Page 104 of A River of Crows

Libby couldn’t disagree with him. “You’re right. It wasn’t nice. But we all had our reasons, right? You and your mom wanted to protect Sloan. Vince and I wanted to protect you.”

“I didn’t need to be protected. Dad never hurt me. Why didn’t Mom just tell the police Dad was hurting Sloan? Why didn’t Mrs. Evans? It would have been the same! He would have gone to jail the same.”

“You have every right to be angry. None of it was okay. Vince and I had good intentions, but intentions don’t determine if something is right or wrong. I’m sorry, but I can’t be completely sorry because I’m glad for the time I’ve spent with you. Vince and I will miss you very much when you go.”

Ridge’s gaze pinged around the room. “I don’t want to go.”

Libby walked toward him. “Yes, you do, Ridge. You and your mother have always been very close.”

“I don’t want to go to New York. I don’t want a new name. I’m sick of being dead.”

Libby felt something inside her break at the sight of Ridge’s tears. She wrapped her arms around him. He fought her off but eventually gave in, collapsing in her arms and sobbing.

“What do you want,” Libby asked, pulling away from Ridge after the worst of the crying was over. “Do you want to go back to Mallowater and tell the truth?”

Ridge shook his head. “I don’t want to get any of you in trouble.”

Libby sometimes couldn’t believe so much intelligence and heart fit in such a small boy. She was about to offer him some ice cream and control of the remote when he spoke again.

“I want to stay with you and Vince.”

Libby’s breath caught. “You what?”

“I’m happy here. Why can’t I just stay?”

Libby didn’t know what to do, what to say. “Go get some ice cream,” she managed. “As much as you want. We’ll talk about this later.”

While she waited for Vince to come home—and while Ridge ate his Rocky Road straight from the carton—Libby went into her room and called Doreen Dawson.

“What a nice surprise, Libby. How are things in Louisiana?”

“They’re good.” Libby tried to sound upbeat. “I just called because I’m worried about Caroline.”

“I spoke with her earlier,” Doreen said. “She seemed fine.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. She seems a little too okay.”

“Grief comes in phases,” Doreen said.

“I guess so. I just worry about Sloan. Caroline seems to have left her to fend for herself.”

“Yes,” Doreen’s voice lowered. “Walt and I, we’ve been trying to help all we can. We love having Sloan over, but we’re trying to encourage her to build up that relationship with her mom too.”

That’s not a child’s job, Libby thought, but instead asked, “Is Sloan there now?”

“Yep. Out on the trampoline with Noah. Would you like to talk to her?”

“Please. And don’t mention this to Caroline. I’m not implying she’s a bad parent. I don’t want to upset her.”

“I understand. Let me get Sloan.”

“Hi, Libby.” There was a sadness in Sloan’s voice. Not the voice of a child who’d just been jumping on the trampoline with a boy she liked.

“Hi, sweetie. You’ve been on my mind, and I wanted to check in.”

“I’m fine.”

“And how’s your mom?” Libby asked.