by Liz Talley
“Then you can follow her right back out that door.” No way in hell he left his niece and nephews with a stranger. He knew Courtney didn’t know about Joe, and in his mind, Joe had to go.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” DeeAnn said, sticking her hands on her hips and smiling at Lucas as if he were a blooming idiot. “Joe’s practically family.”
But not yet.
Something didn’t feel right, but maybe Lucas threw up barriers because of something wriggling inside him he didn’t want to admit—the fact he wasn’t ready to go back to Texas. The fact he cared more about his brother’s kids than he thought… even if he still had to clean red lipstick from the upstairs carpet.
Charlotte ducked behind his leg, giving him a small thrill of victory he acknowledged by reaching around and patting her shoulder. “That might be, but you aren’t shacking up in the house with these kids.”
“Who are you, head of the morality police?” Joe asked dropping the bags at DeeAnn’s feet. “It’s not 1950, dude.”
“I’m not sitting in judgment on you, but they don’t know Joe. No offense.”
“We’re in a serious relationship. Been dating two months so I’m not a stranger.” Joe mimicked DeeAnn’s pose.
Lucas sighed. He had no right to undermine Courtney. DeeAnn was her cousin, and his sister-in-law obviously trusted her enough to supervise the kids. Besides this was what he wanted—to go back home, forget about New Orleans, and sew himself back into the man he had always wanted to be.
“Joe’s out.” Lucas pointed toward the front door just as it opened. Michael and Chris trooped in, arguing about who had to feed the dog and cat. They dumped their backpacks and fell silent when they saw the adults assembled.
“He’s not going anywhere,” DeeAnn said, tossing her head and standing akimbo a la Batman. But without the cape. “We’ve already made plans to stay with the kids. So you get out.”
“Who’s she?” Chris asked as Michael kicked the front door closed.
“Wait. Who brought you home?” Lucas asked, flashing a glance at his watch. He should have left thirty minutes ago for pick up. He’d totally screwed the pooch on pick up today. Shit.
“David Peace’s mom. I tried calling your cell.” Michael stared him down, aggravation on his young face… and maybe disappointment. “What’s DeeAnna doing here?”
“DeeAnn,” the woman said, tucking her hands into her pockets and looking over the crew of kids populating the foyer. “Your mom wanted me to stay with y’all until she gets back from Virginia.”
“Is that where she is?” Chris asked, cocking his head. “What’s she doing there? We don’t know nobody in Virginia.”
Michael didn’t flinch, but his eyes widened slightly. “You’re joking.”
“Nope,” DeeAnn said with a fake smile. “She tried to call me last week, but I was out of pocket. I’m here now, so your uncle can go back to his cave.”
“Does your parole officer know you’re here?” Michael asked, sliding behind Lucas and turning Charlotte toward him. He frowned when he saw the lipstick smeared all over her face but didn’t say anything.
“I don’t have a parole officer. You know that.” DeeAnn had dropped the sunny smile and looked aggravated.
“Wait a minute,” Lucas said, pointing a finger at the woman. “You have a parole officer?”
“I don’t have a parole officer. I got busted for pot years ago. No big deal, and Mikey knows that. He’s trying to make me look bad is all.”
Michael glanced at Lucas, his dark eye unfathomable.
“Besides, I’m a woman and can take care of kids no problem. You forgot to pick Mikey and Chris up. Pot calling the kettle black.” DeeAnn crossed her arms and gave a supercilious nod.
“I don’t want to stay with her,” Chris said.
“You don’t have to,” Lucas said.
For a moment they all stood looking at each other—a veritable standoff. He could hear the clock ticking in the hallway, measuring out the seconds of tenseness.
Lucas should have been relieved to have Courtney’s cousin show up early. He wasn’t cut out for taking care of three children and a menagerie of animals. Hadn’t forgetting about Chris and Michael that afternoon, along with the lipstick debacle, proven as much? But the whole thing felt wrong.
“Let’s just call Courtney,” DeeAnn said, pulling a cellphone from her back pocket.
“You do that,” Lucas responded, picking up Charlotte and heading to the kitchen so he could clean her face. Chris followed.
“Why didn’t you pick us up today?” Chris asked, heading to the fridge, pulling open the door and mulling over his choices.
Lucas sat Charlotte on the counter next to the sink. The child rubbed her eyes and yawned. He should have made her lie down for a nap. “I was on my way, but I couldn’t find my keys. And then those two showed up.”
Chris pulled out a pudding cup, ripped off the lid and licked it before tossing it onto the counter. “Oh. We thought we’d have to go to Mrs. Gruden’s room. We hate that place. And why are they here anyway? You’re doing okay… even if you forgot about us today.”
“Put that in the trash,” Lucas said, ripping off several paper towels, wetting them and then scrubbing at Charlotte plump cheeks. “I didn’t forget you. I was running late. So is Michael pis- uh, mad?”
“Oww!” Charlotte wiggled under the duress of the paper towel.
“He’s always mad,” Chris said, doing as Lucas suggested, but not before dropping the foil top on the tile, smearing it with chocolate. “I don’t think he likes too many people. He used to have lots of friends, but now he don’t play with no one.”
“Doesn’t play with anyone,” Lucas corrected, refusing to give up on the mess covering Charlotte’s face. He tried to be gentle, but the blasted lipstick didn’t want to come off. “Why is that?”
“Dunno,” Chris said, slurping the pudding directly from the cup.
“Get a spoon,” Lucas said, as the cellphone attached to his belt vibrated. He pulled it out.
Courtney got right to it. “Why are you giving DeeAnn a hard time? Do you know how difficult it was to get her to come and watch the kids?”
“Michael said she has a record,” he replied.
“Just possession years ago. At a concert. She was twenty and stupid. She’s cleaned up her act since.”
“She brought her boyfriend with her.”
“Oh,” Courtney said, obviously unaware of that particular. “She never said anything about bringing someone with her, but still, you want to leave. And I need someone there with the kids.”
Yes, he wanted to leave.
Didn’t he?
Of course, he did. He had a life in West Texas. A business. A ranch. A free round of golf at Las Colinas Country Club that expired next week.
But why did that sound so… unappetizing?
“But not at the expense of leaving the kids with a couple of whack jobs. If you could see your cousin and her fella, you’d know what I mean.”
“She’s always been a little colorful.” Courtney’s conviction faded a bit. “But she said you forgot to pick up Michael and Chris today.”
Accusation in her voice.
“I was on my way, but Charlotte found your lipstick, I couldn’t find my keys, and those two showed up. I didn’t forget the boys. There is aftercare, and I was on my way.”
“Wait, what do you mean ‘found my lipstick’?”
That’s what stood out to her in all that? “She found some red lipstick and tried to put it on. Don’t worry, I’ll call the carpet cleaners.”
“Carpet cleaners? There’s lipstick on my carpets?”
“A small spot, but we digress.”
“I thought you wanted to leave.”
“I do, but something doesn’t feel right with these two. I’m not Mary Poppins, but so far your children are alive, healthy, and fed on a regular basis.” He couldn’t believe he even offered her a choice. He should be packing. Ben and Courtney had sent
a savior… even if she reminded him of Mittens who sat staring at him from the kitchen table.
“Get that cat off the table,” he mouthed to Chris.
“Luke, I don’t know when I can come home.”
“I can work from here,” he said, wishing it were true but knowing that with Charlotte out of school every afternoon this week the chances were slim.
“DeeAnn’s going to be pissed. I’ll have to give her a little money for her trouble.”
“Maybe that was her main motivation.”
“She’s not bad. I wouldn’t ask her if she was,” Courtney said, sounding defensive.
“Don’t worry, I’ll cover it. I’m the one being difficult.”
Silence sat on the phone for a few seconds before Courtney asked, “What’s your motivation?”
He glanced over at Chris who held a writhing Mittens out from his body with two hands as he walked toward the door. And then at Charlotte who had nearly fallen asleep against his chest, making smears of red on his clean white shirt. “I’m a glutton for punishment?”
Silence hung on the line again. Then she said, “Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” And he actually meant it.
He ended the call just as the back door slammed shut and scooped a sleepy Charlotte into his arms. “Okay, kiddos. You’re stuck with the mean old giant for a little bit longer.”
Chris whipped his head around, withdrawing his hand from the candy jar, spilling jellybeans onto the kitchen floor. “Wait. You’re really a giant?”
He gave the kid a flat stare.
“Oh, right.” Chris stooped and started glomming jellybeans off the floor.
Lucas caught Kermit who must have heard a piece of food hit the floor and hauled him out the back door. “Go play with Mittens.
Seconds later, Lucas pushed back through the swinging kitchen door to find loud voices coming from the family room.
I said get the hell outta my bag, kid,” Joe said in a loud voice—a voice full of menace.
“This proves exactly what I was talking about. You’re not staying here with my brother and sister. No freakin’ way.” Michael’s voice sounded shrill and panicky.
“Hey, just put it back, Mikey. It’s no big deal. Really.” This from DeeAnn.
“I’m showing Lucas. I can’t believe Mom would let you take care of us.”
“Give me it, you little shit,” Joe yelled, and Lucas heard the sound of heavy footfalls advance.
Lucas emerged right as Joe lunged toward Michael. The teen feinted to the left and spun right instead, but Joe still managed to grab him by the sleeve.
“Hey. Cut it out,” Lucas said, setting Charlotte on the floor and striding toward where Joe and Michael struggled over a bag of… marijuana?
Jesus.
Michael pushed against Joe, struggling to hold the plastic bag away from the man who once again lunged toward it. Joe managed to shove the boy, making him clip the coffee table and tumble onto the floor. The fireplace tools sounded like a gunshot as they crashed to the marble hearth.
Lucas grabbed Joe by the collar of his shirt and spun him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
The smaller man drew back his fist and let it fly, catching Lucas on the jaw, snapping his head back.
Eh. Not bad for a flea.
Lucas didn’t release his hold on the man and ducked as the next punch flew his way.
If Lucas had less control, he’d have wiped the floor with Joe, but two impressionable children watched. So instead Lucas shook the man twice before tossing him onto the sofa as easily as he tossed bags of feed on the ranch.
Joe hit hard enough to knock a picture frame off the sofa table resting against the back of the sofa. He sputtered and scrambled, trying to stand. DeeAnn screamed and launched herself at Lucas, but Lucas played quarterback in high school and still had pocket awareness. He scooped her to the side and dropped her next to Joe, knocking the man once again into the cushioned depths.
Lucas pointed a finger at both of them. “Don’t get up, or I’ll beat you like you stole something.”
Chris sock-slid into the room. “Cool.”
“You okay, Michael?” Lucas asked, not taking his eyes off Joe because he trusted him about as far as he could throw him… which was obviously about three feet. Maybe four.
“Yeah,” the kid said, rising slowly and holding up the baggie of what looked to be weed. “And I held on to this. You want to call the cops?”
“No,” DeeAnn said, shooting upright and casting Michael a pleading look. “I didn’t know he had that. You can flush it.”
“Flush it? Hell no. That’s Grade A shit.” Joe didn’t take his eyes off Lucas. Smart man.
DeeAnn punched Joe on the arm, making Lucas wonder if he’d been teleported to one of those crazy talk shows. “Shut up, Joe, and do what he says.”
“You don’t go to jail for a little weed, Dee.”
She turned to Lucas. “Do whatever you want to with it.”
“Both of you get out,” Lucas said.
“But I-” DeeAnn started.
“Now.” Lucas stepped toward the two sprawled on the couch. They both shrank from him.
Good.
“Fine,” DeeAnn huffed, struggling to her feet. “I didn’t want to watch the little bastards anyhow.”
Lucas tsked. “Apologize.”
She rolled her eyes but looked over at Michael. “Sorry.”
“Hey, can I have my stuff back, dude?” Joe asked.
Lucas lifted the baggie and cocked an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
“Frick!”
Except Joe didn’t say “frick.” Pretty well established the man had a mouth like a sailor and Lucas’s gut instinct had been spot on. No way he left the kids to these two morons.
Lucas tucked the marijuana in his back pocket and glanced back at Michael. Chris had moved to stand beside his brother. Charlotte stood behind Michael. They looked scared, and that pissed Lucas off all over again.
Joe and DeeAnn tromped from the room, and Lucas followed. He didn’t want any more trouble. Before he left, he turned back to the kids. “Stay here.”
All three nodded, somber and still wary.
Lucas oversaw the two as they gathered their bags and slunk from the house. No tender goodbyes. In fact, he got the finger from both of them as they drove away in a clown car badly in need of paint. He wanted to return the salute but decided to be a high-road kind of guy.
He glanced briefly over at Addy’s house and saw she still hadn’t arrived home. A funny little plink echoed around his ticker. Which was plain dumb. Wanting Addy had nothing to do with anything above his belt.
Or so he vowed to think.
Turning, he went back in the house and found the kids still huddled silent in the living room. He walked over to the sofa and nudged it back into place, resetting the picture frame.
Michael silently separated from his siblings and walked to the fireplace. Stooping, he righted the fireplace tools. When he’d finished, he glanced over at Lucas. “You were gonna kick his ass, weren’t you?”
“If I needed to.”
Michael nodded. “But you didn’t… because we’re here.”
“That’s part of it, but I didn’t need to hurt Joe to make my point. He’s a coward at heart. I could see that.”
“He kinda scared me,” Chris said, wrapping an arm around his sister who for once didn’t cry. Charlotte stood beside her brother, her sweet blue eyes full of fear.
“But not me.” Lucas moved around and sat on the sofa. “As long as I’m here, I’ll protect you. That’s why your mother asked me to come.”
“So why did she send DeeAnn then?” Michael asked, still crouched by the fireplace.
“I needed to go home so your mother tried to come up with a replacement.”
“You don’t need to go home anymore?” Michael asked.
Lucas didn’t want to lie to them. Hell, their mother was already keeping secrets from them. “N
ot more than I need to take care of you. I miss my horse Cisco, and I miss the miles and miles of pasture, but I’m coping in the clutter.”
“So how long you staying with us?” Chris narrowed his eyes, the normal confused look back again.
“Until your mother and father come home.”
“And when is that?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know.” Lucas spread his hands toward Charlotte. “You okay, Miss Charlotte?”
The little girl didn’t say anything. Just moved toward him, arms raised. He scooped her up, and she laid her head on his shoulder, clutching him tightly. This time there wasn’t a ping around his heart so much as it was a swelling with something he’d rarely felt. He rubbed the child’s back and looked at the two boys. “I’m tired of eating take-out pizza, and I’m not in the mood for leftovers. Wanna go out for dinner?”
They both nodded.
Charlotte lifted her head. “Can we go to Chuck E. Cheese?”
Michael and Chris glanced at one another, some unspoken message transmitted between them.
“What’s Chucky Cheese, guys?” Lucas asked.
“It’s a pizza place,” Chris said.
“I’m kind of tired of pizza,” Lucas said, setting Charlotte down between his knees and inspecting her face again. Who knew lipstick soaked in the skin like that? “How about tacos?”
“I wanna go to Chuck E. Cheese. I wanna ride the horsie.”
Lucas sighed. “Okay. Fine. We’ll do homework when we get back.”
“Yay!” Chris yelled, pumping his fist into the air.
Michael gave Lucas an indecipherable look. “You might want to see if Addy wants to go with us… or maybe grab a flask of whiskey or something.”
Lucas stood, warming at the thought of inviting Addy. He almost liked the kid for suggesting it. Okay, he liked the kid anyway in spite of his bad attitude. “Whiskey? Why would I need whiskey?”
Michael grinned. “Dude, have you ever been to Chuck E. Cheese?”
Lucas slowly shook his head.
Michael’s response was laughter… evil laughter.
And Lucas knew he’d been had.
Addy stepped onto the porch, glad for the night air cooling her heated cheeks. She hadn’t seen Lucas since the night before and still felt weird about what had gone down in the kitchen. But here he was on her back porch… much earlier than midnight. In fact, it was barely eight o’clock. Post Chuck E Cheese. Poor man, maybe she should have shrugged off her Survivors of Violence meeting. No, she needed them after the threats last week. Talking through her fears always centered her.