Lakeside Redemption

Nudging her, Ian handed her a paper plate. “You okay?”

She looked at him and smiled. “Yes, fine.”

He passed a platter piled with steaming, golden ears of corn. She grabbed the tongs and dropped an ear on her plate, then passed it across the table to Mom.

At her feet, Harper stirred. Her eyes perked as tires crunched in the front driveway. She barked and trotted for the front of the house.

“Expecting someone to join us, Ian?” Mom asked from across the table.

“Nope. Everyone’s here.” Ian stood and moved away from the table. “I’ll be right back.”

He followed Harper around the side of the house. Zoe buttered her corn and was about to take bite when Ian returned to the backyard.

But he wasn’t alone.

A police officer carrying a manila envelope followed him.

Dad shot a glance at her and frowned.

Zoe heaved a sigh and shook her head. Of course, if the police were involved, it had to have something to do with her. She dropped her corn on her plate and folded her arms on the table.

Ian’s lips thinned as he approached the picnic table. He exchanged glances with Agnes.

Agnes jumped up from the table. “Hey, Griffin. Wanna help me with the apple pie in the kitchen?”

Butter smeared Griffin’s lips. “But we just started eating.”

She smiled and nodded toward the house. “Let’s bring it out anyway. We can have it with our ribs and corn.”

“Works for me.” He wiped his mouth with his hand and hopped up from his seat.

Once the door to the house closed behind them, Dad pushed to his feet. “What’s going on, Ian?”

Ian jerked a thumb at the cop. “Officer Reynolds has something for you and Mom.”

“Us? How’d you know we were here?” Mom wiped her mouth with a napkin and left the table to stand next to Dad.

Officer Reynolds removed his sunglasses and hooked them on the breast pocket of his dark blue uniform. He crossed his hands in front of him. “I stopped by your house, but no one was there. Your neighbor—a Mrs. Kingsley—was in the yard and told me where I could find you.”

Agnes’s mom.

Dad folded his arms over his chest. “What can I do for you, Officer?”

“Sir, I’ve been directed to give you this.” He handed Dad the envelope.

Dad tore it open and scanned the contents. His gaze bounced off her and landed on Mom. Dad scrubbed a hand over his face. He crumpled the papers in his white-knuckled grip. “Are you serious?”

The officer held up his hands. “I was instructed to deliver the envelope. I’m unaware of the contents.”

“Right. Thank you.” Dad extended his hand to the officer.

The officer shook Dad’s hand, nodded to Mom, then turned to head back to the driveway.

Mom pressed her hand on Dad’s arm, a frown creasing her forehead. “What’s going on, Pete?”

Dad released his hold on the papers and tossed them on the table. “It’s a petition for custody of Griffin.”

“Griffin? Why, that’s ridiculous. By whom?” Mom picked up the papers, scanned them and then sucked in a breath. Her eyes darted to Zoe as her voice dropped to a whisper. “Davis and Marcia Jacoby.”

Zoe jumped up from her seat and snatched the papers out of her mom’s hands. As she scanned the legalese, her heart leaped to her throat.

This couldn’t be happening.

She forced back the acid burning her throat and searched Dad’s face for reassurance. “They can’t do that, can they?”

“I’m afraid they can.” Dad leaned against the table and wrapped an arm around Mom’s shoulders, drawing her to his side. “Doesn’t mean they’ll win. We’ll make sure of that.”

She hoped so.

Griffin had thrived in her parents’ custody while her morale wasted away behind bars.

He deserved so much more.

Because of the choices she’d made, their lives were drastically different than from the day she looked in his newborn eyes and promised she’d be the best mom she could.

She wanted to be the kind of mom who baked cookies and helped with classroom parties and served on the PTA. She’d been working hard to prove she could be the one who regained custody of her son, rather than grandparents who would do anything in their power to destroy her.

* * *

Was Zoe crazy to imagine their walk in the park wasn’t a training session but a family outing?

As Sully held on to the leash, Riley trotted at his side. Giggling, Ella and Ava ran ahead of them on the path that trailed along the river, their ponytails bouncing against the backs of their matching pink tank tops. They chased Griffin, who jogged ahead but kept looking over his shoulder to see how close they were.

Yes, definitely crazy.

And, for one thing, she was getting way ahead of herself. The last thing she needed was to confuse the boundaries between personal and professional. That wasn’t what Sully signed up for. Besides, he had his hands full with the girls and his job. And she didn’t need some guy to rescue her.

But Sully wasn’t some guy...

For a moment, though, she could pretend. Just for a moment she could pretend he was her husband, and the girls were hers, along with Griffin, of course.

In addition to being a dog trainer, she’d have a husband, a family. She’d belong. Without the baggage of her past holding her back.

When she’d arrived at Caleb’s for their session and suggested the park, he was all for it, even with Griffin and Harper joining them. And the girls loved the idea. After a week of training at their house, she figured Riley could handle the distractions in the park.

The morning sunshine cast a glow across the Shelby Lake River, bleaching the water and making it shimmer like polished silver.

A family of ducks swam to the bank and waddled to the grass, catching the girls’ attention. They hurried after them, causing the ducks to squawk and flap their wings.

“Girls, stay on the path, away from the bank.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Ella half turned and waved. She reached for Ava’s hand and pulled her back onto the gravel path winding along the riverbank.

Riley barked and tugged on his leash. Sully tightened his hold. “Riley, quiet.”

Riley looked at Sully, then back at the ducks, but he obeyed.

Sully stooped and petted his head. “Good boy.” He fished a small treat out of his pocket, commanded Riley to sit and then fed it to him. His dark blue Henley-style shirt stretched across his back.

Zoe hesitated, then placed a hand on Sully’s shoulder. “You handled that well.” She pulled her hand away before she did something stupid like run it across the sun-warmed fabric and into his hair.

He pushed to his feet and smiled at her. “Coming to the park was a good idea. Thanks for suggesting it.”

“You’re welcome. And thanks for letting Griffin and Harper tag along.”

“Hey, no problem. Your son seems like a great kid.”

“He’s the best. I figured the park offered many distractions, so it’s a great way to get Riley acclimated to new environments and follow commands outside of his comfort zone.”

The distractions for Riley were nothing compared to the ones she felt walking next to Sully. The scent of his soap lingered on his skin. The morning breeze ruffled his hair.

He bumped her shoulder with his. “You’re really good at your job.”

His praise warmed her faster than the rays of sunshine. Like Riley, she was eager to prove she could do this. “Thanks. I enjoy what I do.”

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