“You can’t fix it,” Isabelle muttered, hanging her head. She looked so miserable that Adrienne was tempted to pick her up and cuddle her and tell her she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to do, but all that would accomplish would be to undermine Gideon’s efforts.
“How do you know I can’t fix it?” Gideon asked. “You haven’t given me a chance. I know I’m not Nathan, but I’m not entirely incompetent.”
Isabelle only sniffled.
Adrienne couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Sweetheart, won’t you please tell us what happened to upset you at school? Gideon and I want to help you, but we can’t if we don’t know what’s wrong.”
Swiping the back of one hand across her nose, Isabelle seemed to consider her next words.
Gideon produced a tissue. His tone was as firm as before, but perhaps a few degrees warmer. “Use this, and then spill it.”
Though she obediently blew her nose, Isabelle looked a bit confused.
“Tell us what happened,” Adrienne translated.
It seemed like a very long time before the child spoke. When she did, her question floored both Adrienne and Gideon. “Was my daddy a bad man?”
Gideon recovered first. “What are you talking about?”
His sharp tone made Isabelle draw back, looking up at him nervously.
Adrienne gave him a warning glance before speaking to the child. “Did someone say something about your father?”
Inching a bit closer to Adrienne, Isabelle nodded.
“Who was it?” Gideon demanded. “One of the kids?”
Isabelle spoke so softly that they had to strain to hear her. “A boy named Danny. He’s having a birthday party this weekend, but he said his mommy wouldn’t let me come because my daddy was a bad man who hurt people. Danny said my daddy had to run away because nobody wanted him here anymore and they don’t want me, either. And another boy named Bryson said his grandma feels s
orry for Nanna because Nanna didn’t want me here, either.”
Gideon’s jaw was so tight Adrienne could almost hear his teeth grind together. “Did you tell any of your teachers what the little bas—er, jerks said?”
“No. ’Cause then they would have called me a tattletale, and everyone makes fun of tattletales.”
“Hell, it’s no wonder you don’t want to go back there. It’s a school full of morons.”
Her wet eyes going round, Isabelle looked uncertainly up at Adrienne. “Gideon said the h word,” she whispered.
“Yes, dear. He’s upset because your feelings were hurt. Your brother doesn’t like it when people hurt his little sister.”
Gideon’s eyes snapped green fire. “What’s Danny’s last name?”
Isabelle shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“You can bet I’ll find out.” He reached for the truck keys hanging on a hook by his back door. “You stay home. I’ll go to the school.”
Adrienne reacted hastily. “Isabelle, go watch TV or something. I need to talk to Gideon.”
“You’ll keep an eye on her until I get back, won’t you?” Gideon was moving toward the door even as Isabelle left the room. “I don’t expect to be gone very long.”
“Gideon, wait. We need to discuss what you’re going to say. You need to calm down before you go charging to the school.”
He didn’t pause. “I know exactly what I’m going to say.”
Adrienne stepped between him and the door, placing herself so that he would have to move her aside to leave. “Stop.”
He studied her through narrowed eyes. “What?”