Sam thanked him but declined. I just want to get Maddy home to bed. As the manager returned to his post at the front, Sam leaned his head toward Kristen. How am I supposed to get back to the lake? You drove.
Ill get one of the officers to drop you off. She smiled at Maddy, whod finally loosened her death grip on Sams neck. Maybe you can sweet-talk the nice officer into running the siren!
Dont give her any ideas, Sam warned with a smile.
Kristen grabbed one of the uniformed officers, murmured a few words to him and brought him over to where Sam and Maddy stood near the door. This is Officer Simmons. Hes going to drive you back to the lake.
As Sam started to follow Simmons out the door, Maddy tugged sharply at his collar. Wait! she insisted, and twisted her body in his grasp, holding her arms out toward Kristen.
Kristen stared at her a moment, her expression hard to read. Sam held his breath, wondering if shed rebuff his daughters offer of affection. He might better understand the difficulty she had relating to Maddy now, but he couldnt explain those nuances to a four-year-old. Maddy would feel rejected no matter what he told her.
Kristens lips curved into a big smile and she opened her arms, wrapping Maddy in a quick but genuine hug. Make your daddy read you two stories tonight, she murmured, her tone conspiratorial. Maddy grinned with delight.
Kristens gaze slid up to meet Sams. He could see the pain lurking there in their blue depths, and his heart broke a little for her, but for the first time, he also saw the spark of genuine affection for his daughter. Thank you, he said, reaching out to touch her arm.
Her mouth tightened, and she turned away from him quickly. Talk to you later, she tossed gruffly over her shoulder, and then she was gone, weaving her way through the crowd in search of Norah.
Sam watched her go, regret settling low in his gut. Tonights events might have broken down a few of the walls Kristen Tandy built around herself, but there were still plenty left in place. It might take a whole lifetime to tear them all down.
Did he want to devote his life to such a task or drag Maddy along on that kind of roller-coaster ride? Wouldnt it be better to just step back and regain some distance from Kristen and her problems?
At this point, however, he wasnt sure stepping back was even possible. Maddy was crazy about Kristen, flaws and all. And despite his clear-eyed understanding of just how difficult a woman she might be to care about, he found himself becoming more and more entangled in her life.
It wasnt likely, at this point, that any of them would leave this case unscathed.
GO AWAY, DETECTIVE. Norah Cabots voice was muffled and weary behind the door to her room at the inn. We can talk in the morning.
I think we should talk now, Kristen said firmly, even though a part of her wanted nothing more than to go home and bury herself under the covers of her old four-poster bed.
Are you enjoying this? Norah asked faintly.
No, Im not, Kristen replied. Believe it or not, Im here to help you.
There was a brief pause, then a rattle of the latch. The door opened and Norah stood on the other side, clad in a red silk robe that nearly matched the color of her tear-swollen eyes. Here to help me. Ive heard that before.
I brought tissues. Kristen held out the small travel-size tissue box shed picked up at the gift shop downstairs before heading up to the guest rooms.
Norah released a huff of laughter and took the box from Kristens outstretched hand. You think of everything.
May I come in?
Norah seemed to consider the question for a moment, then gave an indifferent shrug. Why not? Its not like my night could get any worse.
Believe me, it could, Kristen murmured.
Norah ignored her and crossed to a small credenza along one wall of the small but pretty room. The inn was kind enough to send up a complimentary bottle of sparkling water. I would have preferred champagne, but I suppose this is one of those dry counties you Southerners are so fond of.
If you want to get liquored up, I could drive you to the next county over.
Couldnt you just direct me to the nearest moonshine still instead? Norah tossed a couple of ice cubes in a glass with excessive vigor. She set the glass down with a clatter and drove her long fingers through her hair, tousling the already unruly curls. Im sorry. I can be a total bitch.
But at least youre self-aware, Kristen said.
Norah slanted a look at her and gave a short laugh. Yes, I suppose thats a plus. She held out the glass of sparkling water. Can I interest you in a drink?
Kristen shook her head. I just came to make sure youre okay. Can I get anything for you?
Norahs brow furrowed. Why would you care?
Kristen knew what she was asking. Norah hadnt exactly done anything to garner Kristens sympathy since her arrival. But it didnt change the fact that shed been through an emotionally wrenching couple of hours. I just thought maybe you could use someoneneutral. To hear your side of things.
Norah arched one perfect eyebrow. Neutral?
Well, more neutral than your ex-husband, anyway.
Norah shook her head. Sam must think Im a complete idiot. Not even thinking how what I said might have sounded to Maddy-so stupid.
You didnt mean to frighten her.
But I did. Norahs gaze met hers, fierce and angry. Im very good at my job, Detective. I have companies trying to hire me away from my firm every day. Senators and congressmen who want me on their staffs. When a question arises at the office, you know who they look to for answers? They look to me. And Im always right. She laid the glass of sparkling water on the credenza. But I havent done a single thing right for my daughter since the day she was born.
Thats not true, Kristen said. You gave full custody to Sam. That was the right thing to do.
Norah paused with her hand on the glass, turning to look at Kristen. Come now, surely you think Im heartless and cruel for abandoning my flesh and blood, dont you? That Im selfish and thoughtless for not even checking to see how shes been doing all these years? Norah sank against the edge of the credenza, her expression bleak. Guilty as charged.
Youre just not cut out to be a mother, Kristen said. Sam has told me that you made it clear to him from the beginning that you didnt want children. You didnt lie or pretend to be anything youre not.
But I should have wanted to be a mother as soon as I saw my daughter!
Kristen thought of her own mother and tamped down a shudder. Wanting to be a mother isnt the same thing as being a good one. You knew the life you wanted wouldnt accommodate motherhood, and youd never be good at it. Why drag your child into a life that would be miserable for both of you?
Norah looked up at her, eyes narrowed. I guess you of all people would know about bad mothers.
Kristen hid a flinch.
I know what your mother did to you and your brothers and sisters, Norah added when Kristen didnt respond.
Kristen squelched the familiar rush of shame and anger, feeling even more certain of the decision shed made earlier that day. She couldnt go visit her mother, as the woman had requested. No way was she ready yet. Who told you? Sam?
Of course not. Sams the soul of discretion. Norahs smile was almost apologetic. See, Im not the sort of woman who abides having my life pried into without returning the favor. As soon as Sam hinted that you were more complicated than you look, my curiosity wouldnt rest until I did some checking. So I asked around about you when I went to rent the car. Seems youre quite notorious around these parts.
Kristen looked down at the scar on her hand, resisting the urge to beat a fast retreat. After all this time, she should be used to people knowing all the ugly details of her tragic history.
My mother should never have been a parent, Kristen admitted aloud. So I do have some respect for your decision not to inflict yourself on Maddy.
Thanks-I think, Norah answered wryly.
You could do more harm than good by hanging around and mothering her if youre not cut out for it. Sams a great father. Hes done a wonderful job with Maddy by himself. If you know youd end up disappointing them both if you tried to start playing Mommy now-
The sparkle of tears in Norahs eyes caught Kristen by surprise. I would. I hate that thats how things are, but I dont have it in me to change who I am at this point in my life.
Then dont let your fiancés aspirations push you into doing something that will hurt both Maddy and you.
Norah scraped her hair out of her eyes. Graham doesnt want kids, either. But he knows its hard for people to understand, and God knows Halston Stevens will hammer him about it. What kind of man would marry a woman who abandoned her beautiful little child? Do you want that kind of man for your Senator?
The right thing to do isnt always the easy thing to do. Matter of fact, its usually not.
Thank you, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Kristen smiled. You gonna be okay?
Norah nodded. I guess I should call Graham and tell him whats happened. She walked with Kristen to the door. I know Ive been a pain since I arrived-
Its part of your charm, Kristen said, still smiling.
Norah returned the smile. Like prickly and defensive is part of yours?
Kristen nodded, realizing shed finally made Norah recognize her as an equal. Exactly.
Norahs expression grew serious as she opened the door. Protect my daughter. Find out whos trying to use her to hurt Sam and make them pay. Will you do that for me?
Yes, Kristen answered. Ill do everything I can to protect them both.
Good. Norah managed a weak smile and lifted her hand in a goodbye salute. She closed the door, leaving Kristen alone in the narrow hallway.
When she reached her car, Kristen called the office to see if anyone was still in the detectives office. The Gossamer Ridge Police Department wasnt large enough or busy enough to field a twenty-four-hour detectives division, but there was usually a night detective on duty until 11:00 p.m.
In this case, she got Jason Foley on the phone. What are you still doing there? she asked. Gina finally come to her senses and kick you out of the house?