Page 46 of Tex's Angel

“It’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, but why are you here? Did you come to get me? Can I live with you now?”

Tex moves forward to kneel beside me and explains our situation, “We’re not allowed to just take you home with us. That’s called stealing kids, and grown-ups get in big trouble for that. We might be able to get permission to take y’all out on day trips. How does that sound?”

His expression falls, “I know what day trips are. We go to a park with lots of dog poop and eat at the bad pizza place. It’s not a lot of fun but it’s some fun, I guess.”

I feel so sad for the little boy and have a thought, “I can ask Mrs. Ayers if visitors are allowed to take kids on day trips, if she says that’s okay, me and Mr. Tex might be able to take you somewhere nice.”

“I always want to go bowling. It’s fun and the food there is great.”

Tex picks up the slack. “When I was your age, I liked to go the arcade and play video games.”

Robbie shoots Tex a disparaging look. “I heard about those places they had in the olden days. We have video games here so I don’t want to waste time I could be bowling, playing games.”

“Well, y’all put me in my place,” Tex says with a smile.

I grin at Robbie. “I think you’re making a smart decision. Give me a week to see if I can arrange for us to go somewhere fun. I’ll let you know when I find out one way or another. Is that alright?”

He nods, “They’ll probably let you. One kid here gets to go out with the janitor from his old school.”

For some reason that shocks me. Then again if a janitor is a good role model and motivated to spend time with a kid who’s got nobody out of the kindness of his heart, why not?

“In that case, you’d best start planning your day.”

We come to our feet when Rigs and Mrs. Ayres come back into the room. She’s all smiles and says, “I hope you all had a good chat.”

Robbie speaks right up. “They’re gonna take me bowling.”

I rush to add, “We’re going to do that if it’s something that’s allowed.”

“As you’re a teacher and know Robbie it should be okay. Obviously, there’ll have to be a background check and drug screen, you’ll have to take a six-hour class on all our rules. Just wanted you to be aware that there is a process for making stuff like that happen.’

Rigs smiles at her. “I should hope so. If not, anybody could borrow a kid for the day.”

Mrs. Ayres chuckles. “Quite right. Is there anything else I can do for you today?”

That’s clearly our cue to get moving, so we start heading for the door and saying our goodbyes.

Chapter 20

Tex

I’m not sure what to think after our visit to the foster home. It sure sounds like Robbie’s father could have an axe to grind with Clara if he’s looking for someone to blame. Once we’re outside, Rigs says, “We should go back to the clubhouse and see if Zen can help us track down Robbie’s father. If so, we might be able to get to him before the sun goes down.”

I turn to Clara, “This is where you fall back, darlin’. Talking to Robbie was a good thing. Dealing with his degenerate lying dad is another. I don’t want y’all within striking distance of this junkie fool.”

“I’m not staying behind. I need to talk to this man, try to get him into some kind of treatment program,” she says.

“Are you kidding me?” I growl. “That asshole is probably the one who bought or cooked the drugs that killed his wife and then blamed his little boy. He ain’t worth saving.”

Rigs revs his engine loudly and when I look over, he gives me a look that would be interpreted as ‘shut the hell up’ in any language.

Clara has her hands on her hips glaring at me in a way that makes me feel small. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your child taken away and your wife die all within days of each other?”

“I know what half that feels like, and it didn’t turn me into the kind of asshole who puts the blame on my kid,” I shoot back.

Her expression changes to one of compassion. “I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it, Tex.”

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