Free White Chocolate Moments by Lori Wick

declined, but Sam and Arcineh spent a wonderful afternoon and evening together, making life feel normal again for the 12-year-old.
    "Where does the money go?" Arcineh asked of Sam when he explained that it was time to put her family home up for sale. "Where all your money is, into special accounts:"
    "Don't you use some of Dad's money to pay for me living here?" "No, I don't:'
    "Not even with the lawyer and everything you had to do to become my guardian?"
    "Not even then:'
    "How about the hospital bills and all my physical therapy?" "There's insurance to pay for most of that:'
    "What does my dad's money do, just sit in the bank?"
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    "Until you're ready for it, yes:'
    "I don't want it:' Arcineh said, not for the first time, her look becoming guarded.
    "That's fine Sam said, also repeating himself but still not knowing why it bothered her so much.
    "You can sell the house, but I don't want the money:'
    Again Sam agreed, not going into details about the fact that it was hers, like it or not.
    "Do you want to see the house again?"
    "Not if it's empty."
    Sam watched her shiver a little and knew it had nothing to do with the frigid February day. She weathered things at the most amazing times and in the most amazing ways. She and Quinn had fought through Christmas--even Sam had seen that Quinn was impossible to please--but now that it was time to sell her parents' last possession, she was all right as long as she didn't have to deal with the money.
    "What are you thinking right now?" Sam. asked.
    "That I want hot chocolate:'
    Sam nodded, not even attempting to probe deeper. He took Arcineh at her word, reminding himself that she had always been up-front with him in the past.
    "Do you want some?" she asked.
    "Ask Violet to make mine coffee, and I'll have to drink it in here if I'm going to get my papers in order for my trip:'
    Arcineh only nodded and made her way from the office. She didn't like it when he traveled, but it had become more normal to her. His travel, for some reason, was always the greatest reminder that her parents were gone.
    All the way to the kitchen Arcineh thought about them. If you had asked her how long her parents had been dead, she could have told you, but part of her heart didn't believe that it had been almost a year. Less than two months would mark the one-year date, but for Arcineh it had been much longer.
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    She could no longer remember her mother's laugh. She had tried hard to hang on to that wonderful sound, but it had slipped away. As had her father's imitation of Mickey Mouse. It had never sounded just like Mickey, but Arcineh had liked it better.
    "Vi:' Arcineh called to that lady when she reached the kitchen, but she wasn't around. Arcineh was headed to look for her when she realized she never did anything for herself in the kitchen. Not sure how to make coffee and knowing she'd need Violet for that, Arcineh did go ahead and make herself a cup of hot chocolate. It didn't taste just like Violet's, but Arcineh--proud of her own efforts--thought it was good. And when Violet came and praised her, she felt even better, thoughts of her parents slipping momentarily from her mind.
    Violet caught Sam at the door as he came in. She looked almost secretive as she motioned to him with one hand. Sam followed his housekeeper to the closed glass doors of the family room. The furniture was pushed back, the rug rolled up, and the music blasted from within.
    Arcineh Bryant, showing her grandfather what Geneva Sperry had seen all along, danced in the middle of the floor to one of the latest pop songs. As if she'd written the music herself, her body moved in perfect rhythm, her face relaxed with pleasure. For several long minutes Sam could only stare.
    "When?" he finally asked.
    "Just today."
    Again the adults continued to watch, moving for a better view. As they stared, the music changed, and so did the dance. The beat a little slower this time, Arcineh danced as though she had a partner. Sam and Violet continued