Page 74 of Nashville Lights

“I don’t know if we should interfere.”

It’s Gigi who convinces me. “Definitely worth a try. Besides, Jenny’s been begging me to meet the Tucker brothers for ages. She’s ahugefan.”

Kade slings his bass guitar from around his chest and sets it on its stand. “The limo’s parked out front. Let’s go.”

29

“Mr. Boone.”Ainsley Beal rises from her chair as soon as I’m shown into her office. She’s wearing the same clothes she was wearing yesterday, or something very similar. Her office matches her look. Drab, outdated and like she went out of her way to make all the colors as muted and dull as possible. I can’t help noticing there’s a tired basket of faded children’s toys next to her desk. Like a thousand kids have passed through here, headed to the fateshedecides for them.

She does not look pleased to see me.

I offer her my hand and this time she takes it, but her handshake is cold and limp.

“Ms. Beal. Thank you for taking the time to see me.”

“I saw you’d been added to my schedule. Mr. Boone, it’s really not necessary for you to be h?—”

“Itisnecessary.”Tone it down, fucker.I force my voice to sound less aggressive. “If you’ll just give me a few minutes to explain what was going on yesterday when you arrived, I’d really appreciate it.”

She nods, like she’s tuning in to my desperation. “Fine. Take a seat.”

I sit.

It’s a few seconds before either of us speaks. The door of the office has been left open and there’s normal, everyday conversation going on out there. It feels like a sunny day is happening everywhere but in this room. In here, we’re somehow mired in gloom.

“Did you manage to get Daisy enrolled for school on time?” she asks, condescendingly, if I’m not mistaken.

Do not lose your patience. Do not lose your patience.“Yes, with no problems at all. She’s very happy in her class with the friends she’s known all her life. And she really likes her teacher.”

“That’s nice.” Disinterestedly. “Mr. Boone, I’ve begun to write up my recommendation to the judge. In light of information gathered during the home visit?—”

“Ms. Beal. What you think you saw yesterday was not what you actually saw.” That doesn’t sound quite right but I keep going. “Our visitors were old friends and?—”

“Mr. Boone. Please understand I have only Daisy’s best interests at heart. Amanda Sullivan-Smith’s lawyers have been very thorough in their investigation into your…lifestyle, and I’m afraid, now that I’ve seen it first-hand, I tend to agree that some of your extra-curricular activities are lessthan desirable. We want the most stable environment as possible for Daisy.”

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.“She is in a stable environment. I’m sure you’re aware that children are happiest when they’re in a familiar setting, surrounded by familiar people they know, love and trust. And I don’t have alifestyle, Ms. Beal. I work and I take care of Daisy.”

Ainsley Beal takes a long look at me. Obviously sticking to whatever judgments she made about me yesterday. “And you sometimes entertain…guests. Which is the kind of activity that might negatively influence and possibly emotionally scar the six-year-old who happens to be in your care.”

Emotionallyscar? “Whatactivity, exactly, are you referring to, Ms. Beal?”

Of course I know what fucking activity she’s referring to, and I can’t help but blazingly see that this conversation is not helping my case. Ainsley Beal probably hasn’t “entertained guests” this millennium. Which could explain her atrocious mood.

There’s a loud scream from the main office, which makes Ainsley Beal jump.

I get up from my chair and go to see if maybe there’s a break-in or something. Ainsley Beal follows me.

There’s a stretch limo parked outside the front windows of the office.

What the fuck.

Getting out of that limo are none other than the Tucker Brothers Band. Dressed like they just stepped off stage.

Please, no.

More excitable squeals, from several of the office girls as they watch Travis, Kade and Vaughn get out of their limo.

A girl with long blond hair is holding Vaughn’s hand.

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