"Sister."
Renee Jennings heard the voice and looked up. "Addie."
Addie Sutton walked over to her, holding Ducky, her gaze landing on Goldie. "Sister, is this your dog?"
"No." Renee Jennings shook her head and explained, "We ran into Goldie on Leondis Street while looking for you. It’s thanks to him that we were able to find you so quickly."
"Oh, I see." Addie Sutton crouched in front of Goldie, her expression serious. "Thank you, little doggy."
Goldie let out a bark. "You’re welcome!"
"Addie, here are two outfits. Pick one and get changed." Renee Jennings handed her a shopping bag from nearby.
Addie Sutton took the bag and glanced inside. Her eyes went back to Renee Jennings’s face, her tone a mix of surprise and excitement. "Sister, you bought me clothes, too!"
Renee Jennings said softly, "I didn’t know your size, so I had a courier bring pants with an elastic waistband."
"Thank you, Sister!" Addie Sutton was touched, but also at a loss. "I don’t have money to pay you back right now... I’ll have to owe you for now."
"Don’t worry about it." Renee Jennings had never intended for her to pay it back anyway. "Just go get changed first."
"Okay." Addie Sutton nodded.
"I’ll hold Ducky." Renee Jennings reached out and took Ducky from her arms.
Addie Sutton took a white t-shirt and a pair of black-and-white plaid pants and went to the restroom to change.
Renee Jennings was chatting with Ducky when the phone in her pocket suddenly started ringing.
She took out her phone and saw the name "Jane Conway" on the caller ID.
Renee Jennings blinked. ’Why is Jane Conway calling so soon?’ she wondered.
She answered the phone and spoke softly, "Ms. Conway, hello."
"Miss Jennings." Jane Conway said cautiously, "Am I interrupting anything?"
Renee Jennings: "No, not at all."
"Oh, good, good." Jane Conway breathed a sigh of relief. "I was hoping to say a few words to the little lady. Is now a good time?"
Renee Jennings glanced toward the restroom. Addie Sutton wasn’t out yet. Not wanting to waste the other woman’s phone credit, she said, "Can I have her call you back in a little bit?"
Jane Conway: "Of course. We’ll do that, then. Goodbye."
Two minutes later, Addie Sutton came out, changed. She was holding the clothes she’d taken off, planning to wash them and return them to Jane Conway.
"Sister."
Renee Jennings looked at the girl standing before her. "The clothes fit you well. Ms. Conway called for you; she said she wants to have a word with you."
Hearing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Addie Sutton’s eyes. "For me?"
"Yes." Renee Jennings handed her the phone. "Call her back and see what’s up."
"Okay." Addie Sutton put the clothes in the shopping bag, took the phone, and called Jane Conway back.
She put it on speaker. The phone had barely rung once when Jane Conway’s voice came through. "Miss Jennings."
Addie Sutton quickly spoke up, "Aunt Conway, it’s Addie."
"Addie." Jane Conway’s tone softened even more. "I forgot to mention earlier, if you don’t mind, you’re welcome to stay at my house anytime you don’t want to go home."
Hearing this, Addie Sutton froze on the spot, momentarily forgetting how to react.
Jane Conway continued, "Meeting like this is fate. Uncle Victor and I both like you a lot, and we hope you’ll visit more often."
When Addie Sutton didn’t respond, she added, a little embarrassed, "Did I scare you?"
Addie Sutton snapped out of it and quickly said, "Aunt Conway, no, you didn’t scare me! I’m just... I’m just so happy."
At the Conways’ house, she had been so down, either crying or completely silent. She thought Jane Conway would hate her, but instead...
Today, she had felt nothing but warmth and kindness from complete strangers.
Jane Conway let out a breath of relief. "I’m glad I didn’t scare you."
Addie Sutton felt a prickling in her nose, her voice thick with emotion. "Aunt Conway, thank you so, so much. You and Uncle Victor."
’Maybe good people really are rewarded after all.’
**
Renee Jennings said goodbye to Director Leto, then left the police station with Addie Sutton and Goldie.
Raleigh chased after them. "Consultant Jennings."
"Raleigh, what is it?" Renee Jennings turned and asked him.
Raleigh had a good-natured look on his face. "Director Leto asked me to drive you to meet your friends."
"That would be great." Renee Jennings smiled slightly. "Then I won’t refuse."
She had been worried about hailing a taxi with Goldie, since some drivers might refuse the ride.
About half an hour later, Renee Jennings closed the car door and waved to Raleigh. "Drive safe. Goodbye."
She watched the police car drive off. Just then, a familiar voice called from behind her, "Renee!"