Chapter 20: New Horizons

The airport was noisy. Bea walked beside Ethan, carrying Ellery. Her arms were getting tired, but the poor girl refused to walk on her own, not when she was surrounded by strangers. Thank god Chase and Eli offered to carry the luggage, she thought, shifting Ellery more comfortably onto her hip. I don’t think we would ever have made it, otherwise. Ellery refused to let men touch her. Even after the past month and change, she would hardly look at Ethan.

It was the beginning of September, now, and a new beginning for all of them, it seemed. Things had not settled down so easily after Roger’s death. Not long after, a young couple, the Townsends, had come to the group home. They were from Kentucky, they’d explained, the son and daughter-in-law of the rich owner of a farm that bred and raced Thoroughbreds. They had been planning to adopt, because she was unable to have children, and when they’d seen Aria on T.V., talking about her dream to ride racehorses, they had fallen in love with her.

He’s taking this better than I thought he would, Bea thought, glancing over at Ethan. Although I wish he wouldn’t look so sad all the time. She knew how hard it was for him; doubly so, since Ellery was going, too. When she’d met them, Aria had told the Townsends—rather politely—that she would not go anywhere without Ellery, whom she had taken under her wing after the incident with Roger. I know Ethan is happy for them both, Bea thought, smiling at him when he glanced over at her, but this is hard for him.

It had been his decision to take them to the airport, rather than allowing the Townsends to pick them up. He’d wanted a little more time with them, she knew, especially with Aria. Bea had watched the girl bounce back and forth between happy and sad for the past month, while the home looked into the Townsend family, took care of all the necessary paperwork, and helped the girls work through this big adjustment. As much as Aria was thrilled to be going to a place where she would have family—and horses—she was sad to leave Ethan. And Bea got the feeling that if it weren’t for Aria, Ellery would never have been able to accept the change.

“You know, you don’t have to carry me the whole way, Ethan,” Aria said, wrinkling her nose at him. “I’m not a complete invalid.”

Ethan blinked at her. “Some days, Ari, I think you’re too smart for your own good.”

“Or for yours,” Aria shot back, looking smug.

To their surprise, even Ellery giggled at that. She seemed to startle herself, because she swallowed her laughter, coming out with a hiccup instead, and her eyes widened. At least they’ll leave on a good note, Bea thought, her heart warming at the smile on Ethan’s face. She’s got a long way to go, the poor thing, but I think having Aria by her side will help. Maybe she was getting ahead of herself, but for some reason the two of them reminded her of herself and Alanna.

They finally reached the Townsends, who were waiting to take the girls down to the gate. Lindsay Townsend was a petite, pretty blonde, and just about the sweetest person Bea had ever met in her life. She came forward as soon as she saw them, a joyful smile on her face. Her husband, Howard, hung back a little, as he had from the very first day. The man seemed to have endless patience, waiting for the girls to trust him, and Bea had liked him since the first time she’d seen him. He was the kind of gentle soul who, when he found a spider or some other crawly bug in his house, would make sure it got back outside unharmed.

“Hello, Ari,” Lindsay said, smiling warmly. “And Ellery.” She was always quiet when she spoke to Ellery, but her voice was never condescending. “We’ll be waiting just over there until you’re ready, okay?”

Lindsay and Howard waited near the sectioned-off entrance that led down to the gates. Bea set Ellery down carefully, having to pry the girl’s fingers from her shirt to get her to let go. I wish there was a way to make her feel better, she thought, but the only thing that will heal her is time. Ethan set down Aria. She’d been carrying her crutches, and now she leaned on them heavily, staring down at the floor, obviously reluctant to go.

“Don’t look so sad, Aria,” Ethan said, crouching down in front of her. “You’re going to have a great new home. You should be happy.”

“I know,” Aria said quietly. She looked up. “But I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too, sweetheart,” Ethan told her.