Page 68 of Operation: Return

“He’s helping chase some dogs.”

She wasn’t sure how chasing dogs was more important than Pete, but doing both at the same time would be impossible. “Want to help me pack some boxes?”

“Not really.” He wiggled until she put him down.

Erica rubbed her arm as Lacy came out of Edwyn’s office and headed straight for Erica. “I just got the rundown of all that happened over the last week. Edwyn was so good about calling us, but he didn’t mention any of this.” She shook her head. “Probably because he knew Connor is against allowing two people who are romantically involved as clients. What if something goes wrong?” She sighed as she strode toward Teddy’s office.

“I don’t think they’re romantically involved.” Erica followed Lacy’s lead, worried about just what she should do and where she belonged now.

The month was only one-quarter gone and Pete hadn’t been able to ride very often with all that had been going on. Being alone was frightening, but there was a chance these men didn’t know where she lived, nor who she was. If she could manage to find help moving, she could be safe with her son somewhere else before her lease ran out.

“You don’t think so? They lived together for years.”

Erica hated to point out the obvious since she’d just met Lacy and wasn’t sure how the woman would react to her. “All due respect, but you’re living with Connor and there’s nothing romantic going on.”

Lacy paled slightly and her mouth dropped open. She slapped it shut and dug a flattened banker’s box from the corner, then fumbled trying to open it. “You’re right. There’s not. And there won’t be. I shouldn’t assume.”

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” She glanced at Pete who was standing there absorbing the whole conversation and obviously confused. “Why don’t you go on in and turn on the TV for a minute. I’ll get you when we’re ready to go over to Lacy’s office.”

“Good idea.” Lacy grinned. “And since I know no one has been in my cabin, I know there’s chocolate waiting for us.” She raised her brows at Erica, asking silent approval to share.

“Thank you,” Erica said in acceptance.

The moment the door closed, Lacy reached out and touched her arm. “I can tell you’ve done a lot this last week. All these papers and notes would’ve been overwhelming after being gone for months. Connor went through so much. More than I ever thought. The gun shot hit him close to his heart and did so much damage. Then he got infections. The doctors still can’t explain where those came from.” She hung her head. “I made the choice to stay there. I could’ve come back here, but he was alone.”

Erica tried to assess what she would do in that situation. If Cole had been in the hospital, would she have dropped everything and gone to be with him? Would she have risked losing her job? She’d lost more jobs than she could remember, and not once had she regretted staying home for Pete.

“I can’t blame you. Work is work. People are more important.” She couldn’t say that love was love because Lacy’s situation was different from her own with Pete.

Lacy put a lid on her box and flicked her fingers like she was shooing away the conversation. “I know we just met, but I’ve never been one not to say what I’m going to say. I noticed your son looks a lot like Cole.” Lacy changed the subject so quickly Erica wasn’t sure how to respond.

Her mouth dropped open and she glanced at the door separating them from her son.

“He doesn’t know yet?” Lacy tilted her head in obvious surprise.

Erica slowly shook her head. “I only just told Cole last night.”

Lacy snorted. “Cole isn’t blind. He knew before you told him. Is he going to help you raise him? Cole is . . . harsh, but a good guy. I can’t imagine him just letting you deal with parenting alone.”

“I don’t know. We haven’t gotten that far yet.” She’d noticed he hadn’t seemed surprised, just angry that she’d let him risk his life without knowing. If he would offer help, she’d be a fool to turn it down. Cole had acted like a good father for the brief time they’d known him, and he hadn’t even known for certain Pete was his then.

“How much longer are you here?” Lacy grabbed another box.

Erica tried to mobilize her thoughts and help Lacy but her fingers didn’t want to do the job and her mind was stuck like honey on Cole and what she had to say or do for forgiveness. Maybe they couldn’t be together after what she’d done, but Cole would benefit by knowing both of them.

“Honestly, now that you’re back, I don’t see much reason to stay.” Cole had accomplished his goal. He’d gotten her to believe he was Taylor. She’d finally done the right thing and told him the truth. Staying would only make things uncomfortable. There would be no second chance for them.

“Except that he might want to make arrangements with you to see his son.” Lacy stopped what she was doing. “You do plan to let him, right?”

If Cole wanted to come and see Pete she wouldn’t stop him, but she couldn’t stay here with him. Her heart was torn to shreds after he’d walked away last night. She needed time to think, to heal, to pretend she was whole once again when everything in her said she wasn’t worth the time or effort.

“I’m not going to keep them apart.”

Lacy finished piling the last of the papers in the box and Erica handed her the lid. The note with the phone number for the orthodontist sat next to the phone where Erica had left it the day before. It seemed so long ago now.

She might not be able to help Lacy with much of anything from this point on, but she could help Trace. He’d been good to Pete and she still felt there was some reason she’d learned about his situation that she could use to bless him. She wanted him to continue to heal. She swiped up the note and handed it to Lacy.

“I tried calling this number for the orthodontist to get an appointment for Trace. He’s had many of his teeth knocked out and because of it, he doesn’t speak. Pete said his voice was raspy, probably from not using it, but I don’t know if they did something else to hurt his throat too . . .”

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