Page 65 of Nashville Lights

“I’ll make sure it happens today.”

“You’ll need to.”

Nate’s expression is layered. He’s pissed off. Uncomfortable with this visit, clearly. And his worried weight-of-the-world furrow is back. “Do you…want to look at the rest of the house?’

“No,” she answers abruptly. “I think I’ve seen enough.”

Ainsley turns to leave.

Nate follows her. “Ms. Beal, please. You caught us at an unexpected time?—”

“That’s the point of these visits, Mr. Boone. To find out how the household is run on a day to day basis. Without staging.”

“Staging?If you’d like to have a look at the rest of the house or to come back?—”

“That’s not necessary, Mr. Boone.” She’s already unlocking her old gray sedan. “I got what I came for. I’ll be in touch.”

Vaughn moves as though to go after her, recognizing that something has gone wrong here and he might have contributed to it. “Hey—” But Nate holds him back.

Ainsley slams her car door closed, gets it running after two tries and starts driving away.

Daisy looks at Nate, her small arms tight around his neck. “Who was that lady?”

Nate lets out a frustrated sigh. “That was the lady who tells the judge whether or not she thinks you should be living with me.”

“Uh oh,” she whispers.

24

“Should we go after her?”Travis suggests. “I’ve got the Shelby.”

“We’re not going tochaseafter her.” It’s tempting. “She’d think we’re lunatics.” And she clearly already does.

“Nate,” Vaughn takes the rolled cigarette from behind his ear. “If we did anything to?—”

“You didn’t, Vaughn. None of us did anything wrong here.”

Daisy bursts into tears and wraps her arms more tightly around my neck. “I’mnotgoing to Ohio! I’mnot! I’ll run away if that lady makes me do that! She can’t make me! I’ll run all the way back here!”

I carry Daisy into the kitchen. “Sweetheart, I told you, that’s not going to happen.” I set herdown so she’s sitting on a little chair at her toy table. I smooth her nest of a hairdo out of her eyes. Her little face is all serious and she reminds me so much of her dad it makes me want to reach up into heaven or wherever he is, grab him by the scruff of his neck and pull him back down here.I need you guys, man. Help me make this right.

“Do youpromise?”

She hears me hesitate, becausewhat if I can’t keep it?“I promise. I’m going to call the lady and I’ll set up another visit and everything will be fine. You’re not going to Ohio. Now, we’re going to get you cleaned up, then we’re going to go down to the school and get you enrolled so you can see all your friends tomorrow. How does that sound?”

Daisy runs up the stairs.

I’m about to chase after her when Roxie places her hand on my arm. “Would you let me, Nate? I could run her a bath and wash her hair and then braid it or whatever she wants. I’ll help her pick out an outfit.”

It might be exactly what Daisy needs right now. A calming influence and some girl time. “Thanks, Rox. I’m going to call Ainsley Beal.”

Travis and Vaughn are cleaning up the kitchen mess, of all things. The gravity of the situation is clear enough and I appreciate them rallying around us. “Two rock stars cleaning up my kitchen. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Don’t get used to it, bro.”

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I search for Ainsley’s number, from when she called me the other day, and punch the call button, pacing in front of the windows as it rings. It rings eight or nine times and then there’s a click as the call is transferred.

“Social Services.”

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