Page 26 of Legacy of Lies
“Of course.” With reluctance, she pulled her hands out of his. “Look, can we talk about something else? This conversation has veered way off course. We’re not here for a pity party, and that’s not what you signed up for.”
“Okay, but I’m, uh, glad you shared that stuff with me.” He looked about as comfortable with her sharing as a balloon in a room full of porcupines.
“Sure you are.” She tamped down the sarcasm. He didn’t deserve it. “But wearehere to help Zach.”
Leaning back on the seat, he rubbed his jaw. “I agree, but how?”
Ignoring how his big shoulders flexed under the shirt fabric, she pressed ahead. “Not sure what’s best that doesn’t somehow draw unwanted attention to Zach.”
“Or you.”
She swallowed. He wasn’t wrong. If she didn’t tread carefully, her job and possibly her entire career could be at risk. “For now, I’ll keep an eye on him and try to make sure he’s around good kids.”
“Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop those Brand kids from talking.” He crossed his arms, and his brows drew together. A wave of anger seemed to radiate off him as his expression darkened. A muscle in his jaw jumped.
Garrison pissed off. Not something Sara wanted to experience again any time soon.
“No, but there’s not much I can do about what kids say.” She took a sip of water. “So that I understand the whole situation, does Zach have any contact with his mother at all? Does she call or write?”
“No. She left just under a year ago, before Christmas.” His casual shrug contradicted the drawn expression. “Sent me divorce papers and a letter that said she was gone for good. That was it. I haven’t heard from her since.”
“Nothing? Just like that?”
“Said in the letter that she didn’t want anything to do with Zach or me. Asked that I sign the papers and ‘leave her alone’ or she’d get custody of Zach and take him away.”
“Wow.”
“And right after I signed the documents, she drained our accounts. Almost like she knew when I mailed the papers.”
“Did you get your money back?”
“No. All calls went to a lawyer in Salt Lake City. That assho—sorry, jerk, wouldn’t tell me anything else, citing client confidentiality.”
“I’ve never heard of anything like that happening.”
“Me neither. But frankly, I was so scared to lose Zach, I just gave up.”
“Really? Because you don’t seem like the giving up type,” she blurted.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Heat flooded her neck and face. “Nothing. It’s not my place to say anything.”
He stared at the condiment holder for a long, uncomfortable minute. Almost like he wanted to set it on fire with his mind. Right as she was about to apologize, Garrison swung his head back and locked his eyes onto hers.
“Anyway. So that’s the basic story.” Flat tone. No emotion.
“Sounds strange to me.”
His glinting gaze narrowed. “Did your Mom call or write after she dropped you off?” he snapped.
“Well, no ...”
“Then Zach’s mother leaving isn’t strange at all, is it?”
Boom.Boom. She could almost see the walls coming down around him. Tough and strong and defensive. She’d pushed too much.
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