Page 46 of Paternal Instincts
“Me too. It’s like Clementine’s.” Sparrow touched the doll’s yarn ponytail. “When is Crow coming home? Everyone won’t stop yelling, and I miss him.”
“We’re doing our best to find him.”
Zoey appeared in the doorway, face painted in shades of shame. I felt momentarily bad for reprimanding her downstairs, but Sparrow’s heartache washed it away. Children shouldn’t suffer.
“Have you met my friend Zoey?”
Sparrow glanced at the young officer and nodded. “She made me breakfast today. Banana pancakes with syrup.”
“Yum. Did you have lunch?”
Sparrow shook her head.
“Maybe Zoey can help you find something to eat. She’s going to hang out with you for a while and make sure you’re okay.”
“Why can’t you?” Sparrow’s voice wobbled, and fresh tears surfaced.
“Because I need to find your brother so everyonestops being upset.”
“But I don’t want you to go.” She dissolved into heart-wrenching sobs. Shoving her doll aside, she crawled into my lap, locked her arms around my neck, and buried her face against my chest.
I didn’t have much experience with children apart from Aslan’s niece and nephew. Even then, I always felt out of my league. It was a concern I’d broached with my husband, a fear I held that I wouldn’t know what to do with a baby. He’d claimed I would be fine. My paternal instincts would kick in, and I’d maneuver those new roads effortlessly.
I wasn’t there yet, but Sparrow had reached out to me, and I couldn’t deny her, no matter how unpracticed. I held her, hugged her, and comforted her. Not once did I take my eyes off Zoey. My expression was undeniable.Thiswas your job, it said.Thiswas what you were supposed to do.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be the one to ease Sparrow’s pain and suffering, but Zoey had been sent to the house for a reason. I’d expressed my concerns about the forgotten child and asked her to please keep a close eye on Sparrow so this exact thing didn’t happen.
It took time and effort, but eventually, I convinced Sparrow to go to Zoey, promising I would check in later. I left the two and headed back downstairs, where nothing had changed. If anything, tempers flared worse than ever.
Jordyn peeled herself from the crowd and approached. “Don’t be too hard on Zoey. She was trying to help me.”
“Give me a rundown of who people are and what’s happening.”
Jordyn pointed out the woman I’d seen at war with Benedict and informed me she was Imogen’s mother, Diane. “Her father, Ronald, is over there. He’s about the most peaceable person in the room. I’d take a hundred of him.”
Ronald had found the liquor cabinet and nursed a tumbler of amber liquid. His sated expression and loose smile told me it wasn’t his first. No wonder he was acting so complacent. The man was likely halfway drunk.
As I’d assumed, the woman on the couch was Imogen’s older sister, Odelia.
“When did Jude arrive?” I searched for the man, finding him still with Flynn and Nixon, once again with half an eye on me. His expression was as caustic as it had been at the office.
“Not long after we talked on the phone. There doesn’t seem to be hostility between him and Nixon. Jude’s been supportive and trying to keep him calm. Flynn is the center of most of the problems. His parents don’t want him here. It’s about the only thing Benedict and Diane can agree on.”
“What is the issue with Flynn?”
“Wish I knew. His father claims he’s caused enough problems for one lifetime and doesn’t need to be in a place he’s not wanted. Diane seems to hate all the Davises, full stop. Flynn offered to leave since he realized his presence was causing a problem, but Nixon kicked up a fuss and wouldn’t let him go. They’re attached at the hip.”
“And what’s the feud between Benedict and Diane?”
“Like I said, Diane doesn’t seem to like any of the Davis family. She told Benedict if her daughter goes into premature labor because of this, she’ll make sure Imogen sues him for the entire Davis fortune.”
I frowned.Fortune?“I didn’t know the family was that wealthy.”
“I don’t know. I’m telling you what I’ve heard. Benedict said Imogen wasn’t getting a penny more from him.”
“I have a headache. I was supposed to be on leave, you know?”
“Oh, I know.” Jordyn bumped my arm. “Thank you for notabandoning me on this case.”
