Free Flee From Evil by Connie Almony Page A

more likely sink than swim. Instead, Sky pulled him up and down, plunging him, but keeping his face above the surface all the time.
    Sophie knew she beamed watching this guy, corded muscles rippling his back, as he played with her autistic brother. But she couldn’t help it. Likely, her expression resembled Happy—or Dopey—in the Disney version of Snow White as her heart swelled, and her gaze trailed his every move.
    Could there be a more perfect man?
    Sky turned and caught her staring. His smile lengthened as he gave Tibo one last splash and muss of the hair. “Gotta play with your sister now, big guy.” He held up his hand for a high-five, and Tibo obliged before bouncing a few times then went back to twirling.
    “So.” Water glistened from his thick eyelashes. “You gonna take me up on the driving lessons or not?”
    Did she hear right? “I thought you were kidding when you offered the other day.”
    “No.” He lifted a shoulder. “I think it’ll be fun.”
    “Or you have a death wish.”
    “That too. But let’s start with fun. Do you think your mom’ll be cool with it?”
    “As long as we stay in the school parking lot, she’ll be fine.” The image of her mother rushing out to meet one of Tibo’s therapists, then another of her leaning over all that special needs information stacked on the table, passed through mind. “She’ll probably be relieved she doesn’t have to do it herself.”
    “Great. I’ll pick you up on Sunday morning.”
    Sophie pressed her lips together, wondering if this was the right time to suggest it.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I have to go to church on Sunday.” Why did she make it sound like a chore?
    “Won’t your mom let you take one Sunday off,” he lifted a shoulder, “ … to do something for yourself?”
    “Actually,” She felt a little timid now. “I like going to church. I don’t wanna miss.”
    His brows drew together, and his mouth pursed into a funny smile. “Are you serious?”
    Sophie nodded. She’d have loved to explain the church activities she and her dad had been involved in. Doing God’s work in the homeless shelters. Playing baseball with kids in the slums after helping them clean up trash from the street. Her mom had been there too, but these were the moments she cherished most with her father.
    Gone forever.
    “We can go after. Just tell me when to pick you up.”
    “Why don’t you come with us?” There. The words were out.
    The funny smile and brow crunching were back. She waited as he took his time considering the idea. What conversation played in his head? “Should I go? Shouldn’t I go? Should I go? Shouldn’t I go?” Which one would win? She almost tapped her toe under the water.
    “Okay.”
    “Okay?” Was he serious?
    Sky chuckled. “Yes. Okay. Just tell me what time, and I’ll be there.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    “Hurry up and finish, dear.”
    Sophie eyed Grandma, then the eight legged, crustacean—as her former Earth Science teacher called it—staring lifelessly from the table. How does someone hurry eating crabs? She wasn’t sure she understood Marylanders who worked so hard for tiny bits of meat. Steak and potatoes. That’s what they ate back home in PA. She missed that. Here, there was no A-1 sauce in sight.
    Grandma grabbed the crab carcass. “Let me show you again.” She pulled the legs out, snapped, hammered, pried, and gathered the sparse protein into a little pile. “There.”
    This was the seventh shelled creature Grandma picked out for her, and Sophie’s stomach still growled. If it wasn’t for the salty seasoning she’d have surrendered long ago, and filled up on hush puppies. Now those made sense. “Why are we hurrying anyway? Do you have a big date or something?”
    “Oh, pooh,” Grandma slapped her hand.
    Mom fished more corn chips to Tibo from the gluten-free stash she always carried in her purse, in case restaurants didn’t provide an alternative. “Yeah. Why are we