LITMIR.BIZ

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He’d never felt so sure of something in his life. And that scared him.

      CHAPTER SIX

      WHEN THE PHONE RANG on Friday, Royce checked the caller ID display, half expecting it to read “unknown caller,” the digital trick employed by some telemarketers.

      Instead, it read “Garner, Katy.”

      “Hi, Katy. What’s up?”

      “I was just calling to see how it went yesterday.”

      “Fine. No problem. Jake’s an easy kid to be around. As a matter of fact, he insisted on loading the dishwasher.”

      “Most of the time he’s very good.”

      He thought he detected a smile in her voice.

      “Most of the time? Now you’ve got me worried. Does he grow fangs during the full moon?”

      Her chuckle was warm and made him smile.

      She said, “I have the feeling this might be the honeymoon period.”

      “Honeymoon?”

      “As in, he’s on his best behavior because he doesn’t want to scare you off.”

      “Hey, it takes a lot to scare me. I’m not totally unaccustomed to ten-year-old boys.”

      “Not much recent experience, though, huh?”

      “It’s coming back to me. Piece of cake.”

      If Saturday afternoon went just as well, he would be home free. Jake’s grandmother would take him for the two nights and Royce would watch him during Audrey’s Saturday shift at work. And Katy would be home Sunday. Not a bad arrangement as long as it was temporary.

      “Good. I’ll stop by with your pay Sunday night if I don’t get in too late.”

      “Sounds good.” Not only to have some much-needed cash, but to see Katy, too.

      “HOW ABOUT WE PLAY some video games?” Jake asked, controller already in hand. “Since Grandma can’t get here till seven.”

      “Just for a few minutes. We still need to clean up our mess in the kitchen.” He’d shown Jake how to make his own Rice Krispies Treats.

      Both Friday and Saturday afternoons had gone surprisingly quickly. Royce idly wondered why he could spend time with Jake and enjoy himself, but hadn’t been able to do the same with his own son without getting restless.

      Royce suspected the answer was complex. As long as he thought of being responsible for Jake as a job, he didn’t get that panicky, hemmed-in feeling he’d gotten during Michael’s early years. He’d loved seeing the boy, but Royce’s mind had quickly strayed to the next job, next adventure.

      But it looked as if there might not be any new adventures for him.

      Royce pushed away the thought. It would be too easy to lose hope completely. Picking up the second game controller, he proceeded to give Jake a run for his money.

      “Royce?”

      “Huh?”

      “D’ya ever get scared?”

      If only the kid knew. It was hard to remember a time when he hadn’t been scared. But he would guess it had been roughly seven months ago. “Yeah, sometimes.”

      “My mom gets scared. She tries not to show it, though.”

      “Like scared of spiders? Noises in the dark?”

      “Nah. Like if people come to the door and she’s not expecting them. Or weird things, birthday parties.”

      Royce chuckled as he maneuvered the joystick. “Okay, I have to admit, clowns kind of freak me out. Maybe I’ve seen too many bad horror flicks.”

      “Clowns make great bad guys. But it’s not the clowns…. I’ve never been to a birthday party.”

      “Oh, come on. Not even one?”

      Jake shook his head, his hand pausing on the controller. “Nope. I didn’t used to get invited to them much. But now, I have a couple of friends. When I bring home an invitation, Mom gets this really weird look and makes an excuse why I can’t go.”

      “Maybe it’s just a coincidence.”

      “I don’t think so.” The boy’s expression was so glum it made Royce hurt for him.

      “Sometimes adults have reasons no one else understands.”

      “It’s not fair.”

      “No, it isn’t.” He refrained from pointing out that a lot of things in life weren’t fair. Such as having his hand blown to bits and losing everything.

      “I got an invitation to my friend Chris’s birthday party. He’s gonna be eleven.” Jake’s expression brightened. “I bet you could talk my mom into letting me go. She likes you.”

      Even though it was an obvious snow job, Royce was flattered by the idea that Katy had a soft spot for him.

      “You think?”

      “Sure. You got a government clearance. And with only one hand, it’s not like you could choke her or nothing.”

      Ah. His injury apparently made him non-threatening to women and children. Something he might consider using to his advantage in dating, if it didn’t make him seem so damn pathetic.

      “I guess you’ve got a point there.”

      “And you make her smile.”

      “I do?”

      “Uh-huh. Will you talk to her about Chris’s party?”

      “It’s not my place to butt in, kid.” The whole situation smacked of getting involved. And the last thing he wanted was to get entangled in Jake’s life on more than a short-term basis.

      “You’re my friend. And my mom’s. I’d help you if you needed it.”

      The boy’s logic was so straightforward and, well, noble, Royce found himself nodding in agreement. “Okay. But only if the subject comes up.”

      “What if it doesn’t?”

      “Then we’ll know it wasn’t meant to be.”

      KATY WAS RELIEVED when she saw the light shining beneath Royce’s door. Good. She didn’t want to wake him, but for some reason it seemed important that she pay him tonight.

      Maybe the urgency came from the knowledge that he needed the money.

      Who was she fooling? Katy simply wanted to talk to Royce, one adult to another. She’d been able to relax with Royce and found him easy to be around. Not her general experience with members of the opposite sex. Maybe that’s why she’d married Eddie. They’d known each other since kindergarten, so she’d never had a hard time talking to him. Until they were married with Jake on the way and couldn’t seem to stop fighting.

      Katy knocked and heard rustling inside.

      The door opened and Jake stood there, his shirt rumpled and his hair standing on end.

      “I’m sorry, did I wake you? I saw your light on and thought it would be okay….”

      “It’s fine. I fell asleep on the couch.” He rotated his shoulder. “Not a good idea.”

      “No, I guess not.”

      He stepped aside. “Come in.”

      “Just for a minute.” Suddenly, she felt awkward about being on his doorstep.

      “Have a seat.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Oh, wait. You probably need to get right back to Jake.”

      She perched on the easy chair. “He’s still at my mom’s house. Since I’m so late, she offered

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