Pelican Court (Cedar Cove #3)(32)

Seeing that Eddie was under his father’s jurisdiction until five, she left the decision to him.

“I’ll need their address and phone number,” Zach said.

“You want to meet his parents?” Eddie asked.

“Sure. I’ll be there in just a minute. I want to talk to your mother first.”

Eddie gave him a bright smile. “Okay.” With that, the nine-year-old tore across the parking lot, where a small group of parents and children had gathered.

As if reading her mind, Zach said, “I’ll make sure he’s home before you get there.”

She nodded. “As I was saying about this morning—”

“It’s not a problem,” Zach interrupted. “This was our first Sunday here, too.”

“I’ll change churches. It looks like Eddie’s already got a friend here.” Allison, however, was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Allison?” Rosie looked around, thinking their daughter was probably with her friends, as well. When they’d attended church as a family, Allison made a habit of sitting in any pew her family wasn’t.

“She didn’t come.”

Now Rosie was getting irritated. Allison had been in a horrible mood ever since Zach had kicked her boyfriend out of her bedroom. “You let her stay home?”

Zach wore a guilty look. “She refused to come, and I figured forcing her would only make matters worse.” Zach didn’t seem any too pleased about it, either. From the way he stiffened, he obviously expected Rosie to chastise him.

Actually, she was pleased Zach had to deal with their daughter’s temper for once. “Are you still having problems with Allison?” she asked, hoping he’d admit it.

“Some. What about you?”

She shrugged. “A little.”

“Maybe we should get together and discuss what’s happening with her,” Zach suggested, surprising Rosie.

“When?”

“Whenever it’s convenient.”

“You mean there’s more than her bringing Ryan into her bedroom?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I think it’s important that the two of us communicate regularly.”

Rosie agreed, although with some reluctance. The sooner they got this over with, the better, she decided. “How about now?”

Zach nodded. “Okay.”

Fifteen minutes later, Zach and Rosie sat across from each other at the Pancake Palace. Eddie was with his friend Joel, and Zach would be picking him up later.

Since the two of them were taking up a table and the place was busy with the Sunday breakfast crowd, Rosie felt obliged to order something more than coffee.

When the waitress came, she asked for coffee, two eggs and toast, plus a separate bill. Zach ordered the same thing and also asked for his own check. Once it was understood that they’d each pay for breakfast, Zach turned his attention back to Rosie.

“What do you know about Ryan?”

“Not much. His parents are divorced and he lives with his mother.”

“She lets him pierce various body parts,” Zach said, frowning.

Rosie wasn’t impressed with that, either. “Apparently so.” There were six safety pins clipped through Ryan’s ear, and a small steel ball was attached to the end of his tongue. The thought of this boy kissing their daughter made her queasy.

“He hasn’t been over to the house since I talked to him,” Zach added with some satisfaction.

Rosie wasn’t convinced that was true, but didn’t want to say anything that would threaten their fragile peace.

“I talked to his mother last week.”

That piqued Zach’s interest. “What’s she like?”

From their brief conversation, it seemed Ryan’s mother didn’t exactly see the situation in the same light as Rosie did. “She…was defensive. I told her we preferred that an adult be in the house if Ryan visited. She accused me of being overprotective.”

“Is it any of her business?” Zach demanded.

“No, but I don’t think we’re going to get a lot of cooperation from her.”

“Seems that way.” Zach was frowning.

Rosie was so grateful to talk to him about this. It dawned on her now why she’d been so restless and uneasy—it was largely due to her daughter’s behavior.

“Do you remember last year when I told you about the Harrison girl?” she asked.

Zach shook his head.

“She was in junior high and pregnant with twins.”

The color seemed to rush from Zach’s face. “You don’t think—” He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“I don’t know, Zach, and we might not know for sure until it’s too late.”

Her words had the shock value she’d intended. Allison’s anger and resentment grew more acute every week. This boy in her life was trouble, and their daughter’s future could well be at stake.

“I’m worried about Allison,” Zach said, his voice low.

“I am, too,” Rosie agreed. “She didn’t take the divorce well, and she’s lashing out at both of us. I’m not sure what she’d do…. I hardly know her anymore.”

Nine

Olivia was happy. She woke early on Sunday morning—her birthday—and luxuriated in bed while the last dregs of sleep left her. It occurred to her that she should be adding up the years, which now totaled a rather shocking number. Better yet, she should review her accomplishments and align them with her goals, which was what she did every birthday.