Page 17 of Beautifully Broken Redemption

She turned back to face me. “What’s that?”

“Don’t tell Keisha you’re single. If she asks, evade.”

Anna’s brows pulled together. “Why?”

“She can’t knowingly deceive the court. If we decide we need a marriage to pull this off, we’re gonna want that to be an option.”

She bit down on the side of her thumbnail. “Okay.”

“Good. Now, tell me what I can do around here today to take some stuff off your shoulders.”

I dumpedthe soccer balls out onto the field. As I straightened, I stretched my back. A few hours, and these little Energizer bunnies had me beat.

Anna had started a summer camp of sorts for the kids from Hope House and had opened it up to any other parents in the community who needed care for their kids while they worked during the summer. Even with ten volunteers today, things had been madness.

“All right. We’re going to practice passing.” I’d taken on the task of a three-times-a-week soccer workshop with the help of a few others. It had been a long time since I’d played intermural in college, but with the help of a few online videos, it had mostly come back. “Everyone pair up.”

The kids ran around, finding buddies to pass with. My eyes searched out Justin, who’d grabbed Lyla. Normally, he paired up with Noah, who came to the camp a few times a week to hang with his friends. But Justin knew his little sister needed him today.

Pulling air into my lungs became a little more difficult as I watched him send Lyla a gentle pass. She stopped it with her foot and grinned at her brother. It didn’t quite reach her eyes, but it was something.

Cain came up alongside me. He’d been the one to suggest that a few of us from the company handle some sports aspect of the camp a few days a week. I’d worked for several companies over the years and had consulted with even more. No one ran their ship quite like Cain did. And his generosity paid off in spades. His employees were happier and worked harder because they genuinely cared about Halo.

“How are they holding up?”

I twisted the cord of my whistle, wrapping it around my hand. “I’m not sure. Anna said they wanted to be here today. She planned to keep them home, but they insisted on coming in.”

He nodded, watching the siblings pass the ball back and forth. “Maybe it’s better if they’re busy.”

“Maybe.” I glanced over at him. “Any word from your P.I. yet?”

“Dante sent me a text telling me he’s in Portland now. He’s doing the boots-on-the-ground piece first. Talking to neighbors, old co-workers, everyone he can. He found out the Foleys are away for a few days for their anniversary. Had some car trouble on their way home. He’s trying to talk to as many people as he can before they get back tomorrow.”

I pulled the cord tighter, picturing the shame and fear that had engulfed Anna’s face when she talked about her parents. “That’s good. It gives Keisha a chance to file the paperwork.”

“As soon as that happens, social workers will get involved.”

The whistle’s lanyard groaned as I pulled it a little too hard. I forced myself to unravel it from around my hand, but I needed something else to ground me. A long run or a sparring session with Cain. I needed a little dose of pain to keep me in the here and now.

The little sleep I’d gotten last night had been dogged with nightmares. It had been a long time since I’d had one. I’d thought I had banished them for good, but the past twenty-four hours had brought it all to the forefront again.

I focused on the two-dozen kids trading soccer balls back and forth. Forcing myself into the present. “What does Walker say?”

A muscle in Cain’s cheek ticked. “He says there’s a good chance she’ll get custody until things play out in court. What happens in front of a judge is anyone’s guess.”

I studied Cain carefully. Worry and frustration lined his face. “You know about her past?”

His head snapped in my direction, eyes narrowing. “Know what?”

Of course, he did. Kennedy wouldn’t have let anyone run Hope House without a comprehensive background check. Jail time, even juvie, would be the first thing that popped. “You ran her background.”

Cain chose his words carefully. “I run everyone who works here. I wouldn’t put anyone at risk by having someone around here whose history is an unknown.”

“Smart. Anna told me about juvie.” It was the truth, but it felt like a lie. She hadn’t shared the information because she trusted me. She’d shared it because she was in freefall. Anna had been desperate and reaching out for anything that she could hold onto.

Cain’s eyes widened. “She did?”

“She was scared. Freaking out after talking to Keisha. I was there.”

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