Chapter Seventeen
R oam grabbed the snacks and carried them into the family room. Sprite was hosting a mini-tattoo pampering session in the space above the diner. His mom had suggested that they do a dry run with just women from the MC and see what type of snags they could work out before opening it up to others. Bear and War were hanging with him and all the kids. Phoebe and Blake had one of the recliners. He’d spread an air mattress on the floor and covered it with blankets. David, Grant and Oakley were playing with toys on it while they waited for the next movie to start. They’d all taken a break between the movies to get pajamas on the kids and refill the snacks. War was cuddling Joey while Bear had the twins snuggled with him in the other recliner.
Roam handed out the snacks and then found a place on the sofa. He decided he needed to sit up and not lie down. He hadn’t got much sleep last night because he was thinking through how to get Sprite and the kids to move in. It seemed like a lifetime, but it had only been four days since he’d come clean with Sprite.
His dad had said Roam was the luckiest man he knew because Sprite didn’t even raise her voice or get irritated. Instead, she told him she loved him. Roam had to agree that Sprite was one in a million and he was so thankful he’d gone to the tattoo convention.
He’d touched base with his lawyer. It would be at least another four weeks before his attorney could get a court date to have his marriage dissolved. If only he could snap his fingers like the genie in the movie and make it happen immediately.
Even though Sprite had been calm, the MC hadn’t. Cannon had gone ballistic about the property of shirts and keychains. Scoop was now all on board. Roam was positive that was Sarah’s doing. Of course, Cannon had no idea that Bear was ordering temporary tattoos as a joke with Property of Cannon on them. Bear had been laughing so hard that he could barely speak when he was telling them about it. Roam knew exactly who would be wearing it too. Clara was a crack-up but then she wasn’t wearing a Property of Roam T-shirt, was she?
Last night’s party had been a little crazy when Cannon had been making moves on a friend who was visiting her cousin in town. Clara had walked up to him and asked him if the cream she loaned him had gotten rid of the nasty itching. The girl couldn’t run away from Cannon fast enough. Cannon had followed Clara, continually asking what he’d done to make her hate him.
One thing Roam had learned is that it was never boring in Bluff Creek. Roam had enjoyed standing around chatting with his arm around Sprite. Yes, it was a little cave man of him, but he wanted everyone to know that she was his and he was hers.
He’d helped her set up the area for the event tonight. Sprite had changed her mind multiple times about where exactly she wanted the tattoo chair. She was equally excited and nervous for the evening. Roam hoped it was everything she imagined because he wanted her happy.
War’s text went off and he saw War straighten as he read it. War immediately called someone.
“Tell me exactly.”
Roam waited while War talked with someone, wondering what had put that look on his brother’s face.
“Okay, take them into the main room of the clubhouse and stay with him. Nobody wanders anywhere. Roam and I will be there in a minute. Are Baron and Rascal there?”
Roam wondered where they were needing to go.
“Tell Rascal I’d like him at Roam’s house to help Bear and make sure Baron stays there.”
War hung up the phone and just stared at him for a minute.
“What?”
“You and I need to go meet the sheriff and a deputy at the clubhouse. Bear, do we need to wait for Rascal to get here, or are you good?”
“I’m good. Go and let me know what you need.”
Roam slipped his shoes on and followed his brother out the door and then got in the seat when War motioned that they were taking the side-by-side.
What the heck did the sheriff need with him? The only thing he could think of is that it involved Shanna but why would they be coming by?
War parked outside the clubhouse. “We’ve got this Roam. No matter what.”
He followed War into the clubhouse and found his dad sitting at a table with the sheriff and Kerwin, the deputy who was dating Beth.
“Roam, we’re sorry to bother you so late, but we received information from another department and need to ask you some questions.”
Roam sat down across from them. His dad’s warm hand giving a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder had him preparing for anything.
“Can you tell us the last time you talked with your wife, Shanna?”
“I haven’t spoken to her since she left my kids with a babysitter and a note saying she was leaving. I’ve left numerous messages on her cell phone until the mailbox was full. The last time we exchanged words was when I left for the studio that day and she yelled at me to remember to get the kids supper because she had plans with friends.”
“So you’re saying you have not talked with her since she left,” Kerwin questioned.
“Yes, if I had, I would find out where she was at, and my attorney could have her served with the divorce papers.”
“Have you exchanged emails with her or sent her any money?” the sheriff asked.
“She disabled the email because it says it’s not valid and it would be hard to send her money when she took all of ours. Sheriff, you know this. Why are you asking me these questions again?”
“I just wanted to follow procedure. Shanna Schoomer was picked up for attempted human trafficking when she tried to sell her two-month-old baby. The reason we’re contacting you is your name is on the birth certificate.”
Roam sat there, stunned. He finally knew how to find his estranged wife and she’d tried to sell a baby. He’d be surprised if the baby was really his even though she’d put his name on the birth certificate. She’d been sleeping with the credit union CEO, and they’d only had sex once in their last year of marriage. He still wasn’t sure how it happened because they hadn’t been intimate except for that last time. He woke up with he and Shanna naked in bed with a headache from hell.
But it didn’t really matter whether the baby was his blood or not. Heck, he didn’t have Baron’s blood but that didn’t make him any less Baron’s son. There was a baby out there who needed him because his skank of an ex-wife had tried to sell him, it sounded like.
“How did she try to sell the baby and why?”
“Oh, please. You’re saying you didn’t know anything about this?” Kerwin asked.
“I didn’t know anything about it. Now, please answer my question.”
The sheriff nodded. “She put the baby on the internet to sell. Luckily, one of the bidders was an undercover cop. She was arrested and the baby is currently in custody of DFPS.”
“DFPS?”
“The Texas Department of Family Protective Services. We have an address of the precinct in Texas. If you’re willing to take the child, the baby would be placed with you temporarily, pending the court’s approval.”
“Whatever you need, we’ll do,” his brother whispered.
“Well, I’m not letting my child stay in foster care. Get me all the info and I’ll get on the road so I can be there first thing in the morning.”
The sheriff had paperwork for him and Roam had to concentrate on listening to his words. Kerwin’s scoffing sound and shaking his head was irritating Roam, but he wasn’t going to let the deputy sheriff’s attitude change how he dealt with this.
He needed to get away from them so he could process that the woman he married had tried to sell a child. It was low even for her and why did she need the money? Had she already gone through all their savings?
He had all the information and waited until his dad had ushered them to the door before rejoining them.
“Son, what do you need?”
“I guess I need someone to watch the kids after I pack. If I drive there tonight, then I can be there first thing in the morning.”
War nodded. “Okay, let’s get you back to the house. I’m thinking you’ll probably want Sprite with you?”
Roam hadn’t even thought about telling Sprite until this minute. Hopefully, she wouldn’t run for the hills.
“I’m thinking that your mom and I should go with Sprite and Roam. We’ll be covered for driving and can get everything the baby needs too. Plus, I think it’s going to be a shock for Sprite so it might be better for us to drive.”
Roam couldn’t make a decision. Should he have his parents come? He was normally pretty decisive, but he thought he was still in shock. Of course, who wouldn’t be if their estranged wife tried to sell a child.
“Umm, what time is it? I don’t want to screw up Sprite’s big night.”
War nodded. “Let’s get you to the house. I texted Remi and she said Sprite’s almost done with the tattoo. They’re all just sitting around chatting. Remi will get Sprite back here and then you can decide what to do. If you guys decide you want Sprite here, I can come along too if needed. I do like the idea of Mom and Dad going because Dad can usually cut through the bullshit with things.”
Roam thought about exactly what type of person sells another and was just thankful that Shanna hadn’t done anything like that with their other three. She could have easily taken them with her and he’d be hunting for all four of them.
He followed War into the house and then into his bedroom.
“Can you pack, or do you want to go cuddle your kids while I pack?”
Roam stared at War. Having War home was a load off his mind, for sure. “Two days of clothes with extra shirts. Babies get crap on your clothes all the time. Thanks.”
Roam walked out and picked up Grant to cuddle for a little bit. Casper and Georgia were asleep on Bear’s chest and he didn’t want to disturb them.
SPRITE WALKED INTO Roam’s house. Remi had dropped her off and said that Roam had something to tell her. Remi also said she and War would do whatever Sprite and Roam needed.
She paused and saw all the kids watching the movie except for Joey, Casper and Georgia, who were asleep. She wasn’t sure what had happened, but Roam’s eyes were troubled. He looked like he’d run his hand through his hair multiple times. She walked over and slid her arms around his waist, leaning against his chest. His arms gripped her tight as a shudder ran through him.
He held her for a couple seconds, then led her to his bedroom, closing the door behind them. He turned, started to speak, then paused and shook his head.
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“Let’s start with why did Remi drop me off early?”
He sat down on the end of the bed, and she sat beside him, holding his hand. He swallowed, then took a breath before speaking.
“The sheriff’s department came by to inform me that my estranged wife had tried to sell her baby to an undercover cop. My name is on the birth certificate as the father. Everyone said they’ll cover whatever I, I mean we, need if you want to come with me.”
Sprite paused, thinking through all that needed to happen. “Okay, who is watching the kids, and who is going with us? Because honestly, I think I’ll need someone to keep me from killing that woman. Selling a baby? Who does that?”
“Oh, thank God. I was worried this might be too much.”
Sprite leaned over, pulling Roam’s head to her chest and wrapping her arms around him.
“I told you I loved you. Love doesn’t run when trouble hits. Love fights alongside you. Now, what’s the plan so far?”
Roam held her tight for a couple of minutes, then pulled his head back. “Mom and Dad had offered to come or Remi and War. Whichever one comes with us, the other will coordinate taking care of our kids. Do you have a preference?”
Sprite thought through which one would be better.
“I feel like War and Remi should stay here. I think they are both a little more hot-headed. We need cooler heads helping us because I’m so mad I can barely concentrate. I don’t even know the woman and I want to squeeze her neck so hard her head pops off.”
Roam nodded. “I agree. Let’s get enough clothes for two days plus extras because babies always get stuff on clothes. I freaking love you, woman. You didn’t even bat an eye about taking on another child that we don’t even know is actually mine.”
Sprite grinned. “I figured once we got together, at some point, we’d probably want more kids. They are just here a little sooner than we thought. Now let’s go get your... Do we even know if it’s a boy or girl?”
Roam shook his head, grimacing a little. “Beth’s deputy ticked me off, and I wasn’t listening well. Or even thinking through things to ask questions. Jerk acted like I was in on selling a kid.”
Sprite pulled Roam down for a kiss, holding both sides of his head before pulling away and staring in his eyes.
“We’ve got this. Let’s go tell the kids they’re getting a special time with War and Remi and we’re taking a short trip. I’m assuming we’re driving tonight, then staying in a hotel close to where she’s being held?”
Roam kissed her forehead, keeping his lips against her for a little bit. Then he breathed deep and pulled away.
“Yep, packing, road trip, hotel and then we’ll deal with whatever is next.”