Folk Around and Find Out (Good Folk: Modern Folktales #2)(72)

I tightened my fingers on his hand and felt my mouth curve into an immediate grin. “Hi, Mr. Joshua.” Lowering to my haunches so I could look at him in the eye, I asked, “Read any good articles recently? What’s the Fed up to?”

His uncertainty vanished and his eyes grew round. “Not much since their last interest rate hike, but earnings reports are due at the end of next month and we’ll know more about inflation then.”

“Keep me posted,” I said before I could think better of it as my attention had snagged on adorable Sonya, who was holding out a leaf to me with a shy smile. “Hey, Miss Sonya, what’s this?”

“It’s for you. It’s a flower.”

“It’s not a flower,” Joshua said with a sigh. “It’s a leaf.”

“Well, I prefer leaves over flowers. Thank you.” I grinned at Sonya and accepted the leaf with reverence, her little-kid voice 100% cute this time and 0% creepy.

“Can you play today?” Sonya asked.

Joshua faced me, his expectant expression mirroring his sister’s. “Can you? If you come over, you can see my map collection. I can play Mike Duncan’s podcast for you.”

“I—uh . . .” Oh geez. Maps? Was it strange I really wanted to say yes?

But I couldn’t, could I? Even if their momma agreed, I couldn’t dismiss the plethora of judgmental looks Kimmy and I had received just sitting together in front of the ice cream shop, or the way Mrs. Mitchell had been ready to chew me out. If I wasn’t fit for their nanna to shake hands with, I certainly wasn’t fit for a playdate. Me inviting myself over just to hang out with and enjoy her kids wouldn’t be much of a help to Charlotte. That’d be selfish.

“I’ll talk to your momma,” I finally said, my voice scratchy for some reason, and I gave them both a smile I hoped reached my eyes. “I have work this week, but we’ll see if we can’t make something happen eventually.”

Joshua’s gaze turned somber, distant, and he nodded, backing up a step. The change in him sent my heart plummeting to the sidewalk. Crap. Who knew disappointing a kid felt like being sucker-punched?

Uncertain what to do and feeling awkward, I stood and tried to turn my attention back to the heated discussion between Charlotte and her momma. Judging by the unhappy, squinty look Mrs. Mitchell sent me as I straightened, their argument appeared to be at its end and neither of them were happy.

“You don’t mind driving me, do you?” Charlotte asked, drawing my attention to her.

“Happy to,” I said automatically, and wondered at the immediate suffusion of pride and pleasure in my chest.

“It’s settled. I’ll be home before bedtime, okay?” Charlotte quickly bent and gave Sonya, Joshua, Frankie, and Kimmy hugs and kisses, her fingers lingering in Kimmy’s curly blond hair. “Make good choices, please. And be kind.”

“Mr. Weller was just telling me about his job before Nanna walked up.” Kimmy glanced at me, but this statement was clearly for the benefit of her mother. “I think I’d like to give his job a try.”

I sent the little girl a flat look, unimpressed with her attempt at riling up her momma. Couldn’t she see the woman had plenty on her plate and was stretched too thin? Bracing for a stern look and word from Charlotte, I squared my shoulders, ready to contradict the little troublemaker.

But it turned out I didn’t need to.

In response to her daughter’s baiting, Charlotte shocked the hell out of me by asking mildly, “Do you, now?” She glanced at her watch, not seeming at all concerned by her eldest’s revelation. “That’s nice, honey. He could do a presentation for career day at the school. Are you done with your water? Did you thank Mr. Weller? We really do need to go.”





CHAPTER 19





CHARLOTTE





“The true measure of a man is how he treats you when others are not looking.”

ALESSANDRA TORRE





Hank’s good manners made me nervous, distracting me from the ‘big news’ my ex-mother-in-law had dropped in my lap with her characteristic dramatic flourish.

I recognized Mrs. Buckley’s vague statements at the start of the visit for what they were, intended to provoke my temper and tease my curiosity. I knew the games she played, and so I’d ignored her upon returning to the park, only speaking directly to the woman—a sharp reprimand—when she commented on Joshua’s weight.

But as soon as I’d gathered the kids to leave, she’d said, “Oh. Before you hear it from anyone else, you should know that Kevin has returned to his father’s house. He’s back with the company in Asheville and we’re all so thrilled.”

The sinister light behind her eyes had dimmed considerably when I gave her nothing but a blank look in response. What did Kevin’s return to North Carolina and into the bosom of his psycho family have to do with me?

It wasn’t until I’d herded Joshua, Sonya, and Frankie almost to Walnut Street that a slight shiver of fear traveled down my spine accompanied by the irrational thought, What if he wants to see the kids? What if he wants more visitation? What if he wants custody?

Fear was soon eclipsed by good sense and reality. He doesn’t and won’t. He never did. He doesn’t care.