Page 95 of Surly Sheriff
“Should never have come here,” she mumbled and shifted her son to her hip, freeing a hand to pull the key fob from her pants pocket.
“Bet you she’s already regretting her words,” Oliver said.
“Damage is done.” She pressed the remote and held the button down. The car beeped and the engine started up.
Oliver opened the rear door.
Jack slipped from her hold, but instead of climbing into his car seat, he raced back across the sidewalk. “I want the puzzle with the puppies!” he cried, jabbing his finger at the window.
Tears spilled over her cheeks, a mixture of anger, frustration, and deep sadness roiling through her. She leaned her forehead against the chrome edging of the minivan, ignoring the burn on her skin from the heated metal.
“You said, Momma! You said!”
She heard the deep rumble of Oliver’s voice mixed with the high-pitched tone from Jack behind her.Pull yourself together, Raegan.Drawing in a ragged breath, she lifted her head, and swiped at the tears.
“I’m sorry, Momma.” Jack patted her hip. “Please don’t cry.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Rae wiped her fingers across her cheeks again and squatted before her son. “It’s not your fault, Jack,” she said, her words thick with emotion. She swallowed, palmed his chin, and dropped a kiss on his nose. “Momma’s just having a tough day. How about we go pick up Xena and find a nice park to play in?”
He shook his head. “Wanna go home to ’Mosa Beach.”
“Clearbrook is our new home.”
“But you never cried in ’Mosa Beach,” he wailed. “And I miss CJ and Carly and Pixy.”
“You’ll grow to like it here. Just wait and see. Come, be my bestest boy and listen to Momma and get in your car seat.”
This time Jack obeyed her. Rae leaned over him and secured the straps, grateful for the cool air flowing from the air conditioner, drying the last of her tears. She straightened, closed the door, and faced the only friendly person she had encountered since her return. “Thanks for your help, Oliver.”
“You’re welcome, Rae. And listen, if you need a place to unwind, Sunny and I live out on the farm opposite my old place. Clem and Kenzie are away at summer camp, and Molly’s moping around despite our motley collection of pets. She’ll like company.”
“Your wife might object. She’s tight with Bella.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “Sunny was on her own with two girls for several years. She knows all about the struggles as a single mom, no matter the circumstances.”
Such kindness. Her eyes smarted again. “I need to go.”
He stepped out of her path, and she rounded the vehicle and slipped behind the wheel. Rae wanted to pound at the steering wheel, scream and sob her frustration and regret and sadness, and every other gamut of emotion in between. She wanted to pack their bags and hightail it back to Hermosa Beach where she had found a modicum of peace. Where Jack had been happy, and he didn’t hear about the ugly things his momma had done.
But the cards had been dealt, and she had to play out the game she started.
22
Puzzle pieces
Beau pulled to a halt. Anger still burned in him, but a heavy dose of concern diluted it.
The very last thing he should feel for the woman wascompassion.
How dare Bella lash out at Rae in front of Jack?
He slammed the Tahoe's door.
The DNA test was irrefutable. Jack was his.
His wife had robbed him of his son’s first four years of life.
