“He’d probably enjoy that,” Lizzie agreed. “You like horses, don’t you, Ro?”
“Yes, but I don’t like Uncle Carlos’s horse,” Roman said. “He has big teeth and likes to eat my hair.”
“Uncle Carlos?” Adam asked, his gray gaze now directed at Lizzie.
“And Auntie Ines,” Roman carried on talking. “She makes cake.”
“You’ve taken him up to the Cortez ranch?”
“Yes. Carlos and Ines were very kind to me after Roman was born.” Lizzie fanned herself with the pizza menu. “We go and check in on them quite regularly.”
“That’s good of you.”
“Louisa was my best friend. I spent a lot of time at her house when we were growing up. Her parents were always very good to me.”
Gina arrived with the pizza and they all dug in. It was still hot. Quite a few of Lizzie’s neighbors came by to get pizza rather than cook. She introduced Adam to Sonali Patel, who helped out in the Red Dragon kitchen, and Perpetua Grande, who was a new nurse at Dr. Tio’s place.
It was surprising he’d never bothered to really interact with these people before, preferring to keep to the ranch and his immediate family. The Adam she’d known before Louisa’s death had been outgoing and full of energy. This one was almost too self-contained, too careful with the words he allowed out of his mouth, and hard to understand.
But he’d tried to stand up for her—offered her his help—and she still had no idea why.
Eventually, after Roman practiced burping, much to his own hilarity, they walked back toward her apartment. Adam paused as they reached the door.
“I’d better be getting back.”
Lizzie smiled up at him as she unlocked the door. “Thanks for looking out for us.”
He shrugged, the faintest of smiles enlivening his rather harsh face. “It’s about time I stepped up.”
Without thinking, Lizzie went on tiptoe to brush a swift kiss on his stubbled cheek. “Thanks again.”
* * *
Even as Adam reached out to steady Lizzie, or maybe to draw her closer, he wasn’t sure what he intended, Roman pushed between them and took Adam’s hand.
“Come on.” He tugged hard, his intention to drag Adam up the stairs obvious.
“I’m not sure—” Adam hesitated.
“Please?” Roman looked up at him. “It’s a very special thing.”
Behind him, Lizzie chuckled. “It’s okay. Go ahead, but you must be quick. It’s bedtime, and Adam has to get home.”
“Okay.”
Adam allowed himself to be towed up the stairs and eventually into Roman’s bedroom where the little boy disappeared under his bed.
“Are you all right in there?” Adam asked as he crouched beside Roman’s feet.
“Here.” Roman wriggled back out with a little wooden box, dust bunnies in his hair, and offered it to Adam. “Special things.”
Adam sat on the bed and studied the fossil he’d given the boy, along with a couple of photos of a very young Ray Smith, and a nugget of fool’s gold.
“Wow.”
Roman crowded close to his side and took out the gold. “See this?”
“It’s awesome.” Adam nodded. “You’ll have to come up to our ranch and see if you can find any more in Morgan Creek.”
“More gold?” Roman asked. “Yes, please.” He shut the box and slid it back under the bed. He yawned. “I’m going potty, and then I’m going to bed.”
“Okay.” Adam drew the drapes and turned on the small lamp next to the bed. The boy was back way too fast for a proper cleanup, but Adam didn’t say anything.
“I’ll get your mom,” Adam said.
“’Night, Adam.” Roman got into bed, wearing just his T. rex boxers, pressed his cheek into his dinosaur’s side, and closed his eyes.
Adam went back through to the kitchen where Lizzie was standing with her back to the door, one hand pressed to her mouth. Something about her rigid stillness set off every alarm in his body.
“Is everything okay?”
She shook her head. He closed the door and came around to look at her.
“What’s up?”
She handed him the letter, her hand shaking. He bent his head to read before looking back up at her.