Page 39 of Knight's Journey

“Dammit all to hell!” He exploded, more at the situation than at his mother. He would never use harsh language with or around her, but he thought under the circumstances, she’d let it slide. “This is my case. I’ve worked on it for a year. How can I watch them work this case without being in the middle of the investigation?”

“Has Tristin said the words, you can’t be involved in the investigation?”

“He told me I can’t work the case. I have to lay low because he needs me back at one hundred percent.”

“Even though they’ve put you on a different, less dangerous case, they’re still sharing information with you. It seems to me they need you on both cases. Your role on the first case has changed, but that’s alright since Bridget needs you more on her case.”

“Momma, there are other people who can work her case too. I’m expendable.”

“You’re wrong. You’re feeling sorry for yourself and refuse to see the big picture. The fact that the other case is moving forward is because of your work, so if they no longer need you to be in the center in order to close it, you’ve already shown you are not expendable. But while others can step in Bridget’s case, they can’t bring to it what you can.”

“What do you mean? If they’re in any kind of danger, I couldn’t do much with my injury still healing. And Brick knows as much about the case as I do.”

“You know what it’s like to lose a parent. You know what it’s like to be raised by a single mother, and you know what it’s like to be the only boy in a house full of women. You know what it’s like to watch after a sibling. I know you are the youngest, but once you hit your growth spurt when you were twelve, you were the protector of me and your sisters. No one messed with us for fear of having to deal with you.”

He chuckled and felt his cheeks heat up under his mother’s praise.

“Zane, you know what Bridget’s family is going through. You are equipped to help her and her children better than anyone at that PI firm of yours. From what you told me about the grandparents, this isn’t going to end well. They’re trying to hold on to the memory of the son they lost by using their grandson as a stand-in. This is going to devastate this family, and it’s never going to give them what they’re looking for. It breaks my heart.”

“Mom, I’m a PI, not a damn savior. If the grandparents decide to sue for custody and paint Bridget as an unfit guardian, there’s really nothing I can do.”

Maggie stood, her expression as fierce as when she scolded him for coming home from his junior prom falling-down drunk. She pointed a finger at his chest. “Daniel Zane Wilder, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get your head out of your ass. You’re a grown man who’s been dealt a bad hand. You’re acting more like a child who’s had his favorite toy taken away.”

“A child? Mom, I’m blowing off some steam.”

“Yes, well, remember it wasn’t too long ago we weren’t sure you were going to live long enough to blow off steam. I’m telling you it’s about priorities, and you better get yours straight.”

He placed a hand on top of the one she pointed at him and pushed her arm down to her side. Then he wrapped her in a bear hug. She rested her cheek against his chest and returned the hug fiercely. She pulled away and placed her palm on his cheek.

“You’ll do the right thing. I know you will. Besides, you won’t be able to stay away from Bridget and her family.”

“Oh, yeah? Why is that?”

She flashed him a secretive smile and turned to pick up their empty glasses. “Because you like her.”

Zane watched her disappear into the house, hesitating a moment before following her. “What are you talking about? I don’t know them. Not really. I mean, yeah, I like her. I think we could be friends.”

Maggie placed the glasses in the kitchen sink and turned to face her son. “Friends? Interesting.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know that look. Forget it. If you think you’re going to play matchmaker or something, you would be wrong.”

Maggie’s smile was indulgent, almost secretive. Was there something she knew that he didn’t?

“It’s okay. It’s been a long time since you’ve been interested in someone like this. It’s nice to see.”

“I’m not interested in her.”

She held up her hands as if admitting defeat. “All right. Whatever you say. But tell me one thing. How often have you thought about Bridget since you met her in the hospital?”

“She’s a case. Of course, I think about her. Your point is not valid.”

“Zane. Sweetheart. Think about how often Bridget crosses your mind. Then think about all of the other cases you’ve worked for your job. Can you honestly say you haven’t spent more time being preoccupied with her than the others?”

He opened his mouth to deny his mother’s assumption, but the words caught in his throat. He did think about Bridget often. His thoughts didn’t run along a romantic tangent as his mother implied. He thought more about how good she was at her job, how good she was with her niece and nephew, how fun it was to banter with her, how cute she was when she laughed, the sound throaty and sexy, her nose crinkling as she succumbed to her mirth.

Maggie moved away from the counter to stand in front of him, craning her neck to peer into his face. “You know what I think you should do? Take the afternoon off and spend it with me. We’ll watch game shows and cook something delicious for supper. We’ll have your sisters come over, and we’ll enjoy some quality family time. Sound good?”

Zane nodded. “Yeah, but Zoe will want to bring Michael along, won’t she?”

---