Page 5 of Delayed Penalty

I only wish I had known about her sooner.

Given his history, getting the call about Aiden wasn’t a shock. But then the people on the other end of the line started using words likeyour niece,temporary custody, andguardian. That’s when my jaw hit the floor. He’s lied about a lot of shit over the years, left out mountains of details, but an entire fucking kid? That was a whole new low, even for him.

“Let’s get you that donut, then.Extrasprinkles.” Bess winks at Flora, then rises to her full height, which isn’t all that full considering she’s five foot three at best. “And how are you, Mr. Hayes?”

I’ve asked her several times to call me Hayes like everyone else, but she insists on ignoring me. She’s lucky I like her enough to let it slide.

“Doing fine, Bess. And you? How’re the kids?”

“Oh, a mess as usual.” She rolls her eyes. “But that’s just par for the course. Quinn, my youngest daughter…” She shakes her head with a cluck of her tongue. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about her some days. That’s the one who was helping in here a few weeks back, remember?”

How could I forget? I ordered a black coffee, and she somehow managed to mess that up. How is it even possible to take something so simple and make it so complicated? I don’t know, but Quinn sure did.

“I remember. Has she been giving you trouble?”

“Since the day she was born.” She smiles fondly. “Anyway, enough about me. Your usuals?”

“Please.”

“Coming right up.”

She gets started on our breakfast—a chocolate donut withextrasprinkles for Flora and a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese for me. She pours my coffee and grabs chocolate milk for the kid without me having to ask.

Damn, we really do come in here too often. I can’t help it though, and not just because I’m a terrible cook. It reminds me of Scout’s Sweets back in North Carolina, and I miss frequenting that truck far more than I care to admit.

“Thanks,” I tell her as she slides our breakfast our way. “What’s the damage?”

“That’ll be ten seventy-five.”

I hand Bess my card, then grab the plated donut from the counter, shoving it Flora’s way. “Go grab us a table, huh, kiddo? I’ll finish this up.”

“Okay,” she murmurs, taking her plate and milk, then carefully walking over to the table near the entrance, the same one we always sit at. She doesn’t make a peep as she slides her chair out and settles into it, folding her hands in her lap, staring down at her donut, and just…waiting.

So odd.

I turn back to Bess, and there is no mistaking the look on her face—pity.

Her heavily purple-painted lips are turned down as she asks, “How are things really? With Flora, I mean.”

“They’re great,” I lie, mostly because I know I can. Bess won’t question me, not with Flora standing right there. Sure, she’ll ask about her, but she won’t lecture me because she doesn’t want to upset the kid.

I don’t want to upset her either. It’s why I’ve been tiptoeing around everything for the last two months. It’s easier that way.

“I see. And have you found a sitter for her? For during the season?”

It’s no secret to Bess that I play hockey. This area we moved to is a hotspot for players with families, so I wasn’t entirely surprised she recognized me. Then she told me the real reason she knows who I am—her son plays for Tennessee, and he was ranting about a play I made last season for weeks. I laughed, she laughed, and she gave me two donuts for the price of one.

That’s the hockey world for you. It’s small, and even when players on opposing teams don’t get along on the ice, you’re family off it.

“I’m working on it,” I tell her, and it’s not a complete lie. Iamworking on it…sort of. Sure, I have no idea where to start when it comes to finding childcare, but it is in the back of my mind. That counts for something, right?

“If you get in a pinch, you let me know, all right? I’m sure I can help figure something out for you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I don’t mean it in the least bit because I’m sure she has her own stuff to worry about. “Thanks, Bess.”

“Any time, kid.” She gives me a warm smile, and I throw a twenty into her tip jar.

I tuck my card back into my wallet, then grab my breakfast and meet Flora at the table. I settle across from her, folding my napkin over my lap, just to see how she reacts to it. She watches me intently, then does the same. My lips twitch at the action.

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