Beverly seemed to frost over. Excuse me, but I used to be a welfare mother, as you call it. Everyone needs help now and then. Dont let your pride get in the way of common sense. She gave Adam a look of pity, tousled his downy hair, then saw herself out.
Luke and Cindy stared at each other in silence until the sound of Beverlys heels thump-thumping on the wooden dock receded into the distance.
Are you out of your mind? Cindy reached for Adam, who had started to fret.
I should think youd be thanking me. I kept that woman from taking Adam away, didnt I?
Yeah, with a huge lie! Whats going to happen when she finds out the truth?
She wont find out.
Of course she will! Shell go back to whoever made the complaint and tell them Adams going to live with his father, and then shell find out Adams father is dead and all hell will break loose.
Cindy, listen. Social workers have to adhere to privacy laws. If she tells the complainant anything, shell simply say that the matter is taken care of. Dont worry.
Dont worry?
Adams fussing got louder. Luke theorized the baby was responding more to the escalating tension than his hunger, but Cindy moved into the tiny galley and fished around in a box while jiggling Adam on one hip the way all mothers instinctively learned how to do. She produced a jar of baby cereal and a spoon.
Dont worryright. Her voice dripped with sarcasm. That womans going to be back, and shes going to expect to find Adam all cozy in your house, with his granny taking care of him.
Thats what shell find, all right.
Over my dead body. Just because youre a deputy sheriff doesnt mean you can take my kid away, so just get that out of your head.
CINDY PULLED SOME ORANGE juice from a cooler of melting ice and poured it into a Tommy Tippee cup. Adam eagerly reached for the cup, the juice magically silencing his fretting.
She wished Luke would just go away. He was too big for this little boat, his presence too overpowering. Even Beverly, a complete stranger, hadnt been immune to his sense of authority and the way his feet practically grew roots wherever he stood.
Cindy imagined Beverly hadnt been immune to Lukes sex appeal, either. What living, breathing woman could miss it? Though Beverly was at least ten years older than Luke, shed batted her eyelashes at him like a teenage girl with a crush.
He was impossible to ignore, though Cindy was trying her hardest.
Maybe you missed what just happened, Luke said tightly, but Im trying my best to keep you and Adam together, not strip him away from you.
Cindy knew what he said was true. That was what Luke was all aboutkeeping families together. He was the best lawman Cottonwood had ever seen. And though he was adept at solving crimesthe few there were in their little townhis main priority had always been helping kids, keeping them in school, keeping them off drugs. He volunteered a ton of hours at schools and churches and rec centers, organizing after-school sports programs and homework study groups.
Im sorry, Luke, she finally said. This whole thing has just thrown me so off balance. I feel like a stray mother cat, hissing and clawing at anyone who comes near, even people trying to help.
She reclaimed her seat on the banquette, opened the jar of cereal and quietly began to feed Adam. Just recently hed started grabbing the spoon on his own, trying to shove food into his own mouth. Today she didnt have the patience to clean up the results of such efforts, so they both held on to the spoon, managing to get most of the cereal into Adam rather than onto his shirt. He had bibs, but she didnt know where they were.
You cant just ignore me and hope Ill go away, Luke continued. You have to start dealing with the reality of your situation.
She sighed. I know.
I have an idea. Theres a carriage-house apartment behind my house. It hasnt been used in years, but if memory serves, it has a bathroom and a kitchenette.
No.
Why not?
I cant afford rent. It was the first excuse that came to mind. What she really couldnt afford was to install herself so close to Luke. She was not immune to his appeal, despite all the years that had passed since theyd been lovers. Eight years of marriage, a baby plus her whirlwind affairwhat else could she call it?with Dex/Marvin, and shed never once gone to sleep at night without at least a fleeting thought to her first love and what might have been if theyd wanted the same things out of life.
She didnt need that right now. Lord knew, the last thing she could use in her life was a man, even if he was promising to help her out of a jam. Anyway, she didnt trust herself. She had the good judgment of a fungus, given her recent history.
Did I say anything about rent? Come on, Cindy, the apartments just sitting there. Its not much, and itll have to be cleaned out and fixed up a bit, but it should make Social Services happy.
I really wish youd just leave me alone.
He stared at her, challenging, for a few seconds before dropping his gaze. Yeah, Ill go. But youll have to answer a few questions, first.
Whatever.
What should I tell Beverly Hicks when she comes calling tomorrow or the next day?
Tell her we changed our minds.
Uh-huh. And when she comes back here? She will, you know. Its her job. You might think shes a nitpicking pain in the butt, but she cares about children or she wouldnt be in that line of work. And shes not going to sweep this under the rug. Shell be back, and next time she will take Adam. And if you wont give him up willingly, she will summon the lawmeto enforce her decision.
Can she do that? Cindy asked, feeling truly afraid for the first time.
He nodded grimly, his fists so tight he could feel his skin tightening over the knuckles. It happens all the time. It happened to me, Cindy. And my mother never got me back.