Chapter 72

A small hand tugged at his arm, and he looked down to see a young boy gazing up at him.

"This is Damian," Leo said, with a benevolent smile. ‘I think he wants you to watch the show with him.’

"I’m not here for the entertainment," Taylor said, intending to add, "I’m here to take Dianne home." But when he opened his mouth to say the words, he caught Damian’s eye and was rewarded with a smile that could melt the entire Arctic Circle.

Somehow, Taylor allowed himself to be guided over to the floor by the child who, it was obvious, had Down syndrome. As he looked at the other faces, one thing was abundantly clear—every single one of these children was severely disabled. One other thing was clear, though, too: every single one of these children was enthralled with the performance Dianne was giving them.

For a moment, she spotted him, and for a moment she faltered. When the balls fell out of her hand this time, there was nothing feigned about it.

A girl who looked to be no more than eight and