Awares Read Online Free

as they need to. Then they'll stop looking, and you'll be more anonymous than you are now. That's not only more effective, it's far kinder to them. Because you do love them.”
    “You're actually making sense,” she said, surprised. “You can tell them and I'll confirm. You're a better liar than I am.”
    I could have gotten annoyed, if she weren't so pretty. “In person?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay.” I pounced while it was hot. “Come now. Ride anonymously in my car. I'll warn them about the conditions, then you meet them, then you go, and it's done.”
    “That must be why I'm talking with you,” she said. “Because you can help me. I just didn't know exactly how.”
    “This way,” I said, walking out of the room.
    She came with me, to my relief. I led her to my car, and she got in and I drove her to her folks house. “I'll go in first,” I said. “Then you come in when your sense tells you it's time.”
    “Yes.” She kissed my ear. There was that new mown hay fragrance again. It almost made me want to take up farming. “Thank you.”
    “God, I wish you were my girlfriend for real!” I said. Oh to roll in the hay with this doll. But I had the wit to stifle that part. Then I got out of the car and walked to the front door.
    Her mother answered. “Yon Yonson. You hired me. I have a report to make,” I said. “I found Adela.”
    “Come in!” she said gladly.
    In their living room I explained. “I found her, but she's on a special mission. Not allowed to tell anyone about it. But I prevailed on her to tell you herself, so you wouldn't worry any more. Then you'll have to let her go. It's better that way.”
    “Anything!” her father said. “Just so we know she's alive and well.”
    “She is both,” I said. “Adela?” I hoped she hadn't changed her mind.
    “I am here,” she said from an interior doorway.
    “Adela!” her mother cried, almost flying to her.
    They hugged, and tears flowed freely, Adela's as well as her mother's. I saw that Adela had really wanted to do this all along, but had not seen her way clear until I gave her the rationale. She was after all an ordinary smart beautiful girl who had suddenly achieved an extraordinary power and could use some guidance. I was supremely glad to have had the wit to give it.
    After that joyful reunion Adela bid them adieu and returned to the doorway she had appeared in. Her mother thought of one more thing to tell her, but she was gone, as I knew she would be.
    “I believe this concludes our association,” I told them. “You paid me in advance, and I have delivered what I could. Mainly, I think, peace of mind.”
    “We are satisfied,” her father agreed. “Her mission is surely important.”
    “Surely so,” I agreed. “I don't know what it is myself, but she is persuasive.”
    “She was always that,” he agreed.
    I left them and returned to my car. Sure enough, Adela was there. “I am so grateful for what you did, Yon. I am almost sorry your mission is over.”
    I started the car and drove back the way we had come. “I am twice as sorry. I have known you only briefly, but--” I halted. What was the point?
    “I shouldn't have flirted. You were right: I was lonely, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry.”
    I took a flying leap at the moon. What did I have to lose? “Our association doesn't have to end just because my assignment did. I can still help you.”
    “Can you?” I hoped it wasn't my eager imagination that made her seem interested.
    “There are other Awares. They must be in a similar situation. They need to connect with their families the way you did, so that nobody continues to look for them. I can act as go-between, if that will help.”
    “I think it would,” she said.
    Now I bounded on toward the sun. “You folk can't use credit cards or Internet sites or anything, because those all have records galore. But I can. I can do things for you, using private personal anonymous accounts that can be traced back only to me, never