Doing It Over (Most Likely To #1)(71)

“But I don’t have to go.”

Melanie glanced behind her, saw Ms. Pensky watching them.

“Try, and take your time. So I can talk to the mean-looking lady.”

Hope peeked around and then shrank into the small room and shut the door.

Melanie pulled in a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Play nice, play nice . . .

Ms. Pensky met her in the doorway to the sitting room; Miss Gina glaring at her side. “I really don’t have that many questions, Ms. Bartlett.”

“Yeah, well, it’s been a very long week, and putting my daughter through anything more is asking too much.”

“As a public servant, I’m obligated to investigate every report.”

“And who requested you to question my daughter?”

Ms. Pensky did that staring thing again. “I can’t reveal that information.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you can’t.”

Ms. Pensky lifted her nose to the air and sniffed. “Who smokes?”

Miss Gina sat forward. “I do on occasion. Outside, away from Hope.”

Oz Lady didn’t change her stare.

The sound of the toilet flushing down the hall brought their attention to the door as Hope left the bathroom.

“Ladies?” Ms. Pensky spread an arm wide to encourage them to sit.

Hope was practically crawling into Melanie’s lap when Wyatt hustled into the room.

He wore a wicked grin as he strode past Oz Lady and stood in front of her. “Hello, Miss . . . ?”

Her thin smile stayed firmly in place.

“Pensky.”

Wyatt held out his hand, palm up. “Can I see your paperwork?”

“Excuse me?”

“From the court?” Wyatt waited, did the staring thing with the woman, before she broke.

“I don’t have a court order. This is a preliminary investigation.”

Wyatt dropped his hand. “As you can see, Hope is in no grave danger at this moment, and without a court order, no one is obligated to answer any of your questions.”

Ms. Pensky’s jaw tightened. She obviously didn’t appreciate being denied an audience.

“The child has a broken arm and bruises all over her face.”

“From a highly publicized fall.” Wyatt’s smile slid. “Now, if you don’t mind.” It was his turn to spread his arm wide and indicate she should leave the room.

Miss Gina huffed as she walked in front of the woman and opened the front door.

Ms. Pensky glared over her shoulder. “I’ll be back.”

“You do that.”

As she left, Melanie let her shoulders fall.

“So I don’t have to talk to her?” Hope asked.

“Not today.”

“Good.” She popped off Melanie’s lap and started to leave.

“Where are you going?”

Hope shrugged. “I have to pee now.”

Wyatt and Miss Gina entered the room as Hope left.

“What kind of crap is he trying to pull?” Melanie asked the question running in her head.

Wyatt pulled her into his arms and held her. “Whatever he can.”

“She’s coming back, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, probably.”

Melanie rested her head against Wyatt’s shoulder and closed her eyes.





Melanie was napping alongside Hope after a much-deserved shower and hot meal. Miss Gina was researching what CPS looked for in order to find a home unsafe for a child, and Wyatt was on the back porch, talking to Luke on the phone.

“Who is the pinched-faced woman going around town asking about you and Mel?”

Wyatt explained the situation. “Where did she go?”

“Sam’s. Then I heard she was at R&B’s asking a thousand questions.”

“This ex of Melanie’s is a real piece of work,” Wyatt said.

“From all the stories we heard, none of us understood what she saw in him. You’re sure he’s the one who called Child Protective Services?”

“Is there any other suspect?”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Any more word from Jo about Mr. Lewis?”

“I haven’t seen Jo in two days. Zoe told me she’s done nothing but beat herself up for letting Mr. Lewis leave.”

“She couldn’t have known. None of us suspected a thing.” It ate Wyatt up that he’d smiled at the man and shaken his hand when he expressed his concern for Hope’s welfare.

“How is our little patient?”

Wyatt felt a smile on his face. “She’s a trouper. Keeping her down might prove difficult.”

“Hard to climb trees with a broken arm,” Luke said with a laugh.

“Doesn’t mean she won’t try.”

“Well, she’s getting a hero’s welcome tomorrow afternoon. Zoe is coordinating a huge barbeque. Her way of thanking all the volunteers who stepped up.”

The effort had been huge. “You know, Luke . . . we live in a great town.”

“Yeah . . . we do. Well, bud, if you need something, I’m a phone call away.”

“Thanks.”

He no sooner hung up the phone when it rang.

“Hey, Wyatt.”