Chapter 4 #4
"We'll see, sweetheart," Evan says, his eyes finding mine over his daughter's head. "If Ms. Morgan needs more volunteers."
"I think we're all set," I say quickly. "Trenton and Matthew are both helping today."
Evan smiles with his mouth only. "Trenton and Matthew?"
"My partners," I clarify, watching his face carefully.
Something flickers across his expression. Disbelief, then darker. "Partners," he repeats.
"We're home for good now," Trenton says, appearing at my side. His posture is casual, but I feel the tension radiating from him. "Just in time to help with field trips."
Evan's gaze moves between us, reassessing. "How… nice for you all."
"Daddy, come on!" Charlie tugs at his hand, oblivious to the undercurrents. "Ms. Davis said I could help pass out the permission slips!"
Evan allows himself to be pulled away, but his final look is like the unwelcome brush of a stranger's hand in a crowd, brief but not brief enough.
"You okay?" Trenton murmurs.
I nod, but my hands are trembling slightly. "Just… keep an eye on him today."
"Wasn't planning on doing anything else," he assures me.
The morning passes in a flurry of activity. The children are electric with their excitement about the field trip, their energy infectious. I lose myself in their enthusiasm, in the simple joy of watching their faces light up as we explain what they'll see at the fire station.
Matthew arrives just before we're scheduled to leave, his expression carefully neutral. He pulls me aside while Trenton helps the children line up.
"Greyson's looking into Evan," he says quietly. "Nothing yet, but he's got feelers out."
"And the clubhouse?" I ask, noticing the fresh Devil Souls cut he's wearing.
"All good. Everyone sends their love." He glances toward the line of children. "You ready for this?"
I take a deep breath. Trenton kneels to help a little boy with his shoelaces, his large, scarred hands surprisingly deft. He whispers something that makes the boy giggle, and a warmth spreads through my chest, chasing away some of the morning's chill.
"Let's go see some fire trucks," I say, forcing a smile.
The firefighters are patient saints, letting the kids scramble over the trucks and blast the sirens. I'm helping a girl adjust a helmet when I see him, not Evan the engaged father, but someone else. The vibes he is putting off has me on edge, my skin crawling.
He's leaning against the far wall, phone ignored in his hand, watching Trenton lift a laughing Charlie onto the driver's seat. He's not smiling. And he's not looking at his daughter.
"He's been standing there for ten minutes," Matthew says, appearing at my elbow. "Hasn't helped with anything."
"Charlie's with the group learning about 911," I observe. "He's not even watching her."
Matthew goes very still. "That's not why he's here."
The firefighters announce a demonstration of the equipment, drawing everyone's attention. I use the distraction to check on each child, making mental notes of who needs bathroom breaks and who is getting tired.
When I reach Charlie's group, I crouch beside her. "Are you having fun?"
She nods enthusiastically. "Firefighters are so cool! They save people!"
"They sure do," I agree. "Your dad must be having a good time watching the demonstration."
Her face falls slightly. "Daddy had to leave. He said he had a meeting."
I glance around, confirming Evan is indeed gone. The knot in my shoulders loosens, but a fresh prickle of unease replaces it. Why would he come to the field trip only to leave before it ended?
"Did he say when he'd be back?" I ask.
Charlie shakes her head. "He just said to be good for you and that he'd see me later."
I stand, scanning the station one more time. Evan is definitely gone, but the unsettled feeling remains.
The rest of the field trip passes without incident. We load the children back onto the day care bus, Trenton and Matthew helping with seat belts and counting heads. I sit beside Charlie, keeping her distracted with stories about fire safety.
When we arrive back at the day care, parents are already waiting for pickup. I scan the crowd, half expecting to see Evan, but he's not there.
"Charlie's dad called," Ms. Davis tells me as we help the children gather their belongings. "Said he got held up in his meeting and asked if she could stay for aftercare."
I frown. "He didn't mention that to me."
Ms. Davis gives me a knowing look. "Perhaps he thought better of it after seeing your… friends today."
I help Charlie to the aftercare room, making sure she's settled with a book and snack before returning to the main classroom to finish my day. Trenton and Matthew wait outside, giving me space to complete my work but remaining close enough that I know they're there.
By the time I finish my reports and say goodbye to the last few stragglers, Charlie is the only child left in aftercare.
"She's waiting for you in the playroom," the aftercare teacher tells me. "Her father should be here any minute."
I nod, gathering my things. Trenton and Matthew are waiting outside, their postures relaxed but alert.
"Evan's coming to pick up Charlie," I tell them. "He'll be here soon."
"We're not leaving until he does," Trenton says simply.
We wait in the parking lot, leaning against Trenton's truck. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the asphalt. I'm about to suggest we wait inside when Evan's car pulls in.
He parks several spaces away, watching us for a moment before getting out. He straightens his tie, his eyes never leaving us as he walks toward the building.
"Stay here," I tell Trenton and Matthew, stepping forward to intercept him. "I need to speak with him about Charlie."
"Not alone," Trenton growls.