Page 62 of Search for the Truth
Blake smiled.
“The fact that he made you my mom.”
Lola paused, caught off guard no doubt by Blake showing such emotion. That shock didn’t last long.
“That’s funny, because you want to know my favorite thing that man ever did was?” she asked.
“What?”
Lola’s smile grew.
“He made you girls.”
After that, there wasn’t much to say. Blake cried a little more; Lola consoled her with pats and hand squeezes. The sun rose higher outside and the room grew brighter. Eventually, the weight pressing against Blake’s chest started to lift.
Then, sometime after that, her thoughts found their way to Liam.
Blake thought it was important that she started to feel even better after that.
PRICEWASGOINGabove and beyond his job as a deputy. In fact, he seemed to be going above and beyond that of a friend too. Liam only said the former in a comment at the dining table after lunch.
“I can’t order you to stay here,” he told the man again. “So if it’s not something you have time for...”
Price, who was dressed down in street clothes and had his daughter, Winnie, in the kitchen behind them with Lola, waved the concern away.
“Listen, I wouldn’t offer to do this if I wasn’t confident in my abilities, the safety of this house and the fact that I think you have a better chance at getting the information we need to potentially put this entire fiasco to bed than me.” Price looked down at Liam’s lap.
Or, really, Clem.
Since that morning the little girl had been stuck to his side, in his arms and on his lap. It seemed returning her alien stuffed creature had curried unflappable good favor for him. Liam wasn’t complaining. He was quick to notice that she was quick to notice things herself. They had made fast work of the two puzzles that Lola had brought along in their toy bag. Even a tablet game about cupcakes had been a breeze for the two of them.
Now she was holding her alien and watching Price speak like she was memorizing every inch of the man and his words.
He smiled at her, but Clem didn’t return the gesture. Instead, she leaned her weight back against Liam’s chest and just kept staring.
“Tough crowd,” Price muttered. There was humor in it though.
Liam snorted, but it was Lola who came in with a comment.
“Don’t act like Blake hasn’t given you the same look before,” she said. “The Bennet women need to scrutinize before they fraternize.”
She stopped next to Liam and held out her hand to the girl.
“Though, I will say, Sheriff, you’ve sure earned the acceptance of the very same women in record time.” Price couldn’t see the wink that Lola threw him. He cleared his throat as her attention went to Clem. “Now, it’s time for Sheriff Weaver and Sheriff Trouble to go get some answers, so why don’t us girls and Bruce go watch a movie with Miss Winnie? I heard she brought usFrozen, which I’m pretty sure is your—”
Clem was already throwing herself off Liam at the mention ofFrozen. All three adults laughed as the four-year-old started to sing one of the movie’s songs as she ran into the living room.
“That’s my cue,” Lola said. She started to leave the room but paused as Blake walked in. Liam watched as she lightly tapped the back of Blake’s hand before telling her to be safe. “That’s to you too, Sheriff. I know Blake here is trouble, but let’s keep it to a minimum if we can.”
He nodded to her.
“Will do.”
“And that’s my cue to tell y’all the same,” Price said. He stood between them and told them to be safe and to keep him in the loop. He also reiterated his vigilance in keeping the family safe on his end.
Then it was just the two of them.
Liam made sure to keep his gaze firmly locked with hers.
