Once in a Lifetime(44)

Dan gave a sharp exhale and walked away, going about ten feet before pacing back. “I waived my rights so that they could get adopted.”

“Then why are they in a foster home?”

“Because their mom died,” Dan said.

“And you didn’t feel the need to take them?”

“I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

“I’m not father material.”

“Should have thought about that before you had them,” Ben said.

Again Dan paced. “What do you mean, the foster home is shitty?” he finally asked.

“You don’t know what ‘shitty’ means?”

Dan sank to a concrete planter that had nothing it in but dirt and cigarette butts. He shoved his fingers through his hair and studied his knees. “I didn’t want this life for them.”

“Well, what the hell did you think would happen when their mom died and you didn’t step up?”

“I—I don’t know. I…I was in jail for a while.”

“Yeah, your daughters told me.”

He looked sick. “They know?”

“I’m not sure what they know, but they said you’re up for, and I quote, ‘the big one.’”

“Jesus.” Dan rubbed a shaky hand over his mouth. “They’re five.”

“They’re growing up fast.”

“Jesus,” Dan said again.

“What did you do time for?”

“Being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Dan said.

Ben gave him a go on look.

He let out a long breath. “They got me on armed robbery and involuntary manslaughter.”

“Christ.” Ben shook his head. “Never mind, then. I’ve got the wrong guy for those girls.” He turned to go.

“Wait.”

Ben turned back. “What?”

“How are they?”

“What do you care?”

Dan winced but held eye contact. “Listen, you have no reason to believe me, but the whole arrest…it was a mistake, okay? But regardless, I did the time. I paid the price. I’m out. Making myself a life.”

“Without them,” Ben said harshly.

“I thought they were safe. Happy. Why would I mess with that?”

“Because they need their dad.”

“I’m not equipped to handle kids,” Dan said. “I wouldn’t know what to do with them.”

“How about caring about their welfare? You have a job. You’re a mechanic, so I assume you have wheels. You could get visitation. Hell, you should have custody.”

“I have visitation rights. But I’m not good with kids.”

“You’re their dad,” Ben said again, voice hard. “That means it doesn’t matter that you’re a *—you man up.”

“Hey,” a low, angry voice said. “You don’t talk to him like that.”

Ben turned to Big Bob and got sucker punched in the eye.

It was the only punch Bob landed.

Five minutes later, both Bob and Ed were on the ground, Bob holding his ribs and Ed holding his jaw. Ben brushed off his hands. Ed had landed a good blow to the kidney, but Ben was okay. Still, he should probably get back to a gym. Breathing a little hard, he turned to Dan.

Dan, eyes wide, raised his hands. “Hey, I warned you. I told you they were protective of me.”

“Yeah.” Ben touched his already aching eye. “Thanks.”



“You’re pretty f*cking badass,” Dan said, impressed. “You were in prison, too?”

“No. I was in hell. Go see your kids.”





Chapter 16



Aubrey woke up to a grumpy Gus staring her down. She got up, fed the demanding cat, and then went to work. She unpacked and shelved her new stock. She placed next week’s order and spent an hour on hold with her phone company to complain about having Internet only in the western half of the store.

Afterward, a customer came in and spent half an hour walking the aisles and occasionally lifting a book up and looking to Aubrey. “What’s this one about?”

Aubrey had ceased to be surprised about the fact that people actually assumed she’d read every book in the store. She’d also learned that the people who browsed the way this woman did almost always left without actually buying a book at all, so she’d started amusing herself by making up plots on the spot. Still on hold with the phone company, she covered the receiver and said, “That one’s about an alien who comes to the Wild, Wild West.”

The woman nodded and put the book back. One aisle later, she picked up another.

Aubrey searched her brain’s database. After half an hour, she was beginning to run out of material. “That one’s about a guy who goes a little crazy after a failed marriage and ends up in a dancing contest with another woman.”

The woman put that book back, too, and Aubrey told herself she really needed to find a new hobby. But finally the woman came to the front. “Do you have anything like that Fifty Shades?” she asked.

“Now, that I do have,” Aubrey said, and led her to the romance section.

After the woman left—without buying anything—Aubrey began doing what she’d put off doing all day yesterday: searching for a mechanic. Her selection was limited, as there were only a few in Lucky Harbor, and most likely she couldn’t afford any of them. At that thought, she went to her brand-new coffee nook, which she’d already stocked. There was a small flask there for Lucille, who liked brandy in her tea. Aubrey preferred a little tea in her brandy, but she didn’t touch either one of them now. No, she went straight for the box of sugar cookies she’d put away for a high-stress day.