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Carmen smiled when she saw Faith laugh. There was a time to find out what Faith’s deal was but now wasn’t it. Carmen knew better than anyone that sometimes a person just needed company, someone to make them feel safe, without adding pressure.

“You know you bloat after a night out, stop lying to yourself.”

“I might be bloated, but I’m still better looking than you.”

“In your dreams, Hermano.”

“Are you brother and sister?” Faith asked, her voice quiet.

“In every way but blood, honey. We took the same surname.” Mateo smiled.

“That’s nice,” Faith replied.

“What about you, any siblings?” Mateo was less patient than Carmen. He wanted the gossip.

“No, just me.”

Carmen looked at Mateo when Faith dipped her head and took a small nibble of the pizza Carmen had put on a plate for her.

Carmen shook her head before Mateo could even open his mouth. Faith needed some time and Carmen was happy to give that to her.

“How’s the pizza?” Carmen asked through a mouth full of mozzarella sticks.

“Wow, it’s awesome. I think I could eat this every day.”

“Amen, sister,” Mateo chimed.

“Do you… do you think there’s a way I can track down my aunt?” Faith was nibbling on her lip now instead of the pizza. Carmen wanted to scoop the girl up and give her a big hug.

“I’m sure there are ways. Um… do you have more information?”

“Not much, just that she was supposed to be living here. Apparently, she moved to Seattle three years ago. I tried searching for her on the internet at the library. But there is nothing.”

“And you don’t have her phone number?”

“Nope, just this address.”

Carmen nodded her head and then looked at Mateo for support. What should she do? The girl clearly needed help. “Do you have anyone else in Seattle you could ask?”

“Nope. I… I had to leave home, you see.” Carmen sat patiently, waiting for Faith to open up. “Um… my parents… they’re… well, they aren’t wonderful people.”

Mateo moved to sit next to Faith, his hand rested gently on her forearm. “You can talk to us, sweetie, you’re safe.”

“My dad is an angry man. He has a certain way of thinking. He believes things that meant I couldn’t stay at home.”

“Did he hurt you?” Carmen asked.

“Nothing too bad. The thing is… well, I’m gay and if he or my mom ever found out… well, it would be really bad.”

“So you ran away?” Mateo asked, his voice full of understanding.

“No, I left. I’m eighteen. I waited until I legally turned into an adult.” Carmen had to give Faith her due, the kid had thought it through. “I had a letter sent to the sheriff’s department letting them know I left of my own free will. My parents will come after me, and I didn’t want the police involved.”

“Smart,” Mateo smiled.

“I left in the middle of the night.” Tears formed in Faith’s eyes. The stress of her journey must have been getting to her. Well, that’s what Carmen surmised. “I found out about my aunt a few months ago. She left for the same reason I did. I thought, if I could just find her, I would be okay,” Faith sobbed.

Carmen scrubbed her face with her hands, regretting it immediately when she felt pizza sauce smear across her face.