Page 33 of Roam

Roam nodded along with the others. Shanna had a horrible temper and was jealous, which was ironic since she hadn’t wanted him.

He followed his dad and mom out, holding the door for Sprite. He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

“I’ll keep my hands off you until we get what we want, at least in public.”

Sprite smiled at him, pausing at the door for him to open it. She’d been so surprised the first time he’d done it for her, but he wanted her feeling special. He watched his dad for years treat his mom as the treasure she was. Now, he had a woman he wanted to worship.

SPRITE SAT OUTSIDE the room where Roam was meeting with his attorney, Baron, Shanna and Shanna’s court-appointed attorney. Regina had stayed out with her unless Baron let her know he needed her.

Regina and Shanna had never gotten along. Baron had been concerned that with Regina in there, Shanna would dig her heels in. Sprite had to agree. Regina had whispered a couple things under her breath to Sprite that let Sprite know that Roam wasn’t who Shanna should be worried about if she ever got out of jail. Regina was protective of her son and grandkids.

Regina finally sat down beside Sprite. She’d been nervously pacing.

“How are you appearing so calm because I heard you talking? You’re as worried as I am,” Regina asked.

“I didn’t grow up in a great place and my mother wasn’t a loving mother at all. I learned at a young age to hide what I was feeling. I’ve started breaking out of my shell, but today, I’m using what I learned from her to appear calm. Who knew she’d actually teach me something useful.”

Regina slipped her arm around Sprite, tugging her close. Sprite couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found Bluff Creek. Regina nurtured her more than her mother ever did.

“I’m sorry you dealt with that, but I’ve seen you with your kids. You obviously are raising them completely differently than you were raised. I don’t want this to sound condescending but I’m proud of you, Sprite. You chose a better path for your family and that says so much about you.”

Sprite fought the tears that Regina’s words had started. She breathed deep and used those lessons her mother had taught to keep them at bay. She could cry and show emotion once Roam’s baby was safely in his arms.

The bang of the door had Sprite looking at the entrance. A younger woman walked in, pushing a stroller with a baby asleep in it. The baby was dressed in a white T-shirt with trucks on it and dark blue pants. She carried a small stack of folders, along with a diaper bag over her shoulder. She walked to the front desk and paused while the officer got off the phone.

“Della, I’m back. Is the father here yet?”

“Ms. Knight, how was he last night? He was a little fussy while I was holding him when she was brought in.”

“He did great. Once he was fed with a clean diaper, he dropped right off. He’s a sweetie.”

“The father and his attorney are in with the waste of space and her attorney.”

“Tell us how you really feel, Della,” Ms. Knight laughed.

“I think some people are a waste of air but please don’t tell the captain that. He wrote me up this week which is why I’m riding a desk.”

The social worker laughed. Sprite was fascinated with their familiarity with each other.

“What did you do this time?”

“I turned away as I was holding someone we were booking. I’d already uncuffed him and he’d been fine. Someone yelled and I turned away. When my partner let go of his other arm to help the other officer, the perp tried to grab my crotch. I mean, what would you have done?”

This Della had Sprite trying not to laugh. The hand gestures she was making as she told the story were hysterical.

“I would have grabbed him between the legs and twisted,” the social worker said.

“See, that’s what I did. The captain called it out of line. Really, did he grab your crotch?”

Sprite snickered along with Regina because she couldn’t hold it in. The officer at the desk turned at the sound.

“See, even they agree. Now I’m on desk duty for a week while I consider if this is the quote job for me,” Della grumbled. “Do you want buzzed through or to wait?”

“Let me leave him with you while I check where they are at. I don’t want her to see him with his dad and decide she can try to manipulate the situation.”

The social worker was buzzed through and left the stroller along with the diaper bag with the officer. The officer looked down and checked the baby, then went back to work.

Sprite tried to keep her cool and not show any interest. Regina was doing the same thing, but her fingers were tapping away. Sprite was positive it was killing Regina to not go over and hold her grandbaby. It had been made more than clear by Roam, and his parents had agreed, that they didn’t need a DNA test. Roam wanted the baby and didn’t want Shanna’s family or the CEO to have custody.

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