Seeing Is Believing : The Whispering 1 by Eden Laroux Read Free Book Online Page A

called it.
    The home itself wasn't something too special.
Meg could afford a fancier one, but the three-bedroom house was all
she felt she needed. She had gotten it for a fair price due to an
uncle's connections in the real estate business. While a bit of a
fixer-upper at the time of sale, it was still very much a good
deal. Unless she needed it badly, almost all her funds were devoted
to the care of her foster children. Deals were something she kept
an eye out for because of that.
    With the engine cut off, there was another
degree to the silence that had dominated the trip here. Bruce took
that moment to say something.
    "Finally! I thought for a moment
maybe she got lost and we were going to someplace like
India," Bruce
commented.
    "You would have to cross the ocean for that to
happen," Tony replied.
    "I stand by what I said."
    "What do you think?" Meg asked Tony.
    Tony looked up at the house with his shoulders
slumped. His face was tense with worry. Surely his mind was racing
with so many conflicting thoughts. Meg knew that look well. After
ten years of fostering children that had come from many horrible
situations, Meg expected it.
    Facing Tony, her face softened with the look a
loving parent would give her child. A look Tony hadn't seen in
years, if at all.
    "You're safe here. I promise you that," Meg
said. "No one's going to hurt you here."
    Tony nodded, even though the worry did not leave
his features. Meg felt no insult at this. It would be a long time
before Tony would trust someone again, much less an adult that
claimed they were looking out for him.
    His father had said he was looking out for him
before the fists went flying. Meg would have to earn his trust.
    But Tony's trust wasn't the only one she would
have to earn.
    Bruce watched Meg for a moment. He knew that he
would not be able to tell what was in the depths of Meg's thoughts
and soul just by looking at her. Such a power would be nice but not
one he was gifted with. From what he had observed she seemed to be
genuine.
    "So far it looks like you've found
one of the good ones," he commented, more for Tony's sake than his own.
    Bruce knew that Tony wasn't going to reply to
him. Not now, anyway. Tony was in a withdrawn mood right now, and
talking wasn't something he would like to do in this state.
    "It's going to be fine. I'll be here. So you
won't be alone."
    Still not saying anything but finally showing a
sign of acknowledgement, Tony looked at Bruce and offered a weak
smile. Bruce smiled back with a grin more positive for the future
to come. Never mind the hurdles, both big and small, that Tony
would have to tackle in the years to come. For as long as Tony
needed him, he would be here.
    That was an imaginary friend's job after
all.

Chapter Two
    IT WAS ALMOST sunset and the sky was turning a
pale pink hue. After Meg had helped Tony bring in his bags, she
showed him around the house. The inside was as simple but
comfortable-looking as the outside. Meg had chosen a light blue and
white color theme for the walls and flooring.
    The pieces of furniture were less uniform,
however. At one time, there had been a matching living room set.
But after a few rounds with some of the rowdier children she had
taken care of, the white couch from before had been replaced with a
heartier brown couch.
    Even with the unintended patchwork look to the
house, the place had a warm, lived-in feeling to it. Like a true
home.
    Bruce gave Meg points for the home environment.
Not that he was keeping score. Okay, maybe he was. But it was his
job to want to make sure everything was reasonably good for
Tony.
    "Let me show you to your room so you can put
your stuff away."
    Tony nodded again in a distracted way. Bruce
wasn't the only one making a mental score. She led them to the
bedroom nearest to the living room. It was as patchwork as the rest
of the house, but this time it was done on purpose. Each of the
children had the option to decorate the room as he or she wished.
It was a perk Meg