Page 78 of Recklessly Rogue

Screw this. I dial her number.

April answers immediately. “Hello?”

“Why the rush to stay over there? Don’t you at least need Elliot’s pajamas? A few toys? Toothbrushes? How about Ruby and I bring some things over?”

“It’s not a rush. And all of that would be great. I just?—”

“Hey, Henry.”

Suddenly I’m talking to Will.

“Uh, hey.”

“So I think it’s better if April and Elliot stay here tonight. We had to handle something with Christopher and he knows where everything stands now.”

I stand immediately. “What? Christopher came over?”

“He did. I assume he felt safer approaching her here than at Ruby’s after meeting you.”

Well, that’s good. He definitely shouldn’t feel safe approaching her when I’m around. “Is he still there?” I’malready moving toward the door. I obviously need to make things evenmoreclear with Christopher.

“No, no. He left pretty quick. Well, after John got here.”

I stop at the door. “Is John your cop friend?”

“No. I was gonna call him but then I remembered I know someone even better for dealing with Christopher.”

This I have to hear. “Who’s that?”

“John.”

I roll my eyes. “Will, who is John?”

“John and I went to high school together. We were on the baseball team together. Went to State our junior year. We had a bit of a falling out after senior year. I stole his girl.” Will chuckles. “But he and Mandy weren’t a good fit.”

Fantastic. Will stole Mandy from John thirty-some years ago. What this has to do with Christopher, I don’t know, but I assume Will will get to it tonight eventually.

“Mandy felt bad and set him up with her friend Rhonda. And they fell madly in love. So, obviously, John forgave me and we’re all good.”

I wait. Surely there’s more. But he doesn’t go on. “Will? What does that have to do with Christopher?”

“Well, if John hadn’t gotten together with Rhonda, they wouldn’t have had Sally. And Sally wouldn’t have had Christopher.”

I blow out a breath. “John is Christopher’s grandfather?”

“Yep. And I called him up and said his grandson was on my porch acting like an ass. John drove right over and had a talk with him. He and Christopher left, and John said Christopher won’t be back.”

“You believe that?”

“That Christopher will listen to his grandfather? For sure. If he doesn’t, John will tell Rhonda. Christopher doesnotwant that to happen.”

I shake my head. Okay, then. And they still have the cop friend as backup, I guess.

“That still doesn’t explain why April and Elliot can’t come back to Ruby’s tonight.”’

“Well, Elliot fell asleep on the bed in his new room already. Porter’s in there with him. And April’s just?—”

“Hi, it’s me again.” April comes back on the line.

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