The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

“Yeah.” He looked up to Mrs. Eddy for help. “Who brought her out here?”

Mrs. Eddy sighed. “A younger man. He said he was a friend of the mother’s and was doing her a favor. I didn’t get so much as a chance to ask him any questions, but he was sort of a rough fellow, if you get my meaning. He asked if you lived next door, and I said yes. He dropped off the child and her bag and said to give you this letter when you got home.” Her brow furrowed, and she clutched at her chest. “What’s going on, Cameron? Who is this little girl?”

“I’m Tawny Parson, and my Gammy said I had to go away.” She looked at them both with an expression so fierce, Cam had no words.

“It’s okay,” he said gently, when he found his voice.

The little girl ignored him and pointed. “Is that your doggy?” she asked again.

He nodded. “His name is Rufus.”

“I like doggies. Can I pet him?” She didn’t wait for Cam to answer and yanked her hand from Mrs. Eddy. Before either adult could do anything, she bounded down the stairs and wrapped her scrawny arms around the big dog.

“Good Lord,” Mrs. Eddy said taking a step forward. “That dog is ferocious.”

“Rufus won’t hurt a flea.” Cam watched them for a few moments, his mind whirling in a thousand different directions.

“What are you going to do with her?” Mrs. Eddy asked. “She seems like a sweet little thing. Is her mother…”

Cam shook his head, mouth tight as a wave of sadness rolled over him. Iris had captured his heart for a small moment in time, and in those brief months, he’d glimpsed the woman she could become if not for the drugs she worshipped.

“Is she yours?”

“What?” He turned back to Mrs. Eddy. “No. She’s…not.”

Weariness crept across her face, and she shivered. “I really am tired, Cameron. It’s not every day I’m required to entertain a young child.” She nodded to her right. “That’s her bag.”

Cam followed her gaze, and his gut clenched at the sight of a small pink backpack. “That’s all she’s got?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Again, panic hit him in the chest, and for one second, he was blind from the strength of it. What the hell had Iris been thinking? He didn’t know shit about caring for a little girl. Hell, he was thirty and had just gotten his own shit together. He was tired and cranky and…

“Am I going to live with you?”

Cam gave himself a mental smack. What he was was nothing compared to what this little girl had been through. He thanked Mrs. Eddy and grabbed Tawny’s pink backpack. He would take her to his place and figure things out in the morning.

He guided her across the yard, but she skipped ahead of him, following Rufus blindly. He wondered at that. Were all kids that trusting? He met up with them on the front porch of his modest bungalow. He’d bought it the previous fall and had spent his spare time doing renovations. Nash had helped when he could, and they’d finished just a few weeks earlier.

Cam unlocked the door and followed Rufus and Tawny inside. He set down her bag and, for a moment, didn’t say anything. How could he? There were too many questions, and none of them were appropriate for a little girl. Tawny scratched at the scab on her knee and then turned in a full circle.

“This is pretty,” she said.

“Thanks.” He’d knocked down walls, added windows, and made the space open concept. The kitchen, dining room, and living room were all one big bright space, with two bedrooms and a bathroom at the back of the house. The basement was a work in progress, but his office was down there along with his workout gear.

Cam watched her walk toward the large leather sofa in front of the massive flat screen that was his pride and joy.

“It’s clean and smells nice.”

Again, what five-year-old noticed things like that?

A five-year-old with nothing, that’s who. The thought was sobering, and he offered a smile. “Let’s get you some food and then look at that scrape on your knee.”

Tawny looked down at the stuffed animal in her hands. “Am I going to live with you?” she asked again before turning those big eyes on him.

He gave an honest answer. “I don’t know, Tawny.”

“My mommy died.” Her bottom lip trembled, and it took everything Cam had to keep his cool.