ywhatevershehadehewoods,shehadlosthervoidckedevebasiclifeskills—notevenonparwithathree-year-old.Moxienrolledherinaspecialeducatiram,butwithiheteacherssentherback.
"Yourkidisperfeormal.Stopwastingourtime."
ItwasinthatsingleweekthatLuoticedhissedsurprise.
Thesy,dark-skinnedgirlhadgrownfairer,putonsomeweight.Herfeaturesremainedpin,butwhenshesmiled,herdimplesturadorable.
AdorableinawaythateerilyresembledthechildhoodphotoofthatotherReya—thevictim—hehadrievingmother''''''''shome.
Moxiadoredthegirl,spoilihgifts.Later,afteraluckystreakiockmarket,shethrewLuoutofthemasterbedroomandredecorateditintoafairytalesanctuary—hardwoodfloors,plushrugs,aprincessbed.Adreamfitforachildwhohadneverhadone.
Luxurynurturesbeauty.UnderMoxi''''''''scarefulhand,Reyablossomedintoagraceful,delicateyoungwoman.
Whenevershevisited,Moxiwouldughandsay,"LookhowourReyatur!Andwhosedoingwasthat?Mine!"
Lualwaysrolledhiseyes.Asifhehadn''''''''ttributedatall.
Butthetruthwas,withhisworkasahomicidecaptain,hecouldn''''''''ttributemucheveried.Hewasoftencalledawayinthedeadofnight,disappearingfordays,onlytostumblehome—exhausted,sweaty,sometimesevenstaihblood—beforecolpsingintobed.
Morethanonce,MoxisuggestedReyaelivewithherpermaly.
Lualwaysrefused.
"Ruiningmylifeisenough.I''''''''malreadyalostcause.Don''''''''tletherruinyourstoo."
Moxiknewwhathemeaillhopedshe''''''''dfimaledown,havealifeuntouchedbytheshadowsthatswallowedhisown.
Butshewasn''''''''tbuiltfornormalcy.
herofthemwas.