Page 11 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

Ms. Bridges set her cup on the tray. “We’re not certain of Ms. West’s plan at this point.

Like I said, she’s been unreachable, and there—” Her gaze darted to Amelia, then back to Linc.

“—there are some unknowns right now.” She licked her lips, as if she wanted to say more but couldn’t.

“But as far as you’re concerned, there’d be paperwork to complete.

And we’ll need a court hearing if this goes on indefinitely.

But your background check obviously cleared, and she?—”

Linc didn’t even hear the rest of the woman’s rambling sentence. He was stuck on that one word she casually dropped in her monologue.

Indefinitely .

Amelia’s backpack seemed to double in size from its perch on the floor. Indefinitely was an option? Would Kirsten do that? He didn’t know. Didn’t know her anymore.

Apparently never really had.

Zoey suddenly stood, grabbed the half-empty pitcher of water, and gestured to Amelia. “Want to help me in the kitchen? We can refill this—and maybe find some edible snacks.” She wrinkled her nose. “My bad on the cookies. They’re a work in progress.”

Amelia stood, brushed crumbs off her lap. “I know you’re just trying to get me out of the room, but I’m game if you have Doritos.”

“Probably won’t find any artificial dyes in this house.” Zoey widened her eyes knowingly at Linc, and he momentarily debated between expressing gratitude for her well-timed intervention or annoyance at her lack of health awareness. “But let’s check.”

“Good luck,” he called as they disappeared around the corner to the kitchen. He quickly moved to the recliner Amelia had vacated and leaned forward, bracing his arms on his knees. “What’s the part you’re not saying?”

Ms. Bridges brushed her hair out of her eyes and sighed. “Ms. West has been in some trouble lately, including jail time.”

Linc gripped his knees. “Jail?”

“She was released before anyone knew Amelia was home alone. There’s also been a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Amelia has been passed around to stay at various friends’ houses over the years, but since their recent move to Lafayette, she apparently hasn’t found anyone to pass Amelia off on for her…

” Ms. Bridges cleared her throat. “Adventures.”

And he’d thought Kirsten was bad off when they broke up. “And Amelia knows all that?”

Ms. Bridges nodded. “She reluctantly admitted her mother has had different boyfriends over the years, but none that stuck around.”

“And that’s where she is now? Ran off with some guy?”

“We believe so.”

He narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t foul play? Should there be a missing person’s report?”

From the kitchen, a cabinet door slammed, followed by female voices.

Ms. Bridges stretched her leg, hooked one ankle over the other.

“We have eyewitnesses who saw Ms. West leave the bar, where she rather abruptly quit her job bartending, and get in a car with a man she’d been cozying up with at work more than once over the past several weeks. ”

“So?” Linc shifted his weight in the chair. “Still could have been a kidnapping.”

“She had a suitcase with her.”

Oh . He let that sink in. “And you obviously don’t want Amelia to know that part?”

“Amelia knows.” Ms. Bridges sighed. “Apparently this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Though it’s the first we’ve known about it. Obviously we’d have intervened sooner, but everyone kept their secrets. Hoped for the best.”

Wow. Linc’s stomach churned. “But if Amelia knows all that, then what was the cryptic unknowns thing about?”

Ms. Bridges glanced toward the kitchen, then back at Linc. Resignation clouded her face, and she lowered her voice. “This is the first time we have reason to think she won’t be returning.”

* * *

Linc had a kid.

Zoey stood out of the way by the living room fireplace as Ms. Bridges conducted a thorough search of Linc’s house, confirming there were no firearms accessible, no alcohol or pill bottles in reach. A kid .

A teenager, for that matter.

She let her gaze flick to Amelia, who sat motionless on the couch with her backpack, expression neutral, as Linc led Ms. Bridges around his home. Sort of wished she could pull out her camera, document this moment, but that was obviously a bad idea.

“Did you draw those?” Zoey gestured to the white marker drawings covering the dark pack.

Amelia cut her eyes to it. “Yeah.”

“Wow. They’re really good.” There was a cartoon turtle, a cupcake, a toaster with bread and steam escaping the top. An octopus with a lollipop in two of its eight tentacles.

Amelia just shrugged and looked away. Her mood had tanked since her earlier, faster tour of the house—since her part didn’t involve investigating medicine cabinets.

It hadn’t taken more than ten minutes in the kitchen for Zoey to realize the apple hadn’t rolled very far from a particular branch of the family tree.

The teen had the same eyes, same snarky wit.

Same sarcastic impulses. Especially fascinating, since Amelia obviously hadn’t been influenced by Linc.

Had he really had no idea she existed?

Zoey’s head reeled at all the implications—both known and unknown.

Linc had obviously been in a serious relationship at some point with Amelia’s mom—a fact that had no right to make her stomach twinge but did, anyway.

And whether this girl stayed a few days, a few months, or a few years, his life had forever changed. Just like that.

Which meant what for Zoey? She would technically be homeless if this situation—however understandably so—meant she needed to move back out.

But this wasn’t about her.

“Sorry again about the lack of Doritos. I’ll try to grab some from the store tomorrow.” Zoey smiled, but Amelia didn’t smile back.

“It’s just chips, no big deal.” Amelia lifted her chin. “I can handle disappointment, trust me.”

Oh . “I’m sure you can.” Poor kid. But she didn’t look all that torn up about this whole situation. If anything, she looked annoyed. Zoey took a chance, eased forward to sit on the floor in front of the recliner. “You really don’t want to be here, do you?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Amelia tugged at a loose thread on her backpack strap. “Linc doesn’t want me here.”

He was going to hate having a kid call him by his first name.

But it wasn’t like anyone could expect her to throw the word dad around, either.

“This is just a lot at once, you know? Everyone needs a minute to adapt. You, him.” Me .

But again—this wasn’t about her. She needed to help everyone else find the sun.

Amelia squinted. “You really believe he didn’t know about me?”

“There’s no way he knew.” Zoey shook her bangs out of her eyes, smiled. “We’re close—he’d have mentioned it.”

Amelia snorted. “Sometimes you don’t know people as well as you think you do.”

Maybe. But not Linc…

She frowned. Right?

Linc and Ms. Bridges came back into the living room, the tour concluded.

“Well, I’ll be off.” Ms. Bridges rattled off more comments about being in touch with next steps, then leaned over to hug Amelia, who stiffly allowed the brief embrace.

“You know how to reach me, Amelia, if you need anything.” She handed Linc her card, her earlier weightiness seemingly gone now that a plan was in place. “Have a good night, everyone.”

And then there were three.

Zoey held her breath. Linc stood with his back to the room, staring at the front door, as if a part of him beseeched Ms. Bridges to come back. Amelia stared at him, eyes narrowed, fiddling with the zipper on her bag.

Someone had to do something. Zoey hopped up. “I think we should go shopping.”

“I told you, I don’t need chips that bad.” Amelia flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“Not for chips—for bedding.” She grinned. “We could get your room fixed up.”

The teen frowned. “I’m not moving in forever. Seems like a waste of money.”

Linc finally turned around. “We actually don’t know how long this will be.” He met Amelia’s gaze head-on, to his credit.

She met the challenge. “I don’t have to be here at all. I can take care of myself—I did every other time Mom bounced.”

Other times? Zoey’s heart twisted. She stepped between Linc and Amelia. “And I’m sure you did a great job—you’re in one piece. But this time, you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help.”

“Who even are you?” Amelia scowled. “You’re just, like, here.”

Zoey widened her eyes, risked a glance at Linc. Great, now he was starting to smile. She looked back at Amelia. “I told you—I’m Linc’s friend.”

“Ah. Friend .” Amelia air-quoted. “My mom had a bunch of those.”

Dunkin’ donuts. Zoey let out a quick breath. “It’s not like that. I’m just staying in the other guest room until I can get my own apartment again.”

“Uh-huh.” Amelia folded her arms over her chest, pinned Linc with her stare. “Guess you’re just a shelter for all kinds of strays, then.”

Linc’s smile vanished. He grabbed his keys from the end table by the door. “Let’s go find you some unicorn sheets or something.”

Amelia reluctantly stood. “I obviously made the wrong decision coming here if you think I want unicorn sheets.”

Linc’s brow furrowed. “Why not? You’re a girl.”

“Who is almost fourteen, not six.”

His scowl deepened. “Then keep the blue ones already on the bed in there. Those mature enough for you?”

“Unicorns are out, Linc.” Zoey stood by Amelia, hoping she’d see they could be a team. “What’s in, Amelia? What’s the vibe?”

“Adults trying to talk Gen Z slang definitely isn’t,” she muttered.

Right. Zoey let that one bounce off her back, found her smile. “You know what? I’ll make a list before we go. You’ll need toiletries, bedding. Maybe a lamp?” She started typing entries into the Notes app on her phone. “Oh, and a mirror!”

The sun might be setting outside, but Zoey could be—would be—sunshine for everyone.

Maybe there was a reason all of this—the fire, her homelessness—had happened after all. Maybe she didn’t really need anyone to take care of her.

Maybe she was meant to take care of them.