Page 102 of To Die For

“Okay, I’m sorry. It’s just that today threw everyone for a loop.”

Odom looked at Walker. “You’re really pretty.”

A surprised Walker said, “Thank you, Betsy.”

“For you.” She handed her a sheet from her sketchbook. On it was an excellent likeness of Walker.

“Wow, that is incredible,” said Walker, showing it to Devine, who also looked impressed.

“Damn, Betsy, you are one fine artist.”

Odom did not seem to be listening to him and her expression had darkened. “So you don’t want to be my guardian?” she said defiantly.

“What?”

“I heard you. So you don’t want to be my guardian?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did,” she blurted out. “Don’t lie to me!”

Devine looked flustered and out of sorts. “Look, I just said it wouldn’t work out. I… I don’t know anything about… It wouldn’t be fair to you,” he added lamely.

“Right, sure, fair to me. You just don’t want the hassle, admit it.”

By this time Saxby had arrived on the scene. “Damn it, Betsy, you had us scared to death.”

She whirled around on the FBI agent. “Don’t start on me, okay? You all act like you had the shitty day.Ihad the shitty day! You all expected me to say I wanted my uncle to be my guardian. But I didn’t, did I? You think that was easy? You keep tellin’ me my uncle is this bad guy. You think it was easy not pickin’ him? He’s pissed. I saw it. You think that was easy?” She stared up at Devine. “So I went out on a limb and I picked you. I told that judge lady. I wanted you to be my guardian. And it didn’t mean shit toyou, or any of you.”

“Betsy, that is not right,” countered Devine. “Idon’t think that. It meant a great deal to me.”

“The hell it does. Stop lyin’!”

Devine let out a long breath. “Okay, Betsy. You’re right.”

“About what? What am I right about?” Odom wanted to know.

Devine could tell she was poised for a prolonged fight, so he had to choose his words carefully.

“You went out on a limb, like you said. You bucked your uncle and that is ahugedeal. And I think you picked me because you feel like we connected. And the truth is I felt the same about you, Betsy. But you just have to understand that I’ve never spent much time around people your age. I will screw up. I will say the wrong thing. I will annoy the hell out of you and you’ll annoy the hell out of me at times. But I will have your back, I promise you that. So I will be your guardian. I mean, if you really meant it. Andifthe court approves it. ”

Odom didn’t say anything for a few moments.

“Really? You’re not just sayin’ that?” she said in a calmer tone.

“Really. And I need your help to find out what happened to your parents. And us being together will make that easier.” He turned to Saxby. “How can we make that work?”

“Let me get her lawyer involved,” she said. “It might be as simple as transferring her care from one fed to another. But where will you stay? Your hotel?”

“No.” He looked at Odom. “How about we go back to your place? Nate and Korey are there. We can hang with them.”

“Yeah, that would be cool. I like them. A lot.”

Devine looked at Saxby. “Let’s do it.”

“You’re really sure about this?” she asked.

Devine looked at Walker, who appeared nervous but supportive. He then glanced at Odom, who had her eyes glued to him, before turning to Saxby. “I’m sure.”

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