0110

"Sol, please take Claudia and Susan back to the motel. We will stay here tonight. You and Mary can acquire furniture tomorrow night while I collect some things from New York City," Sabastian stated.

"Where is Susan?" asked Sol.

"I haven't seen her since we came in," answered Mary.

"Sabastian?" Claudia asked.

Looking at his three companions, Sabastian answered, "She is upstairs at the far end of the house. She is playing."

"How did you..." Mary started before Claudia cut her off by asking, "Have you not seen the change?"

Mary and Sol looked at each other. It had only been a week since the final battle with the Smithson clan, the fight that took Susan's father from her. She was truly an orphan now.

But it seemed that she was happier. Even in that short time the change was obvious. It was like a weight had been lifted from her. She was now free to be a child, or at least more child like than before.

The connection between Sabastian and Susan had also grown. In fact, the two of them spent a great deal of time together playing and talking. Sol had even noted how well the normally stuffy and serious Sabastian handled Susan.

There was a deep connection, almost as if they had each found what they were looking for.

"I will go get her," Sabastian said, as he walked out of the living room. Navigating the house to find Susan, he reflected on Mary's unfinished question. How did he know?

He felt closer to Susan now that she was truly in his care, but there was more to it than that. Sabastian probably could have felt where anyone was in the house, but the richness and detail of what he saw of Susan was extreme. It was as if he was looking through her eyes.

When he came to the room, he stood in the doorway watching her play. She had taken out a doll that Sabastian had given her a few days ago. She was talking with it while they both looked out the window.

"I think we'll be happy here, don't you?" she asked the doll.

"Yes, it's a very nice house with a great big yard."

"Do ya think Sabastian will let us get a tree house for that big tree over there?" Susan asked, as Sabastian made a mental note that he had to build a tree house.

"Oh, most certainly."

"I think so, too, Elizabeth."


[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]