Page 44 of All of Me

“Maybe,” he acknowledged, “but I ain’t got nothing to lose. I know how to work the system. Heard your last spell in jail didn’t go that well for you. Wonder what another fifteen would be like? Think once they got your hands on you, they’d ever let you go?”

The door opened and Drake stood there, arms crossed. I used the distraction to slip past him and inside. Drake didn’t slam thedoor. He closed it quietly, never giving my father so much as a look which, if anything, meant he was pissed. I knew he’d heard the threat my dad had made.

I could tell he was furious but keeping it contained for Tammy's sake.

"You okay?" he asked softly, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. The encounter with my dad had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. His threats brought back too many painful memories.

Drake seemed to sense my unease. "Never been called a pretty boy before, not even when I was one.”

I laughed because that really was ridiculous. “How’d he know?”

“Ryan saw us and we just saw him with Ryan. But he's gone. Jay's team will make sure he doesn't come back."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "What if he tries something? What if he really does try to get custody of Tammy?"

"Not gonna happen," Drake said firmly. "We've got the best lawyers money can buy if it comes to that.”

I eyed Drake in frustration. “You’re not a millionaire and I can’t keep taking from you.”

He shrugged. “I’ve built up a lot of favors over the years, even if Rawlings hasn’t. I wouldn’t have to pay out anything, so don’t worry.” That eased some of my worry, but not all of it. My dad had always been resourceful when it came to getting what he wanted. Look at how he’d blackmailed me as a child with threats to hurt my friends. And if he thought Tammy could be useful to him somehow...

A tug on my pant leg drew my attention downward. Tammy stood there, looking up at me with those big eyes. Without a word, she raised her arms, clearly wanting to be picked up.

I obliged, lifting her onto my hip. She snuggled against my chest, one little hand fisting in my shirt. “He’s after something,” I said.

“Yep,” Drake agreed. “But he doesn’t strike me as a patient man, so I don’t doubt we’ll find out soon enough what that is.” He chuckled at Tammy. “How about we put Tammy in that play pen thing where we can see her, and you help me sort the end room? We want to make a good impression when the social worker gets here.”

“Play pen?” I said, following him, carrying Tammy and Maxie yapping at our heels.

“I think it’s meant for younger kids, but I’m hoping if she can be with us and put new toys in there for her it’ll give us a chance to clean up. I just took her to the bathroom.” He eyed me. “Is that okay? I didn’t want her to be upset again.”

“If she’s living here, I don’t see how we have any choice. I mean, I’m not her dad either.”

“Maybe we can ask the social worker when he gets here?” I could understand Drake’s worry about undertaking personal tasks with her, but Carol Benson knew there weren’t any women living here.

Drake led us through the trashed room to a clear corner where a padded mat was on the floor, and a dozen toys scattered on it. I put Tammy down and she started to investigate the plastic train. Maxie curled up at the edge.

"Okay, princess," Drake said, tickling her tummy lightly. "You hang here for a bit while we clean up.”

We spent the next hour tidying up, putting away anything that could be dangerous for a toddler, and generally trying to make the place look more child-friendly. After the first twenty minutes or so she was yawning, so I scooped her up, took her to the bathroom again, then laid her on the bed. She was asleep almost immediately.

As we worked, Drake filled me in on some of the security measures Jay's team had implemented. "They've set up a perimeter," he explained. "If anyone unauthorized tries to approach the house, we'll know instantly."

I nodded, grateful for the extra protection, but still uneasy. "Do you really think my dad will try something?"

Drake paused in his organizing to look at me. "Honestly? I don't know. But I'd rather be over prepared than caught out.”

I gazed at the paperwork he was sorting. “It’s impossible to know what the guy was after.” He sent me a frustrated but agreeing look.

I woke Tammy up and took her to the bathroom. Drake had bought a small toilet seat to fit on the other one when she was ready, but at the moment, she was using a potty. I made a game out of washing her hands like I remembered my mom had done with me when I seemed to spend most of my life covered in mud, and we went to the kitchen because I knew she would be hungry.

Drake took Maxie outside while I fastened Tammy into her small booster seat at the table and got her a drink and some blocks to build while I looked to see what to feed her.

We both got a notification from Jay to say a car was on its way up the lane and registered to Gerald Slater from child and family services.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. This visit could determine whether we got to keep Tammy or not. Although, what exactly they’d do with her if they took her, I had no idea.

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