by Pamela Tracy
“Angela was an artist,” Russell acknowledged, pointing to a drawing above his head.
Brian nodded. “She had one like it in her book, smaller, of course. She drew everything about your place. I know exactly what her childhood bedroom looked like. I know what my father looks like. I know you have a sweet Ford truck older than dirt.”
Russell nodded.
“She drew the fireplace. She even numbered the brick where the money was hidden and drew a dollar sign next to it. It was a long shot, but I was willing to take the risk.”
“Is that what brought you to Sarasota Falls? The money?” Leann asked.
“Yes, but I thought there’d be more than a hundred dollars.”
“Why didn’t you just knock on the door and tell me who you were and what you needed?” Russell asked incredulously.
“Right, you’d have been welcoming.”
“I would have, yes.”
Brian gave a tight laugh. “You know, I considered it. Angela did have good stories about her growing-up years. I thought I’d stay in the old cabin—”
“Mine,” Gary said coldly.
“—take a few days to figure out what was going on but...”
“But?” Leann urged.
This time, Brian’s words were cold. “He was there, along with Russell. Once I figured out he was a Guzman, I knew we wouldn’t find any open arms.”
“Yes, you would have.” Russell’s voice broke. “You’re Angela’s son. That makes you my grandson.”
Leann thought of the small cemetery, of Angela’s grave, how tenderly Russell took care of all of the graves.
Brian’s expression changed. Leann quickly asked, “Why did you stay? Why not leave Sarasota Falls?”
“Because you picked up Trudy.”
A puzzle piece snapped into place. Leann couldn’t believe it. “Trudy Gilmore?”
Brian nodded again.
“You stuck around because of Trudy Gilmore? What is she to you? You do know she’s in the hospital? The same hospital where you put the chief of police?”
She wanted to trigger a response from Brian. She hoped he’d say, “I didn’t hit him that hard.” Or, “It wasn’t me.” Brian, however, didn’t say a word, just looked at her like it didn’t matter.
Russell stood, came across the room and patted Brian on the shoulder. “I came to town this morning to get my boy a lawyer. I still intend to do that.”
“This isn’t Jace—” Leann protested.
“No, it isn’t. It’s Brian. And, if he’s Angela’s son, then he’s just as much my boy as Jace.”
“You’re hiring me a lawyer?” Brian said, incredulous.
“I am.” Russell checked his watch. “Lydia’s flight arrives in just over an hour. Even if I—”
“We,” Gary interjected.
“—leave now, I’ll be late picking her up.” He moved toward the door. “Officer Bailey, do you need help escorting Brian to your cruiser?”
“No,” Leann and Brian said at exactly the same time.
“Then, it’s best you go with her, Brian. I’ll be by to see you either tonight or in the morning, depending on what I can get done.”
Brian’s whole demeanor changed. Before Leann could begin to guess why, Brian provided the reason. “Sir, instead of helping me, would you help Trudy first?”
“No,” Leann protested. “We’re trying to contact her mother—”
“Who will not come to get her.” Brian shot Leann a hard look, which softened when he added, “This is the only place I knew to come. We arrived with no money, slept in the park once we realized he—” a cold look at Gary “—was staying at the cabin. Trudy needs a place to stay so she can get her health back and until we know what’s going to happen to me.”
“Because you were driving the truck that hit the chief of police?”
Brian affirmed, “Because I was driving the truck that hit the chief of police. It was an accident. At the hospital, I’d tried to get in to see Trudy, you see. I couldn’t even get close. I was mad, trying to decide what to do. I got scared someone would start asking me questions. I was hell bent on getting out of town. I looked down for a second and then wham. I’m more sorry than you know.”
“Why didn’t you just stop?” Leann asked. “All you’re dealing with is a shoplifting charge. Russell isn’t worried about the hundred dollars.”
Brian’s lips pursed and Leann thought he’d clam up again. But then, he said, “There’s also the fact that I’ve stolen someone else’s identity. It’ll send me to jail and Trudy needs me.”
“What do I need to do?” Russell asked. “How can I help?”
“Just take care of her until I get out of jail. She’s—she’s fragile.”
Leann let go a long, pent-up breath. Never, in all her years of police work, had a case been so emotionally complicated.
Really, Roberto Guzman was Brian’s father!
Now, instead of feeling like she’d had any control of the situation, Brian complicated the situation even more.
Redheaded, olive-skinned and short, Trudy Gilmore looked nothing like Brian or Russell. Not to mention the girl was barely out of her teens and Brian was in his early forties. They weren’t exactly the likeliest of traveling partners.
“Who is she really?” Leann asked.
Brian directed his response to Russell.
“She would be your great-granddaughter, sir. My daughter.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ONCE LEANN TOOK Brian and Russell to the station, Gary offered to drive her to meet Lydia’s plane.
Gary checked his speed and turned onto the highway. Behind him, the Sarasota Falls’ landscape disappeared completely, replaced by open spaces, distant mountains and occasional trees in varying shades of green. Next to him, still in uniform, Leann was busy on her phone as he sped toward Santa Fe to pick up Lydia Whitefeather.
A sign on the highway alerted Gary that he had thirty more miles until Santa Fe Municipal Airport. Any other day, he would have enjoyed the sight of Leann in the passenger seat beside him. He was dazzled by her kindness, impressed by her intelligence and captivated by her smile.
It amazed him that he could have these thoughts, today of all days, when he had other things on his mind. Leann had to tell only one person about Brian’s lineage, and she was doing it as a cop. Her only personal connection was her friendship with Russell.
Friendship, in this case, was a whole lot different from family. Gary needed to tell his mom, his siblings and his aunt. He’d rather tell a whole platoon that they were going from four meals a day to two than tell his family that Berto Guzman might have cheated on their mother and that there might be a half sibling, one who was facing charges at a police station, waiting for a visit from the lawyer his grandfather hired.
After arranging for Brian’s legal counsel, Russell told them he was headed to the hospital to sit with his great-granddaughter. Evidently, the paperwork had already begun in order to release her into Russell’s care.
Leann finally put away her phone and looked at him. “You okay?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
She frowned, a different frown than she usually gave him that showed he’d either annoyed or perplexed her. This time, it looked more like concern.
“I’m fine,” he insisted.
“Are you convinced that Berto is Brian’s biological father because if you are, it’s—”
“I’m not convinced of anything,” he interrupted. “I need to think this through. But, I also need to let my family know. I don’t want them to be blindsided like I was.”
She nodded.
“I’m fine,” he repeated.
A sign for the turnoff to the airport appeared at his right. As he flipped on the turn signal, he again perused Leann’s expression. The frown was gone, replaced by
something else. Something he liked a lot more.
Concern had turned to compassion.
He focused back on the road and almost hit the curb, something he’d not done since he was fifteen.
Leann Bailey had her hand on his knee. If she’d just patted it a couple of times, that would be concern. But, no, her hand rested there and the half smile she gave him said I’m here for you.
This time he did hit the curb.
While Gary cruised, looking for a parking spot, Leann took her hand off his knee and got her phone out to study Lydia’s likeness. She showed him her picture. “Now that I’ve seen photos of all of Russell’s grandchildren, I’m spotting subtle differences between Brian and the other two.”
Gary grunted. He didn’t see anything of the Guzman side in Brian: not the nose, the chin, the height or the character—especially the character.
He finally parked.
“I’ve never seen Russell so driven,” Leann remarked as she opened the door to the passenger side and got out.
“It’s not every day that you find out you’ve a grandson and a great-granddaughter.” Gary joined her, walking toward the main terminal, and tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice. He was genuinely happy for Russell; really, he was. Gary just wasn’t happy for himself, what he might have to tell his family, about a possible half brother.
“I wonder what would have happened,” Leann mused, “if you hadn’t been at your family’s cabin. Would Brian have simply set up camp there, cared for Trudy and eventually gone to Russell?”
“Well, we know that he likely stole from a grocery store and that he definitely stole from Russell. Not to mention what he did to the chief.”
“He must have been feeling desperate,” Leann said. “Fear and panic can cause anyone to make bad choices.”
“He should have been feeling guilty that he spent the night in jail over in Springer and left Trudy alone,” Gary countered. “He should have been thinking he needed a job, needed to make a home for her.”
“Sounds like he doesn’t know what having a home is.”
“You grow up, make a home, especially when there’s children involved. Brian has a lot to make up to that girl.”
“Yes, and it seems Trudy’s mother isn’t in the picture. If that’s the case and Brian is in jail, what will happen to her?”
“I feel for Trudy, I really do. It’s just a lot to take in right now.”
Leann nodded, took his hand and squeezed.
The quiet moment between them passed as Gary said, “Lydia has to be here already.”
They entered the airport and located the baggage claim area.
“Lydia?” Gary queried, approaching a woman who resembled the photo Leann had shown him.
“Yes.”
“I’m Gary Guzman. Did Russell tell you we’d be picking you up?”
“He did, but he said he’d be with you.” She stood, looking past Gary, focusing on Leann, and then said sharply, “Where’s my grandfather?”
“He couldn’t come.” Gary started to say more, but instead, he introduced Leann.
A busy airport terminal probably wasn’t the place to find out about a new half brother, but Lydia took it stoically. At least, she had until finding out about Trudy. Then, she sat, hands folded in her lap, nodding. “Grandfather will save the Blackgoat clan, one errant relative at a time.”
“I’m sure he’s eager to see you,” Leann said. “Let’s go ahead and start the drive back. I’ve a few more questions. We can talk in Gary’s truck.”
Gary grabbed the luggage, following the two women and listening as Leann made small talk, asking about the flight and about Lydia’s husband and children.
“I should have visited more often,” Lydia bemoaned as they left the airport. She sat by the passenger window. Leann was in the middle. Her shoulder was pressed against Gary’s arm and the intimate contact kept him so distracted, yet aware of curbs, that he didn’t add to the conversation at all.
Right now, Gary didn’t want to think about visiting family. Not his father’s connection to Angela Blackgoat or how he was going to tell his family, especially his mother, about the situation.
He’d come to Sarasota Falls to be alone. Instead, he’d managed to become part of Leann’s family as well as Russell’s.
Gary glanced at Lydia and thought back to Leann’s earlier comment on the subtle differences between Brian and his half siblings. She was right.
Gary frowned.
“So,” she said, “Brian might possibly be related to you, Mr. Guzman?”
“Call me Gary. It’s what he claims.”
“What does your mother have to say?”
“I haven’t had a chance to call her. I’ll talk to my aunt first. She’s lived in Sarasota Falls all her life. She’ll know more.”
“She ever mention anything between your father and my mother?”
“She said Berto and Angela were friends.”
Leann shifted in her seat, inching closer to Gary. He wished he could just put his arm around her. Why couldn’t things just be simple?
“Brian told us the man she married didn’t want him. At least, that’s what the woman who raised him claimed,” he said, trying to get back on track.
Lydia snorted. “He didn’t want us either. As long as he could afford a nanny to raise us, it was fine. Best thing that happened to Jace and I was when we came to live with grandfather.”
“And something drove Jace away,” Leann remarked.
“Won’t be for much longer. Grandfather needs him. Jace will be here tomorrow.”
“You’re kidding,” Gary said.
Lydia looked at them, her eyes watering a bit. “I—I don’t think Brian’s existence surprised my brother. I think—I think it scared him.”
The last few miles to Sarasota Falls were uncomfortable. Leann, Gary could tell, itched to ask questions. Lydia, however, stared out the window, her lips pressed together and her hands busily clasping and unclasping.
Leann finally said, “So, you have three children? I have two boys.”
“How long have you been together?” Lydia asked softly.
“Well, my oldest is—”
“She means us,” Gary interrupted Leann.
“We’re not together,” Leann protested.
But they were, Gary admitted to himself. The last week they’d been together enough to work as one to get things done and...
He thought about the feel of her hand, the warmth of her next to him here in the truck, the kiss they’d shared in Russell’s backyard. It had been a mistake, of course. One that haunted him because he wanted to make the same mistake over and over.
But he couldn’t give her what she wanted. He was better alone, no chance of letting anyone down. Plus, he’d go crazy every time she went on duty.
He swallowed, amazed by the rush of emotion that thought evoked, and forced himself to banish the image of Leann and him together because in the midst of everything, her sons’ father would be returning home today.
Yup, Gary admitted, once again his and Leann’s relationship would change.
Not that they had a relationship.
Except for that kiss.
* * *
IT WAS AFTER six when Leann made it to her in-laws to pick up Tim and Aaron. She’d dreaded turning the corner to their house. Last time Ryan had returned to Sarasota Falls, he’d been in a Hummer, and the boys had talked for hours about the great drive he’d taken them on.
Her in-laws’ street looked exactly as it did every day. Not a single strange vehicle was parked anywhere or in the Baileys’ driveway.
Maybe her ex-husband, Ryan, didn’t have a vehicle yet.
She parked and slowly meandered up the walkway to their door. It had been a long day, she was exhausted and she wanted nothing more than to get her boys hom
e, cook them dinner, check homework and maybe play a mindless game of UNO. Before she could do that, she’d have to make small talk with Ryan and his parents, pretend everything was all right and avoid topics that were meant for the lawyers.
She knocked and then opened the door, calling, “Tim, Aaron!”
They barely greeted her, then gathered their belongings as they charged through the room—Peaches at their heels—and out the door to scramble into the car.
“They’re sure in a hurry,” Leann said to Tamara. “Did Ryan...?”
“Delayed,” Tamara said tersely. “I told the boys he’d be here tomorrow. They’re a little disappointed.”
“Everything okay?” Leann asked.
Tamara gave a brief nod. “Fine. Will the boys be here tomorrow morning before school?”
“No, I’ll be able to take them. Oscar’s due back in a few hours, so things will ease up a little.”
Funny, she’d resented his getting the promotion over her. But, now, looking at her boys sitting in the car, their expressions gloomy, she knew she had something more important to deal with.
“Any news on Chief Riley?” Tamara asked.
“Good news. He’s healing slowly, but the doctors feel confident he should make a full recovery.” She’d had two phone calls, one from Lucas and the other from Chief Riley’s wife.
Tamara smiled. “We needed some good news today.
Leann agreed but thought that Tamara didn’t know the half of it.
“He was supposed to be here,” Aaron grumped when Leann slid behind the wheel.
“Did your grandmother say what kept him?”
“He’s in California. She said he—”
In the rearview mirror, Leann watched as Tim roughly nudged Aaron. Something was up. She knew her oldest boy, and he was more than bothered right now.
“He’s in California,” Aaron repeated. “Something came up, so he couldn’t come here today.”
“That’s okay,” Leann said as she started the car and pulled out onto the road. But it wasn’t okay, not a bit. She looked in the rearview mirror again and studied not her youngest, who was doing the talking, but her oldest, who looked as tense as his grandmother had. Tim remembered his father more than Aaron did. Leann wasn’t sure if he recalled all the arguments or the nights Ryan hadn’t come home, but she knew he understood that Ryan hadn’t really been a part of their lives: then or now. Still, her oldest had battled hopefulness with skepticism when told that his father was coming to Sarasota Falls for good. She hated that at just twelve, he already mistrusted the words of his father.