The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

The men shook hands as Tawny melted into Cam’s side. Cam nodded to the pack of kids, who were busy picking out treats. “You’ve been busy.”

Nate chuckled and rubbed at the top of his head. His hair was thinning a bit, and he’d gained a few pounds in the midsection, but other than that, he looked pretty much the same. “Susie always wanted a lot of kids, and she was determined to start right in as soon as we were married.”

“That’s right. You married Susie Olmstead.”

“I did. Right out of college.” He pointed to the tallest of his children, a girl with long blonde braids and a skinny frame draped in denim and cotton. Her white T-shirt had some kind of sparkly logo on the front, but damned if Cam knew what it meant.

“Clarisse is eight, Jill is seven, and the twins, Mark and Mitchell, are five.”

Nate pointed toward Tawny. “How old is yours?”

“Oh.” Surprised, Cam stumbled over his words. “She’s five.”

“She in school?”

Cam nodded. “Maple View Preschool.”

Nate bent slightly and spoke to Tawny. “Hey, do you know the twins?” He pointed to his boys. “They go to the same school.”

Tawny hid her face against Cam’s hip and shook her head.

“She’s shy,” Cam offered.

“I had no idea you had a kid.” Nate smiled. “She’s a cutie.”

He obviously didn’t run in the same circles as Mrs. Flannagan. Who, in fact, had just rounded the end of the aisle and was headed their way. Cam nodded. “Nice seeing you again, Nate. I gotta run, but say hello to Susie for me.”

Cam grabbed Tawny, and they escaped before Mrs. Flannagan spied them, and headed straight for the cash register. He paid for their purchases, said more than his fair share of hellos on his way out the door—Shelli Gouthro practically attacked him, growling in his ear that he should call her. It was Tawny for the save as she yanked on his arm and wouldn’t stop pulling until he followed her out of the store. Thirty minutes later, the two of them were belly up to the island, Tawny on a stool, cutting up vegetables, meat, and shredding cheddar. Rufus sat at their feet, patiently waiting for any scraps that fell, which happened on Tawny’s side of the island a hell of a lot more than it did on his.

The little girl was quiet again, and Cam watched her closely as she laid out ham and pepperoni on their pizza.

“How was school today?” he asked casually.

“Good.”

“Anything happen I should know about?” He kept his tone neutral and light.

Tawny was silent and then shrugged. Fuck. Something had definitely happened. She’d started school at the beginning of the week and had seemed to like it a lot. What the hell had changed today?

“You make any new friends?” he tried again.

Tawny nodded. “Silas and Hazel.”

“That’s great. Maybe you can invite them over sometime for a playdate or something.” He frowned. “What happened to Lissa?” The first few days, she’d been all about this Lissa girl and her pretty red hair.

Tawny shrugged again and didn’t answer right away, and when she did, her little voice trembled. “She’s mean.”

“Mean? I thought you girls were pals.”

“She’s mean.”

“What happened? Did she say something you didn’t like?” Again, he kept his voice light, but inside, a monster roared.

“Not to me,” Tawny whispered. “She tolded Silas and Hazel that I didn’t have a mommy or a daddy.”

Shit. Cam’s heart stopped. He moved around the island until he stood beside Tawny. The little girl wouldn’t look up and kept dressing their pizza.

“I’m sorry that happened.”