Chapter Nine
Royce looked at Darla and shook his head in dismay. “Maybe we should’ve waited longer than a week before allowing visitors,” he called out to Sawyer and Evangeline, who were busy trying to find refrigerator and freezer space for the food their friends and family had brought.
“Most of this stuff will freeze just fine,” Evangeline said. “You’ll appreciate the surplus once you’ve gone back to work and have to cook dinner after a long day.”
“I don’t doubt that, and I appreciate everyone’s thoughtfulness,” Royce said. “My issue isn’t with the food gifts.”
Sawyer walked to the edge of the kitchen and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Royce crooked a finger at him in response. “Come see for yourself.”
“I want to see too,” Evangeline said as she blew past Sawyer.
Mother and son joined Royce by the bassinet. One snickered, and the other sucked in an outraged breath.
“We were very clear that we didn’t want people kissing Darla,” Sawyer said, pointing at the bright red lip print on the center of their daughter’s forehead. “Who did this?”
Evangeline bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny, and yes, you made your feelings crystal clear.” A small giggle escaped before she could stop it. “But it seems one of your great-aunts left a little F-you on their way out the door.”
“That will be the last time Dad springs them from the home to visit Darla.” Sawyer raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not trying to be an asshole, control freak, or a germaphobe, but this is unacceptable behavior. Darla is ten days old, and she doesn’t need people breathing their germs on her.”
Royce wished he’d just wiped the lipstick off her forehead without showing Sawyer.
He was also irritated that people hadn’t respected their wishes, but he feared Sawyer’s underlying anxiety would make this a bigger issue than it needed to be.
Royce took out a wet wipe, hoping a quick swipe would remove the makeup and cut Sawyer off at the pass, but he only smeared the red lips on Darla’s forehead.
Evangeline slapped a hand over her mouth and turned her back to them, but her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
“Mom!” Sawyer hissed. “It’s not funny. We don’t know a thing about removing makeup. How do we get this off?” Then Sawyer turned to Royce. “Do you see the humor in this?”
His wild-eyed outrage triggered a fit of laughter that started deep in Royce’s belly.
It rumbled and tumbled, building speed until it burst from his mouth in huge guffaws.
Royce pressed a hand to his stomach as he tried to get himself under control.
Evangeline blew out a few breaths, giggled some more, and then finally turned around.
She and Royce locked eyes, and they gave in to another fit of laughter.
“It’s not funny,” Royce said between gasps. “He’s absolutely right about the germs, and we don’t want those makeup chemicals on our daughter’s skin.”
Evangeline rested her hand on Royce’s shoulder and inhaled shakily. “I know. Sawyer is absolutely right.” But then she pointed to the lipstick smear on Darla’s forehead, and they set off again.
“A giant F-you,” Royce.
“That looks like my Aunt Edith’s signature red shade,” Evangeline said.
Sawyer gasped. “I bet you’re right. She’s the same one who gave us the yard sign to advertise we had a baby to any potential kidnappers.” He pointed at Darla’s head and added, “Aunt Edith did that to get even because we didn’t put her sign in our lawn.”
They’d just settled down when Sawyer looked between them in utter disbelief and did the absolute worst thing possible. He stomped his foot and set them off again.
“His foot,” Evangeline husked out, fully leaning on Royce for support by this time.
“I’ve never seen that reaction before,” Royce replied.
Evangeline righted herself and sucked in huge gulps of air. “I haven’t seen it since he was an angry toddler.”
That remark tickled Royce’s funny bone again, but he kept himself together. He hadn’t spent a lot of time wondering how little Sawyer behaved when he was angry. Royce just figured he smoldered like the adult version, but maybe not as intensely. “He stomped his foot?”
“Like a bull before it charges,” Evangeline said.
Sawyer rolled his eyes as he cut in front of Royce and wheeled the bassinet away.
“Where are you going?” Evangeline asked.
“While you two were yucking it up, I searched the internet for the solution to our lipstick dilemma,” Sawyer replied.
“I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him leave,” Royce said, adding a whistle that made Evangeline giggle. “You did good work with that one.”
“I know,” Evangeline said.
“I just can’t with you two,” Sawyer said before he disappeared down the hallway with Darla.
Evangeline patted Royce’s shoulder. “I’d better go with him. I want to make sure he’s taking our teasing in the spirit it’s intended. Sawyer seems a little edgier than usual.”
Royce sighed. “Yeah. He’s trying to stay positive, but knowing our adoption will probably get delayed is taking its toll.
And it doesn’t help that the suspects in the case have eluded the authorities for over a week.
The guys from the Sinister in Savannah podcast and Alec have made a major push to get the info out to their wide-reaching audiences, but still nothing.
Their inevitable arrests won’t change our outcome, but we can’t stand the injustice of it all.
The accusations about the adoption agency and the law firm representing them have gone public, and the damage is done.
It’s now a matter of waiting to see if a judge reviews all the adoptions handled by the law firm during a certain time or only the ones involving the adoption agency. ”
“It’s an awful mess,” Evangeline said. “I imagine it’s hard for two cynical police officers to have blind faith that things will work out, but I believe enough for all of us.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Royce said, kissing her cheek.
He sat down on the couch and turned the television on for the first time since their guests had arrived after breakfast. The visitors hadn’t all come at once, just a steady stream of well-wishers and at least one rogue baby kisser.
To have so many people supporting them was a blessing, but Royce was excited to take his house back. And then the doorbell rang.
Dolly leaped up from her spot beside him on the couch, barking her head off. Royce braced himself for Darla to wake up, but no cries came from the hallway. He scooped Dolly up, kissed her on top of the head, and took her with him to answer the door.
“All right, killer. Let’s go see who’s here.
” Her little body vibrated with a growl, but she didn’t bark again.
Royce opened the door and greeted the couple standing on the porch.
It took him a minute to recognize the men sporting golden tans and relaxed smiles.
“Chief,” he said. “I thought you were out of town on vacation with Mr. Chief.”
Abe snorted and looked at Mendoza. “Guess that makes us Mr. and Mr. Sheriff too.”
Mendoza rolled his eyes heavenward and extended an enormous paper carryout bag. “We got back last night, which is why I didn’t have time to prepare something for you from scratch.”
“Dodged one there, buddy,” Abe said with a wink.
Mendoza cut him a dark look, but his eyes shimmered with humor. “You don’t look like you’re starving to me.”
Abe patted his stomach. “Not after the vacation we’ve just had.”
Royce watched their byplay in awe. Mendoza was the most private person he’d ever met, so getting a glimpse beyond the wall fascinated him. But his entertainment ended as quickly as it began. Mendoza seemed to recall where he was, and the shield went up again.
“We just wanted to stop by with some food and congratulate you in person,” Mendoza said. “Those first few weeks with a newborn are rough, and I figured you guys could use a meal you didn’t have to cook.”
“Thank you,” Royce said as he accepted the bag. “We appreciate it very much. Would you like to come in and meet the baby?”
“This isn’t her?” Abe teased, nodding toward Dolly.
“No, but she thinks so.” Royce kissed the dog’s head and made quick introductions before stepping aside so they could enter.
“Sawyer and his mother are trying to get lipstick off Darla’s forehead,” he said as he led them into the living room.
“You might see a side of my husband you didn’t know existed.
” Though Sawyer would be on his best behavior in front of Chief Mendoza and Abe.
“We communicated a ‘no kissing’ rule to our guests this morning, and one of his elderly aunts left a bright red lip print on her forehead. He’s livid. ”
“Can’t blame him,” Mendoza said. “No one wants people breathing nasty germs and bacteria onto their babies. It’s flu season, for crying out loud.”
“Make yourselves comfortable,” Royce said, gesturing to the couch. “I’ll just go put the food in the kitchen.”