Page 42 of All of Me

“Look,” I interrupted, but this time my phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize. I picked it up. “Hello?” Drake waved at everyone to be quiet and, understanding, I put it on speaker.

“Mr. Shae Turner?”

“Yes, that’s me,” I said.

“This is Gerald Slater from children and family services. I’ve been assigned to Tamzin Turner’s case, and I’d like to visit you today, please.”

Danny was furiously typing, not that his keys were loud. I glanced at Drake, who put up three fingers. “I can do any time after three, if that helps.”

“Can you do any earlier?” he snapped out, and I glanced at my phone. It was already nearly one.

“No, sorry, we’re out at the moment.”

“Very well. I’ll see you at three.” I opened my mouth to acknowledge that, but he hung up.

“Gerald Slater, fifty-seven,” Danny read out. “Worked for children and family services in Atlanta for nineteen years.” He paused, his eyebrows going up. “He used to be a cop but left after four years and went back to school. Lives with his partner, Anne McDonaugh, who’s a sergeant and works out of Fulton County. Three kids, two in college and one still in school.”

I blinked, and Danny grinned at my reaction. “Just so you know who’s going to be there.”

Gray chuckled. “Knowledge is power.”

Diesel came back into the room. “That was one of my contacts who did the welfare check on Gary Bruin’s mom. She was there all right, but looks like she’s had a stroke, and not in the last few days, from the condition she was in.” Diesel’s jaw tightened. “They called the paramedics right away. She’s got a serious chest infection and skin sores from, well, having zero care. Very confused, but that could be because of the infection and dehydration. I’ll know more later. Bruin himself wasn’t at home, and the cops are trying to locate him.”

The meeting wrapped up, and we went back into the living room. Tammy looked like she was having a blast with Pink, and my gut tightened. Maybe I should go to Pink’s? Especially with everything happening.

But then Tammy noticed me and immediately raised her arms. I swooped down and picked her up. Pink chuckled. “Winning the hearts of the females again?”

I flushed because Pink’s daughter Indy used to follow me everywhere.

“She hasn’t spoken,” Pink said.

“I know, but we’ve got an appointment with a trauma therapist for her after the weekend.” Pink nodded.

“Well, if she’s had all her shots so far, she’s not due any more for a year, but do you have a primary doctor for her?”

“Give us a chance,” Drake said lightly, and Pink grinned.

“What happened to ‘Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome?’” Pink teased. I couldn’t help the smile. Even I knew that had something to do with the Marines.

Drake rolled his eyes.

“She polished off the eggs I made for her and drank her milk.” Pink patted her hand. “Because she’s aclevergirl.”

Drake told everyone we needed to go, as he wanted to speak to Jay, and we had the appointment at three. He glanced over at me. “I want to get the room cleared and box up Ellie’s things. Finish childproofing the kitchen. And Kenny should be done with the plaster work.”

I spent a lot of time with my mind going around in circles on the way home. I wasn’t sure Drake noticed my silence because he’d put Disney songs on for Tammy. I was ready to throw my lot in with Drake—assuming he got over histoo oldstatus—but “lot” now meant a traumatized three-year-old little girl. There wasn’t just me now. I had responsibilities. On the face of it, Drake was saying everything I wanted to hear, but it had barely been ten days, not including the time we’d spent together at Pink’s and…yeah. I knew a big part of me expected him to run once it got to be too much. Oncewegot to be too much. Except this time, he wouldn’t be running. He would expect me to leave him.

My thoughts were interrupted by Jay’s call. Drake had already told me Diesel had three teams now on the house 24/7, and Jay would like to get a feel for our schedule over the next few days. Drake promised to tell him as soon as we knew what our schedule was, but for now we were on our way and a social worker was arriving this afternoon.

Actually, that convo included a lot of swearing until Drake realized Tammy was awake and listening to every word, andhe warned Jay. Jay laughed, apologized, and said Danny had already sent the social worker’s vehicle details and description to them, and that they would stay invisible while he was here.

“Who’s paying for all this?” I blurted out when Jay had hung up.

Drake glanced my way. “You’re family.”

“I’m not family,” I whispered. “I don’t even work for Diesel.”

“You might not,” Drake said firmly, “but I do, and you’re my family.”

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