all figured out before we think about where we’re staying or renting for good? You overheard a private conversation between Angel and Mrs. Perino about that cottage. Maybe after today they will think two extra teenagers are too much for their lives, just how Joanie did. Maybe they’ll never offer anything like that to us, so we shouldn’t assume or wish for anything past this day only. Like Dad says. One day, one hour, one minute at a time.”

He’d picked up another pastry like he’d meant to eat more but then had dropped it back onto a napkin with a thud. His voice was tortured when he’d pointed around the kitchen. “It’s only that Mrs. Perino and this place, it’s so great and she’s so nice. She, and this little farm…it’s all exactly like…”

“Like the mom we’d always wished for instead of the one we got? Like the house full of laughter and warmth we’ve always wanted?” I’d sighed, and dropped my voice. “It is exactly what we would dream up if we could choose our own lives, huh?”

Sage’s eyes had gone wide like he was surprised I’d known what he was thinking. “Yeah.” He’d looked away then. “Do you know they’ve even got a goat back there? And a berry patch. All kinds of berries.”

I’d reached over and mussed the front of his hair, trying to get a rise out of him, but he’d only looked desolate, and like he was shrinking from the inside out.

“Sage,” I’d whispered. “Enjoy it. Soak it up, even. I want you to have a fun time here. Lots of it.” I’d placed my hands on his shoulders so he’d have to look up at me. “But don’t get too attached to anyone or anything, in case we have to make a fast exit, that’s all.”

He’d faked the kind of smile that didn’t crinkle the sides of his eyes, and he’d forced his voice to the same ultra-bright-bullshit tone I do when I’m trying to make us both feel better. “Yeah. Okay. Just make sure if we are fast-exiting or whatever we have to do, that you have autographs that say Royce, Adam and Hunter, or at least concert tickets for both of us in your hands before we bolt. Deal?”

“Deal.”