Lyric felt cold. Her stomach had dropped and she was off balance. Had time slowed too? It sure felt like it as she stared at Luke’s serious expression. She wondered how she had never seen it before. Even now, looking between Luke and the photo of Melody, her mind was reeling.

It wasn’t her mom who made Melody look familiar. Lyric saw it now. Melody’s red hair, light green eyes, and freckles… they were Luke’s.

“I’m sorry.” Luke was looking at her. “I didn’t mean to disrupt your meeting.” He spared a glance in the direction of the adults. “I told you that you might not like the answer.” He shook his head “I’ll go.”

With stiff limbs, he turned and headed back toward the door.

“Melody, wait!”

Luke spun around so fast it made Lyric jump. The anger in his eyes scared her. “Luke.” His voice was icy and cold. “My name is Luke Smith. I am a seventeen-year-old boy. I’m homeless, a high school dropout, and barely scrapping together enough money to pay for essential medication.”

He rose to his full height, back straight, shoulders back and looked right at Marina. “And I’ve never been happier.”

“Luke.” Lyric whispered. He turned to her, and she saw his cold expression crack. That’s when she understood. Maybe not perfectly, but she understood better than she had.

What he said was true, he was happier than he had been. That didn’t mean he wasn’t hurting though. She saw the loneliness in his eyes. He had given a lot up for his happiness, including any connection to another human being.

She ran to him and wrapped him in a hug. It barely took him a second to crumple and return the hug, leaning on her for some much-needed support.

“I can’t believe this.” Lyric heard the anger in Allen’s voice, and she had a moment of protective instinct before Luke was straightening and returning to his cold, guarded defence.

Allen was shaking his head, his jaw stiff. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in, young lady?” He stalked forward to use his slight height advantage over Luke. “Let’s not even start with the legal ramifications.”

Lyric looked to her parents for help. They looked to be in shock, but she hoped they would be able to help. They had to. She didn’t know what to do.

“Do you have any idea what you put your mother and I through?” Allen’s voice cracked. “We buried our daughter!”

“I am not your daughter.”

“No.” Lyric’s parents finally crossed the room. Her dad put a hand on Luke’s shoulder. He looked him in the eye and smiled. “You’re our son.” With a gentle hand, he started to guide Luke to the front door.

Lyric followed, relief flooding through her. They could help Luke. Finally, Luke could have the family and home he needed, and deserved.

“Where are you going?” Marina cried after them. “You can’t take her! She’s our daughter! I’ll call the police!”

With a calmness that could rival Luke’s, Lyric’s mom turned back. “Legally, Lyric is ours.” The wicked smirk she flashed made Lyric glad she was not in Marina’s shoes. “And Melody is dead.”

The four of them left the house and got into the car. Once again, Lyric was leaving the Wolfes’ house without really talking to them. Only this time, she felt like she knew enough about them to know what kind of people they were.

As they drove away, she smiled. She was glad that the Wolfes were not her parents.