Page 51 of Just a Little in Love

“I’ll see you next week,” Martin said, ignoring Daddy, and went back into his office.

Rowan was practically bouncing, and let Daddy direct him to the car, but then dared to give him a kiss when Daddy bent over to fasten his seatbelt. Daddy stopped what he was doing and stared at him. “I don’t know what happened, but whatever it was, it must have agreed with you.” He stroked a finger down Rowan’s cheek. “But you’ve been crying, and I wasn’t there to hold you or kiss it better.”

And for the first time, Rowan understood that while he needed Daddy with every breath, that Daddy needed him too. It made him think back to all those weeks ago when he’d made friends with Jay, the masochist who had tried to explain to Rowan that it wasn’t the Doms that had all the power, even though they wielded the whips, it was the submissives, because they gave the Doms permission to use them in the first place.

Rowan was relieved to be going home, and while he wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened with Martin, he was ready to start believing in a future. They chatted about the house they were moving into at the end of the month, and the dog they were going to get, and Rowan didn’t think he could be any happier.

Until they pulled into their driveway and Rowan saw the car parked opposite and recognized the two detectives that got out of it.

And headed their way.

Chapter twenty-six

Rowan let Daddy sit him down and watched as he took charge, seating the detectives and getting Detectives Cregarrah and Mason a bottle of water. Rowan had a random thought that he was glad Daddy didn’t offer them coffee as that would mean Rowan would be alone with them longer, and he didn’t want to be. In fact, he wanted to be just about anywhere else right at that moment. Rowan could have cried in relief when Daddy sat himself down next to Rowan and draped an arm around him, tucking him close. He didn’t look at the detectives for a reaction. He didn’t care.

Detective Cregarrah spoke first. “Mr. Wilson, we wanted to give you an update, and we were going to call on Mr. Philip Wilson next, but thought you’d like to hear it first.” Rowan looked up, glanced at the cops, but felt Daddy squeeze his shoulder, which gave him the courage to speak.

“Something happened with my mother,” he said. She had probably turned it all around and they were here to say that they were very sorry, but they couldn’t hold her any longer. Rowan would never be free of her. How long did restraining orders last? How long until Daddy got sick of the never-ending baggage that Rowan dragged around with him? He shot a look at Daddy and tried to move away, let go of his hand, but Daddy simply held on tighter.

“We’ve spoken to Mrs. Agnes Edwards this morning and, as a direct result, Mrs. Janice Wilson has admitted guilt and given a full statement to that fact.”

It took Rowan a minute, but Daddy got in first. “What?”

“What do you mean?” Rowan whispered.

“Mrs. Wilson has admitted to opening the credit cards in your name and arranging the international wire of the funds, which, incidentally, will be returned to you when it’s proven they were sent fraudulently.”

Rowan stared at the red-haired detective, who looked rather pleased with himself. “But Mrs. Edwards hates me,” Rowan said. “She always agrees with Mother.”

Detective Mason mumbled something not very complimentary, and Cregarrah nodded as if he was agreeing with his partner.

“We interviewed her in the presence of her attorney and showed her certain evidence we have collected proving that Mrs. Wilson has lied to her,” Cregarrah said.

“To say she was shocked was an understatement,” Detective Mason said. “We can also prove she was guilty of a little more than poor judgement in her friends.”

Rowan could hear what the detectives were saying, but he couldn’t take it in.

“Guilty of what?” Daddy asked. “There must have been quite a step between you talking to the neighbor and Janice admitting everything.”

“Mrs. Edwards was convinced that Mrs. Wilson was destitute and going to lose the house because she couldn’t pay the mortgage,” Detective Mason said.

Rowan stared at him. “But that’s ridiculous. She doesn’t have a mortgage and my dad would never let that happen, anyway.”

“Well, apparently, your mom convinced her that the only time she could work was on weekends when you were at your dad’s,” Mason continued. “Apparently, your dad would call and say at the last minute that he couldn’t have you that weekend and so she had to cancel work, which is why she lost so many jobs.”

“But she didn’t have a job,” Rowan said in utter bewilderment. “She hasn’t had one for two years. She told me—” But Rowan clamped his lips closed. Another lie.

“She also told Mrs. Wilson the divorce stipulated your dad had agreed to pay for your medical expenses, but she was having to foot the bill for your education until you began working full time.”

Rowan felt sick. She’d never mentioned anything like that to him, ever, and his dad paid for college, anyway. He knew that, so how was this his fault? He tried to move away from Daddy again.

“And as it happens, Janice Wilson received a generous monthly allowance while you were in school.”

“Just so I understand,” Daddy said, breaking into Rowan’s spiraling thoughts. “She got a generous monthly allowance, a mortgage-free home, and had no expenses to pay for Rowan such as college or medical insurance? That’s what you’re saying?”

Both detectives nodded.

Daddy shot Rowan a puzzled look, but then turned back to the detectives. “So why the loan? Why the credit cards?”

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