Chapter 7 #3
On autopilot, Brogan pushed him around the room while his thoughts churned. He stopped in front of Pixie. “My sister made me legal guardian.”
“I know.” Absently, Pixie checked Shayna’s diaper, then cuddled her some more. “I don’t think that awful woman cares, though. She said you’d better call her.”
His heart was still lodged in his ribs. “You know?” So Pixie isn’t doubting my guardianship?
She gave a shudder. “I kept thinking about Ruthie having Shayna, about the hideous way you found her.” Her eyes closed a moment, then opened again so she could pin him in place. “I’m so glad she has you now.”
“Wok!”
This was a new emotion for Brogan, some disturbing mix of relief, gratitude, and optimism that made his skin feel too hot and tight.
He’d love nothing more than to have a moment to himself to come to grips with it, but he had a fourteen-month-old boy wanting to walk, a four-month-old girl who needed his care, and a bighearted blue-eyed woman waiting for his reaction.
Brogan turned to look at the front window. “How far did she follow you?”
“Far enough to know I live in this vicinity—and there aren’t many houses near this part of the lake.” She described everything from the time she realized she was being followed, until she backtracked, lost Ruthie, and then returned.
Pushing the stroller, he went to the window and looked out. The road was empty as far as he could see, but he couldn’t dodge Ruth forever. And if she was going to harangue someone, it needed to be him.
Several decisions were made in a single instant. He had to tell Pixie everything.
And he could not leave her alone.
“I know it’s early, but would you mind if I stuck close? I don’t trust Ruth not to suddenly show up, and I don’t want you to have to deal with her.”
She hugged Shayna. “I’d be relieved if you did.”
His heart was now pounding hard enough to break something. “Would you want to head to your place now? With me, I mean.” The lake house was tiny, and he was basically wheeling Andy in small circles around the furniture.
As she nodded, Pixie whispered, “Brogan, is she dangerous?”
“Probably not the way you’re thinking. She’s unfeeling and mean as a rattlesnake, but nothing that Connie wrote to me included physical attacks. Neglect, yes. She stole from Connie every chance she got. And she has a nasty way of insulting people.”
“She stole from her own daughter?”
“Several times. Connie said Ruth would visit, and after she’d leave, things were missing. Jewelry, cash, a coin collection.” He ran a hand over his face. “Let’s go to your house. There are other things I need to tell you.”
“Okay.” Pixie stood, one hand absently patting Shayna’s back. “I’ll need to get dinner prep started anyway, and Andy is probably ready for a snack.” She stopped in front of him, her bottom lip caught in her teeth. “I’m worried.”
There wasn’t enough control in his arsenal to keep him from reaching for her. He cupped her face, rewarded when she turned her cheek into his palm. Looking at her, seeing all the softness she couldn’t hide, Brogan started to believe it’d be okay. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He felt her smile before she tipped up her face and showed him the sweet curve of her lips. “I’m most worried for you. But yes, also for Shayna, and Andy and me. I considered calling the town police, but I thought that might draw unnecessary attention your way.”
Talk about a kick in the teeth. “Listen to me, Pixie. Do not ever hesitate to call for backup if you feel threatened. Call the cops. Call me. Whatever is easiest. I can handle any blowback, and I can handle Ruth. What I can’t handle is having my problems spill over onto you.”
She agreed with a small nod. “When she said you stole Shayna, I told her to call the police. She just smirked.”
“Because she’s been in trouble with the law.
I have not.” He thought of Officer Flynn, the cop who’d interviewed him about Benny’s near drowning.
Maybe he’d give the officer a call, just in case.
Now that he had Shayna, he had to start thinking differently—not just of his own capability, but of what was best for her.
Best for Pixie and Andy.
It mattered a lot that Pixie trusted him. Starting tonight, he had to tell her everything or he knew he risked losing that trust.
“I have some things to show you. Important things.”
She tipped her head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Paperwork. From Connie.” Please don’t hate me. “It concerns Shayna, and I think you should know—even if it pisses you off.”
For a few seconds, she considered his words. He waited for the questions to begin, but instead she nodded. “Okay.”
Not about to give her time to rethink that decision, he stepped away. “I’ll grab it all real quick—then I’ll get Shayna’s stuff together and we can head out.” He looked down at Andy. “Ready for another walk?”
“Wok!”
“Through the house we go, bud.” He wheeled the stroller down the hall in a weaving pattern until Andy laughed, then took a sharp turn into the cramped bedroom, wheeled him around so he again faced the hall, and told him to hang tight.
Darting to the closet, Brogan snagged the handle of the black canvas portfolio case that held copies of all his important papers. Erin, Connie’s best friend, kept the originals.
At the small dresser, he opened the bottom drawer and got out a change of clothes for Shayna, as well as her footed pajamas and a few of her small flannel blankets.
Andy was just leaning out of the stroller to see what was keeping Brogan when he took the three big steps needed to join him. “You want to get out, or do you want to walk again?”
“Wok!”
Andy’s shout was enough to lighten his current dire mood. “Okay, my man, hold on tight.”
Andy grinned in anticipation and Brogan fast-wheeled him back up the hall with a little jostling thrown in. Andy’s peals of laughter had everyone else laughing, too, even Shayna, who squealed.
Pixie held her close, watching them, and it was such a sweet picture.
It was what he wanted, what he couldn’t help hoping for. Shared love of the kids. Mutual caring.
Family.
A lump the size of the Atlas Mountains lodged in his throat.
“I’ve never tried that before,” Pixie said, “but he loves it, so now I’ll need to.”
For a second, he’d worried that he was too rowdy, but Andy’s demands of “Wok, wok, wok!” proved otherwise. Brogan cleared his throat, mussed Andy’s silky hair, and did his best to get himself together.
Now was not the time to wish for things still out of reach. He had to earn that reward—and he would. Starting with complete honesty.
To Pixie, he said, “Let me grab some bottles and I’m ready to go.
” He kept the diaper bag prepped with powdered formula, plenty of diapers and wipes, bibs, a change of clothes—everything he thought he might need.
He even had an empty bottle in the bottom of the bag, but it was for emergencies.
He took it out to reclean it every so often, but he always packed fresh bottles.
“How will we do this?” Pixie asked, still holding Shayna and pushing the stroller one-handed. “Are we walking up, driving up, or what?” She glanced at Andy, then added, “Ruthie will recognize my van now, but I don’t like the idea of leaving it here, either.”
Brogan had hoped to put this conversation off until they were comfortable in her house, but it looked as if she needed answers now. He didn’t blame her. In her shoes, he’d want them, too.
He turned to face her. “Ruth will show up, no doubt about it. I’ll be with you when she does, though, and I’ll handle it.”
Wide blue eyes searched his. “Handle it … how?”
His mouth screwed to the side. “I don’t plan to maim her or anything.
” He despised Ruth, but never in his life had he lifted a hand against a woman.
Men who hurt women or kids were at the bottom of the scum pile, and not even Ruth would ever bring him that low.
“I’ve dealt with her already, at least on some issues.
Let’s get to your place—you drive, and I’ll push the stroller.
” Since he didn’t plan on coming back home tonight, he didn’t need his car.
“We’ll get comfortable and I can explain everything. ”
She chewed her lip again, then gave a firm nod. “Andy goes in his car seat, though.”
So her trust didn’t extend quite that far. He got it. “Okay. Shayna and I will be right behind you.”
“You’ve made me curious,” she said.
“Good.” He just hoped she’d stay that way long enough to hear it all. If she kicked him out too soon, he knew he’d have a hell of a time ever working his way back in.