Finding Home Chapter Previews

Chapter Three

Kayla had a stitch in her side. She was at a dead run on the last stretch of sidewalk. She took the stairs two at a time, and was nearly at the security desk when she collided with something hard. "What the f..."

"Breathe honey, it'll be okay," a soft southern voice broke through the sound of blood rushing through Kayla's ears.

Kayla looked up with huge, unbelieving eyes at the familiar fiery red hair. The sight of the adult version of the child she was bent on saving completely short-circuited her brain. Then Kayla Cruise did something she had never done before. She fainted.

When she came to, she was laying on a couch with two very concerned women fussing over her. Kayla sat up, then quickly backed away from both women. She didn't like being touched. She had been violated more than once by the adults who were supposed to protect her.

At least on the outside she could get away. She hadn't been so lucky in juvie. The guard took something from her she didn't even know she had. The sexual assault sent her on the fast track to no-touch land, and these days she had a mean right hook to protect herself.

The red haired woman stepped back, as if understanding that Kayla needed space to feel safe. Ms. Casey handed her a bottle of water and retreated to lean against the wall, crossing her legs at the ankle, as if she hoped her relaxed pose would help Kayla relax as well.

Kayla's eyes narrowed in confusion. Never once in her life had anyone given her space, even when she needed privacy desperately. The tension in her body ebbed slightly, she no longer looked like she was going to bolt.

The two women couldn't be more different. The redhead was full on hippie, whereas Ms. Casey was always buttoned up and tidy. Kayla had no idea how Ms. Casey could make it through a workday without wrinkling her clothes. Both her blouse, which was buttoned all the way up her neck, and her sleek black suit looked fresh from the cleaners. Her clothes were so fancy that Kayla wondered how she could afford them, never mind the diamond jewelry and the matching gold watch that she was wearing. Kayla often saw her when she had an appointment with Ms. Burbalm. She always looked so put together that Kayla secretly envied her. Her outfit might have been stuffy, but her brown eyes were always warm and compassionate.

The woman who scared the crap out of her at the train tracks asked, "Kayla honey, do you remember me?" Her green eyes were kind and her voice was soothing.

Kayla relaxed more, until she was sitting up properly on the lumpy couch. "What do you want from me?" Kayla whispered. It was the same question she had asked on the train tracks.

"I want to help. My name is Kristiana, but my friends call me Tia. I hope you will too." Tia's energy was radiant like sunshine.

Kayla wanted to believe her, but she didn't trust her feelings. She'd been wrong before.
"And, you can call me Winter if you like. It's after hours and Tia's my good friend."
"Ummm...okay." Kayla was at a loss, these women were being so nice to her. With her old social worker,

she felt like a name on a file and not a very important one at that.
It took her a few moments to remember why she had been in a hurry in the first place. "The young girl,

someone took her!" Kayla stood, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. Her need for action was flowing off of her in waves.

"What girl shug?" It felt like Tia stood closer, but she hadn't moved from her place next to the conference room door.

"Magnolia. She looks just like you." How on earth did I come up with the child's name? I know it is the right one. She shook her head in disbelief.

Tia's eyes widened, her calm replaced by a fiery energy. "What do you know about my child?"
"Your chi..."
"My baby. What did you see honey? Tell me exactly," Tia asked, as she gripped her cellphone and hit