Evie watched her brother’s life fall apart right in front of her. She didn’t know what to do with any of this; her own daughter coming back into her life occupied enough of her time, Diane had been taken by the Lullaby Killer, and MJ didn’t understand any of it. All he did was stay in her arms, bawling into her shoulder and making her shoulder wet.
“It’s okay,” she told him, holding his head. “It will all get fixed soon enough.”
They were sitting in the car with the door wide open for air. In front of the vehicle, Bill was ordering the officers around and trying to divert the attention elsewhere. They had enough to worry about with Wendell coming back on the scene, but now the police simply had to be involved. How could they not, looking at this mess that used to be their home?
Evie wanted to help—she really did—but what was there to offer? Against every temptation to set MJ down and run to her brother, this was where she was needed. It was time she accepted the role of responsible adult, lest Mason get weighed down with the stress.
That would have to suffice.
For now.