by Karen Ball
Silence filled the room in the wake of Dan’s outburst. The longer it stretched, the more peaceful Dan grew. Since a situation like this would usually have him all but crawling the walls, that peace was evidence enough that everything would work out.
The judge sat there, staring at his desk, seemingly deep in thought. Shelby shifted in her chair, as though she was going to rise, and Dan put a hand on her arm, staying her. He shot one glance her way, telling her to wait. Be patient. She studied him a moment, then acknowledged with a small nod and settled back in her chair.
After a few more minutes of silence, the judge picked up his pen and signed the papers in front of him. His sharp gaze nailed Dan. “Okay, Deputy, you’ve got your chance.” He held the papers out to Shelby. “These are my orders to place the minor, Jayce Dalton, in the custody of Deputy Dan Justice. However, I’ve made the stipulation, Miss Wilson, that you will oversee this custody arrangement.”
Shelby hesitated, and Dan’s heart plummeted. Was being around him such a burden now that she’d jeopardize Jayce’s future? “But Your Honor, my work—”
“Your supervision, Miss Wilson, or no dice.”
Dan held his breath, until Shelby gave a curt nod.
“Agreed.” She took the papers from the judge. “Can we take the minor with us now?”
“The papers releasing him into your custody forthwith are with the others I just gave you.”
Dan stood and held out his hand. As the judge took it, Dan held his gaze. “Thank you, sir. You won’t be sorry.”
Judge Richards studied him, clearly not convinced. “See that I’m not, Deputy.”
Jayce sat on his bed in the detention cell, staring at the wall.
Exactly where you should be. Locked up. Just like your old man. He turned his face to the wall. He’d given up trying to silence the voice. Nothing he did worked. All he could do was not let it get to him.
Yeah. Right.
How could you get caught? How stupid can you be? Marlin can’t be pleased.
Hang Marlin.
Yeah, big talk when he can’t get to you. But your grandmother … he can still get to her, now can’t he? And you can’t exactly protect her in here, can you? ’Course, that’s not your problem anymore, is it? After all, she’s the one who gave up on you.
Jayce stood and paced. Maybe if he stomped his feet loud enough he could drown it ou—
“Let’s go, kid.”
Jayce spun. An officer was sliding the key into the cell door. “Go?”
“You’re free. Released into custody.”
Jayce scowled. “Custody? Whose?”
The officer pulled the door open. “I guess you’ll find out in a few minutes. Now let’s go.”
As Jayce walked, he tried to keep his mind quiet, calm. Whoever was here for him, it didn’t matter. He was free. And that meant he could run. Go somewhere. Anywhere. So long as it was away from this stinkin’ town.
Jayce saw Miss Wilson as he came around the corner. For a moment he felt a surge of relief, then he spotted the man standing at her side. He jerked to a halt. Anger rose in him, and he took a step back.
“Come on, kid. They’re waiting for you.”
“No.”
The officer grimaced. “Don’t give me problems here, boy. You’ve been released into the deputy’s custody. That’s it.”
If Jayce had learned anything in his bouts with the law, it was that arguing only made things worse. Usually for him. So he ground his teeth and walked over to Dan Justice. Dan lifted his chin in silent greeting.
Jayce didn’t respond. He stood there, stone silent, as Deputy Justice finished whatever he was doing. He jumped when a hand touched his arm. Turning, he met Miss Wilson’s blue eyes.
“I’m so glad to see you, Jayce.”
And he was glad to see her, too. He’d thought for sure he was on his way to a foster home. He blinked fast and hard to hold back the sudden sting at the back of his eyes.
“Everything’s going to be okay.” She smiled. “You’re going to stay with Dan for a while.”
His mouth fell open. “I’m … I’m what?”
“Staying with me.”
Jayce turned, glaring at the man who now stood before him. “And if I don’t want to?”
“I’m afraid it’s not up to you.”
The deputy’s words stirred the embers of anger within him, breathing them into flame.
“Look, let’s not fight right here in the entrance of the Juvenile Services Center. Come outside. I’ve got something to say to you. When I’m done, if you want, you can just take off.”
“Dan!”
He ignored Miss Wilson’s alarmed yelp. “Deal?”
Jayce narrowed his eyes. “I can go?”
“As fast as your legs will carry you.”
“Done.” Jayce walked out the front door of the center, out to the parking lot. Then he turned, crossed his arms, and glared at the deputy. “So? Let’s hear your big speech. I got places to go.”
“I … um, I’ll be over there.” Miss Wilson started to walk past the deputy but grabbed his arm and went up on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. Jayce heard her all the same: “I hope you know what you’re doing!”
Deputy Justice gave her arm a squeeze, and she walked a little distance away. Far enough to be out of the conversation, but not so far that she couldn’t hear.
Jayce wouldn’t put it past her to try and tackle him if he took off.
Deputy Justice leaned back against his cop car, hands in his pockets. He looked … different. More like he used to look. Before that day.
So what? You going soft? He looks like he used to, so suddenly you trust him? After what he did?
No. Jayce wasn’t stupid. No way he’d trust this man again.
“I know.”
Jayce jumped then gave the deputy a glare. “You know what?”
“That you don’t trust me. I wouldn’t, either.”
What? Could the guy read his mind?
“I’m sorry, Jayce. I blew it.”
He didn’t reply. Just continued to glare.
“When you came up to me at the funeral, I just lost it.”
Why? Jayce would never voice the question, but he so wanted to know. Why?
“Because I was afraid.”
Shock pierced Jayce. “Afraid? Of me? Give me a break!”
“Of how you made me feel.” His brow creased. “No, that’s not right. Not how I felt but that I felt. At all. I’d just lost the two people I cared about most in the world. And then there you were, and I wanted to care. Wanted to reach out, to comfort you. And I couldn’t.”
Jayce stared at the ground. Hard.
“I knew if I let myself talk with you, cry with you, that would be it. I already cared about you. If I spent time with you, I’d just care even more. And I couldn’t let myself do that. Because you might … I might …”
Jayce lifted his head and met the man’s eyes. “Because something might happen and I’d be gone, too.”
“So I pushed you away. And Miss Wilson. And I ran.” He shook his head. “Funny thing, though, I didn’t get far.”
“You got far enough.”
At his bitter words, Dan sighed. “Yes, eventually. But right then, when I walked way from you two, I got corralled by someone who read me the riot act for doing that.”
Who did that? Jayce tried to remember, then his eyes widened. “You mean that old lady?”
The deputy gave a lopsided smile. “Yeah. Agatha Hunter. She told me how disappointed in me she was. How I was letting you—and Shannon—down.”
Shannon. “That musta made you mad.”
His smile grew a little. “Didn’t make me happy. And unfortunately, it didn’t stop me. It took a while—a long while—but I finally realized she was right. Mrs. Hunter, that is. I did let you down. And Shannon.”
Jayce could tell how much that hurt him.
Yeah. Sure. He makes you feel sorry for him. Thinks everything can be like it was.
The voice grated on Jayce’s nerves. He wanted to tell it to shut up. But instead he stared down at the ground, wrestling with the knowledge that lay like a lead pipe in the pit of his gut.
Things would never be like they were.
“Shannon’s gone.”
Jayce’s head snapped up. Exactly. And without her, how could things ever be right again?
“So is Aaron. It took me a while to accept that.”
Jayce recognized the rough sound in the deputy’s voice. That’s what you sounded like when pain grabbed you by the throat.
“And to accept that I’m still here. And so are you. I think God brought you and me together for a reason. Maybe for you. Maybe for me. I don’t know. But I want to find out. Or try.”
The deputy pushed away from his cruiser. Took a step toward Jayce. “I know I let you down, and I know saying I’m sorry doesn’t change that. But I am sorry. And I’m here.”
His gaze caught Jayce’s and held it. “I’m here, Jayce. For you. I’m not saying this is a permanent situation. We both need time before we make that kind of decision. But I’m asking you: Give me a chance. That’s all. Just a chance.”
Forget it! Take off. He said you could. Just listen, then you can leave. Remember? So go!
Jayce might have been more inclined to listen to the voice if it didn’t sound quite so panicked. That fact combined with the look on the deputy’s features made up his mind.
“Okay.”
“Oh, thank heaven!”
Jayce and the deputy both looked at Miss Wilson. She clapped her hands over her mouth then took a step farther back. “I’m just over here. Don’t mind me.”
The deputy turned back to Jayce. “You sure?”
Say no! Get out of here! Run!
Jayce clenched his hand into a fist. Shut. Up. Just … shut up. I’m not stupid. I’m sure not saying I trust him. But his house is as good a place as any to stay while I figure out what to do next.
Besides, there would be pictures at the deputy’s house. Pictures of Shannon. Of them camping. He’d never had a chance to see those pictures. And he really wanted to.
“I’m sure.”
With that, Deputy Justice turned and unlocked the car. “Then let’s go home.”
THIRTY
“The most precious possession that ever comes
to a man in this world is a woman’s heart.”
JOSIAH G. HOLLAND
“When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs,
where pools of blessing collect after the rains!”
PSALM 84:6
I CAN’T TAKE THIS!
The thought repeated in Shelby’s mind, and yet she didn’t stop. She just kept walking. Up the driveway. To the front door. Where she rang the bell and waited.
The door opened and Dan stood there, that welcoming smile on his face. “Hey, come on in. We’ve been waiting.”
Not as long as I’ve been waiting for you.
Shelby pushed the rebellious thought away and pasted an easy smile on her face. What was Judge Richards thinking? Bad enough that she had to see Dan at church every week, but spending time with him like this?
It was harder than she ever imagined.
“Jayce, Miss Wilson is here. You ready to go?”
Shelby didn’t have to force a smile that time. The warm tone in Dan’s voice as he called to Jayce lifted her lips with ease. Whatever the judge had been thinking to put her in the position he had, he’d done the right thing putting Jayce with Dan. These last two months together had been good for both of them.
A person would have to be blind to miss how much Dan cared for the boy. Shelby was certain Jayce felt the same about Dan, but those walls of his were still as high and thick as ever. With Dan, anyway. At least he didn’t have any walls with her. The phone call from him last week proved that.
“Hey, Miss Wilson. It’s Jayce.”
“I know.” She smiled into the receiver. “I recognized your voice.”
“Cool. Listen, we—Deputy Dan and me—we want to take you out. You know, for Mother’s Day.”
She’d been stunned. “Mother’s Day?”
“Sure. I mean, I know you’re not really my mom, but you’re the closest thing I’ve ever had. So what do you say? Wanna go?”
Jayce’s simple words had touched her deeply, so of course she accepted.
That’s why you accepted, eh? Because of Jayce? Didn’t have anything to do with going out with Dan?
Shelby gritted her teeth. Shut u—
“Yo, Miss W!”
She gave a little yelp as she was engulfed in a hug, spun in a circle two times, then let go so abruptly she almost fell on her face. Only Dan’s quick action to catch her prevented a close encounter with the floor.
“Whoa!” Dan’s laughter brought her head up, and their eyes met. His arms around her tightened a fraction, then he pulled back, set her on her feet, and stepped away.
“You two ready to go? Don’t want to be late.”
There it was again. That brusque, dismissive tone he’d taken to using anytime they got too close.
“Hey, chill out, Deputy.” Jayce halted in the act of putting his coat on. “No need to go postal on us.”
Dan blinked. “Postal? I wasn’t being postal.”
Jayce shrugged his coat on. “Sounded postal to me.” He glanced at Shelby, and she bit her lip.
“Maybe a little postal.”
Dan’s features clouded. “I was not postal.”
“Ooo, more postality.” Jayce pulled the front door open. “That’ll convince us—”
“Can it, Jayce.” At Dan’s low mutter, Jayce’s eyes went to the ceiling.
Shelby chuckled at the response. Did they know how much like father and son they sounded? “Okay, you two. Let’s not start out the night being disagreeable. It’s my special day.”
Dan’s hand at her back directed her out the front door, which Jayce now held open. Dan leaned close to her ear. “I am not being disagreeable!”
“Yeah,” came Jayce’s voice from right behind them as they walked toward Dan’s SUV. “And Santa doesn’t wear red.”
“You’re just lucky we’re still going to see a movie.”
Shelby cocked her head at that. “I am? Was there an alternative?”
Dan unlocked the doors to his vehicle. “This crazy kid wanted me to take you out to the old lumberyard for a candlelight dinner for three.”
“For three, huh?” She giggled. “Real romantic.”
“Hey, the deputy doesn’t exactly excel in the romance department. I figured you’d need me to coach him.”
She waved his teasing aside. “But the lumberyard?”
Jayce grinned. “I like it there, okay? I figured we could take a little table, set it up with candles and a tablecloth … but no. Mr. I-Hate-Adventure over here wasn’t interested. Too bad. I think he should check the place out. You know, for its romance factor.”
“It’s May, you nut. We live in the mountains. It’s still cold outside at night.”
Dan’s comment only broadened Jayce’s grin. He took hold of the door to the backseat, but Dan stopped him. “Jayce, you take shotgun. That’ll give Shelby the whole backseat to stretch out.”
Jayce stopped, his hand on the door handle. He looked at Shelby, who’d been about to open the door to the passenger seat. Touches of heat tinged her cheeks, but she did her best to look nonchalant as she traded Jayce places.
Fine. If Dan didn’t want her sitting next to him, it was no big deal.
As they started the drive to the movie theater in White City, an awkward silence filled the vehicle. Finally, Shelby tapped Jayce on the shoulder. “So, tell me what’s happening with you and school.”
Clearly grateful for the neutral topic, Jayce waxed eloquent for the rest of the drive. Shelby hoped it was because he was excited, and not because he sensed the tension between her and Dan. But when they pulled into the movie theater p
arking lot and Jayce echoed her relieved sigh, she knew her hopes were not to be realized.
They got their tickets, waited while Jayce loaded up on pop and popcorn, then made their way to the theater. Jayce and Dan stepped aside, letting Shelby in first. She sat down, then glanced up at the two guys. They were both just standing there, looking at each other. Jayce was nodding for Dan to take the seat next to Shelby; Dan was doing the same at Jayce. Shelby felt her face flame and glanced around to see if anyone had noticed this little interplay.
Not anyone.
Everyone.
Every eye in the theater seemed riveted on the three of them. Of course, neither Jayce nor Dan seemed to realize that. They were too focused on their little war of wills.
Finally a guy from two rows back, who looked to be in his twenties, leaned forward. “If you guys don’t want to sit with her, I will. She’s too fine to sit there alone.” As Dan and Jayce started, then looked around, the guy winked at Shelby, who wished the floor would open up and swallow her. “Whaddya say, beautiful? Come sit with me and I promise to appreciate you.” He tossed his head at Dan. “That should be a welcome change.”
The effect on Dan was, to say the least, fascinating.
He straightened to his full height, shot the guy a scowl, and moved to take the seat next to Shelby. Sitting down, he slid his arm across the back of her chair, forming an effective barrier between her and her would-be suitor.
As Jayce took the seat next to Dan, Shelby glanced over Dan’s arm to the young man behind them. He caught her look and winked again, then settled back in his seat. “Hey, can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Don’t encourage him.”
At Dan’s hissed chastisement, she turned to refute his accusation and found herself almost nose to nose with him. Their eyes widened, gazes caught. Eternity settled into a skipping heartbeat as they stared at one another. For the barest moment, Dan’s eyes softened, grew tender. “Shelby … I …”