Page 12 of Daddy's Heart

Chapter 6

Samantha’s phone interrupted her playlist. Putting down her brush and hot iron, she snagged her cell.

“Hey, Sam. Just wanted to make sure you got there okay. You didn’t call.” Paul didn’t even give her a chance to speak.

“Yeah, sorry. I was beat. I’m here, and I’m fine.” She leaned closer to the vanity mirror hanging over the dresser. Her hair was as tame as it could be given she’d slept with the hairbands in all night. She should have taken them out before she’d gone to bed. But she didn’t recall getting into bed. Exhaustion did that. Right?

“You met up with George?”

“Yes, Paul. You have to stop acting like I’m a kid.” She understood his overprotectiveness and had grown to accept it over the years since their dad died when they were young. Paul, being ten years older, had stepped up to fill their father’s shoes. Not an easy task at twenty, but he’d done a damn good job. So, she let him have his little overbearing moments here and there.

A heavy sigh signaled more was coming.

“Have you gotten any messages from Randall?” he asked.

She blinked and pulled back from the mirror. Just hearing the name sent chills down her spine.

“No. I changed my number, remember? He doesn’t have it.” Not that it would stop him. If Randall wanted to mess things up for her, he wouldn’t need to leave her a voicemail first. “Why?”

“It looks like he might be getting probation early.”

And there it was. The resounding echo of the boot dropping.

She backed away from the dresser and sank down onto the bed, gripping the phone harder. “How?” she asked softly.

“I don’t know. Connections probably. There’s a hearing next month. You might have to come home, Sam. Just for the hearing, but I’ll ask Anderson about it.”

Their family friend, and pro bono attorney, who sat beside her at every deposition, every interview. She’d already used so much of his time and kindness…it was supposed to be over now. She wasn’t supposed to have to deal with Randall anymore. The system had him.

“Paul, hopefully I’ll have a job by then. Which means I can’t just take off and go back to Indiana.”

“Sam, if it means keeping him behind bars—”

“Behind bars or roaming the streets, doesn’t matter. If he wanted to get to me, he would or will. If I go back and testify against him again… I don’t think I can.” Hearing Randall’s name set her heart into a flurry.

“Okay…well, let’s not worry about it yet. We have time. I’ll see what I can find out.”

She bit down hard on her lower lip. “No. I’ll handle it. I’ll call Anderson about it. You just focus on Mom and Jerri. Okay?”

“I don’t mind—”

“I do,” she interrupted, pushing back to her feet. “I will handle this. Okay?”

After a long pause, he caved. “Sure. Okay, but you let me know what you find out. At least keep me in the loop.”

“I will. I have an interview tomorrow at the Harold Washington Library. I’m going to keep my focus there for now. After that, I’ll call Anderson.”

“That’s the big one, right?”

She chuckled. “Yeah, the big one. It’s the one I really want.” She had been hoping to get an internship there while she worked on her master’s degree, but there had only been two open slots. She’d lost out, but she still had her degree, plenty of experience, and desire.

“Well, good luck, kid.”

“Thanks. I’ll call you in a few days, okay?”

“Wait—George said you were staying with his friend. How’s that going?”

Samantha looked at the door, as though she could see through it and find Ryder walking around the apartment. She’d heard him moving around a little earlier but hadn’t bumped into him yet. He must have gotten in late. She hadn’t heard him come home, and she’d been up watching movies.

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