A Daddy for Jacoby(21)

That got her attention. “Yes, you were.”

“I’m not talking about just now.” He gave his head a quick shake and reached for his coffee. “Last night, too. On my porch.”

Gina pulled her hands from her jacket and laid them on the table, her silver-tipped nails playing with a stack of unused napkins. “Yes, you were,” she repeated.

The apology he knew he should give stuck in his throat. “Do you think he’s okay in the bathroom alone?” he said instead.

Gina glanced across the crowded diner. “He should be fine. You can see the doorway from here.”

He looked in the direction of the restrooms again, this time noticing their booth seemed to be getting quite a bit of attention from the diner’s other patrons.

“Is it just me,” he said, his voice low as he turned back to her, “or are people staring?”

Without turning her head, her gaze darted to the other tables and booths around them. “Well, it’s not too often a stranger comes to town only to disappear after leaving a child behind. I guess Jacoby is news.”

“And of all people for the kid to be stuck with, it’s me.”

Like he and Gina hadn’t given the town enough to talk about over the last few months? Now he’d have the entire population watching his every move with the kid.

“So, you two went shopping?” Gina asked, filling the silence. “I noticed Jacoby’s new clothes.”

“We hit Wal-Mart after dropping Jack off at Racy’s.” Justin found himself grateful for the change in topic. “Who knew it’d take over two hours to shop for one little kid.”

“I’m guessing he needed quite a few things. Was the rest of his stuff as bad as that outfit he had on when he first showed up?”

“Pretty much. We just finished another couple of hours at the laundromat.” He put the coffee mug down. “I washed everything he had in that ratty pillowcase of his, including the case. I tried to convince him to throw it out, but he wouldn’t.”

Gina’s jaw dropped. “Justin, you didn’t.”

“What?”

“That bag, no matter its condition, and what little he might have inside, is all he has. Of course he’d want to keep it. You should know that better than anyone.”

Geez, the girl was good for a quick swift kick in the butt.

“I didn’t think—” He slumped against the seat cushion and pinched the bridge of his nose. “How stupid can I be?”

Gina was right. He should know better because he’d walked out of prison with his entire life’s possessions in a cardboard box. All he owned now was a growing collection of books, a few power tools, a beat-up truck and some meager household items.

Damn, who knew he and the kid had so much in common?

“You’re not stupid.” Gina pointed at the pillowcase next to Justin. “Did you see if there was anything in there that might help you find his mother?”

“No. I got him a new backpack, too, but he only used it to hold his stuff while the pillowcase was washed. Then he loaded everything back into the case, including his bear, which he refused to allow anywhere near the suds.”

Justin straightened and glanced at the restrooms again. “Hell, I’m surprised he left the table without them, the pillowcase or the bear.”

“Has he talked about his mother much?”

Justin shook his head and found himself leaning forward. With a low voice, he relayed the events with the eggs and the food fight from this morning. He didn’t know why he felt compelled to share the story with Gina, but it just fell from his lips.

“That’s so sad.” Gina inched forward and put her hand over his, giving him a gentle squeeze when he finished speaking. “But Jacoby seems fine now. I think you handled the situation well.”

She did?

Justin didn’t know how to respond, to her compliment or the warmth of her touch. All he wanted was to flip his hand over and capture hers in his grasp.

Damn, he was in trouble here. He really owed her that apology now. Before he had a chance to speak, a waitress came by with her order.

Gina snatched her hand away and reached for the large paper bag. “Well, this is my food. I need to get going.”

“Gina—”

She scooted out of the booth just as Jacoby returned.

“Where ya going?” he asked.

“Ah, I have to leave. My brother and sister are waiting for their food, but I’ll see you soon, okay?”