Page 77 of Sycamore Circle

“You know I’d love to see you. It’s just that with everything going on with Joy, I don’t think I can get away. I don’t want you driving up here on your own, though.”

“Like I said, I bet one of the girls can spare me some time.”

Here he was, making everyone move heaven and earth when he should be the one doing that. “Mom, you know what? I’ll come to you. I’m sorry I—”

“Oh, no you don’t. Don’t you start overthinking things and worrying about what your sisters and Eric are going to say. They don’t think near as harshly on you as you seem to think they do.”

“Still—”

“Samuel, you came out here three times last year. It’s my turn. Now I’m going to figure something out and get back to you. And Son?”

“Yes?”

“You take a deep breath and take care of that woman and her girl.”

“I will.”

By the time they’d hung up, he’d gotten four emails and twice that many text messages. Skimming the texts, he saw they were all from his guys. Nothing urgent.

Realizing that it was heading toward eight, he rang Joy.

“Bo. Hi.”

“How are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You worried about everything?” Of course, the minute he asked, he wished he could’ve taken his question back. Of course she was worried. Some creeper was sending her texts and letters.

“Yes.” She sighed. “Bo, I thought meeting with the detective was going to make me feel better. Instead, all I feel is more stressed out.”

“Tell me why. Is it the cop or how I handled it?”

“None of that. It’s that there’s a good chance someone I know is making it their business to scare me out of my mind. I hate that.”

“I do too. What do you need?”

“Nothing. I mean, you’ve done enough.”

“I’m not asking, hoping you say you’re fine. I’m asking because I hate the idea of you being scared and me not knowing.”

“Bo, you’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Absolutely.”

When she didn’t answer right away, he got concerned. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not sure what we are.”

He wasn’t either. “I know. I’m not sure either.” He knew what he wished they could be, but he’d learned long ago that wishes and dreams were for fools. “But don’t you think that’s okay? Maybe we can just keep going for a while.”

She released a ragged sigh. “I can do that.”

“Good. Now what are you doing tomorrow?”

“I’m tutoring in a little bit, then grocery shopping, getting Chloe, and doing dance class.”

“Where are you tutoring at?”

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