Chapter 5

Royce's POV

Royce was carrying two buckets out to Delphine's van when the pastor asked him, quietly, whether Nell knew yet.

The bucket handles pulled red grooves across his fingers. Water struck the plastic walls with each step.

"She knows," Royce said.

Pastor Ames stood beside the open van door, one hand resting on its rusted edge. He looked toward the church hall instead of helping.

Royce lifted the first bucket over the torn rubber mat. Delphine had lined the van with old blankets, folded cleanly around boxes of ribbon and wire.

Pastor Ames rubbed his thumb along the door…