To Protect Her Son

“Can I ask you something?” Bill wiped the dew off the full glass sitting in front of him.

What now? “Sure.”

“If someone was looking for a good private investigator, who would you recommend?”

Surprised by yet another sudden change in topic, Nate studied the older man, seeking a clue as to what was going on. Bill’s gaze was fixed on the glass in front of him.

Nate took a long swallow of his beer as he considered his answer. “Is this about one of your students?”

“No. Nothing of the kind. I have a friend who’s in need of a little help locating someone, that’s all.”

Nate sighed. “I have no idea. But I’ll ask around and see what I can find out. It may mean that the private detective will come from Portland or farther south. Would that be a problem?”

“You’re wondering what I’m up to, aren’t you?” Bill asked.

“No.” Yet in truth he was. The cop in him couldn’t help digging for details. “It’s none of my business. I’ll ask around and see what I can come up with.”

Bill’s gaze was steady as he assessed Nate. “Thanks for helping me. I appreciate it. Being asked for advice about a private investigator can’t be an everyday occurrence for you.”

Nate shook his head.

Bill leaned forward, resting his elbows on the bar. “But you aren’t here having a beer because I need something. If I remember correctly, it was you who came to my office.” He raised his eyebrows in question.

Relieved to focus on something other than Bill’s odd behavior, Nate pushed his glass aside and turned to him. “I’m mentoring Adam Sawyer, and he tells me he didn’t make the basketball team this year. I’m wondering if you could tell me why?”

Bill took a long drink of his beer, wiping his lips with the napkin before putting the glass back on the shiny bar. “Adam is a good player, but not a team player. Despite my coaching him to do so, he seldom shared the ball, making the most routine plays pretty well impossible. I talked to him about it, and he promised to do better. But the minute he got his hands on the ball, he’d bolt for the end of the court. He cost us a lot of fouls in practice, not to mention loss of a concerted team play or a good offensive strategy. In the end, he wouldn’t listen to me or make the changes I needed. I already had too many boys trying out for the team.” He shrugged. “I’m sorry, because I really like him. I have to admit that when he got that ball in his hands, there were few players on the team that could stop him.”

“I’m sorry he didn’t work out.” Nate stared at the mirror behind the bar in silence for a few minutes. He’d hoped to be able to help Adam, to make him feel more a part of the community by getting Bill to reconsider. “Is there any chance you’d change your mind?”

“No, unfortunately. Not a chance. I had to cut two other players who were more seasoned than Adam. That doesn’t mean that with a change in approach he won’t make the team next year. Why are you so concerned?”

“He’s been in a bit of trouble, picked up by the police, being rude to his mother, not keeping curfew, that sort of thing. I’d like to intervene and get him away from a group of older teenagers who are already on the road to trouble.”

“I see what you’re getting at. Does his homeroom teacher know about your concerns?”

“Not yet.”

“Does he have good support at home? His dad died, trawler accident, I believe. What about his mom?”

“She’s very concerned, and she seems willing to do whatever it takes to keep her son out of trouble.”

“Are there days you wish you had an easier job?” Bill asked sympathetically.

Nate nodded, thankful to have someone who understood how difficult it could be working with vulnerable kids.

They finished their beer in companionable silence.

“Would you like another?” the bartender asked.

“Not for me,” Bill said, grinning at the bartender. “I need to get home. I’m coaching the women’s volleyball team tonight.” He slapped Nate on the back. “If there’s anything I can do to help, you’ve only got to ask.”

“Thanks.” Nate watched him leave and wished that he had something to look forward to tonight, or someone. When he’d decided to stick to short-term relationships, he’d forgotten how lonely life could be without someone who was interested in his day and what went on in his life.

He smiled to himself. Who was he kidding? He’d chosen his love life, and with few exceptions he liked it the way it was. No one knew better than Nate that the future was tomorrow. One day away and no longer. He’d known that the day Natasha Burnham had walked out on him.

“I’ll have another,” he said.

* * *

FOR THE PAST ten days Adam had not missed his curfew, had done all his chores, mowed his lawns and worked on his home assignments. Gayle couldn’t help but note that in the past week several of the calls she’d answered for him had been female voices, not the usual sullen male tones.

She didn’t want to jump to any conclusions just yet about what would happen in the coming weeks, but she felt very hopeful that maybe the worst was over with Adam. Wouldn’t that be a relief? Wouldn’t it be great if she and Adam were able to look to the future, to Adam doing well in school and having a better chance to make the basketball team next year?

Nate had come over last weekend and taken Adam to a basketball game in Portland, which from Adam’s account had been awesome. She tried not to be too obvious in her inquiry about Adam’s time with Nate, but from what she could learn the two of them were really hitting it off. Had Nate’s visits been all her son needed to get back on track?

She checked her watch. Nate was due here any minute to take Adam fishing, something she’d never had the opportunity to do, and had been pleased that Nate suggested it. From the moment Gayle learned she was pregnant she’d dreamed of a life for Adam that included things like fishing, hiking and all different kinds of sports. Even if someday soon Adam didn’t need any more of Nate’s counseling, having someone to go fishing with would be wonderful for her son.

She was at the door on the first ring, throwing it open to see Nate’s smiling face.

“Were you waiting for me?” he asked, his smile lighting the space between them.

“Yes...yes, I was.” She fidgeted with the doorknob, her head whirling from the pleasant feeling rushing through her. She let go of the door and just stood there, knowing she must look a little silly.

“Can I come in?” Nate asked.

She glanced up at his face, her eyes moving to his. What would it feel like to have Nate coming to the door asking for her? About her? Like a real live date? Or maybe as a boyfriend?

He smiled encouragingly, but didn’t move.

“Oh! Yes, please come in,” she said, her cheeks warm. She bit her lip and tried to think of something intelligent to say, but nothing... “Adam is just finishing his breakfast.”

“No. I’m ready,” Adam said, coming down the stairs dressed and ready to go. “Do I need to bring anything, Nate?”

Gayle was delighted to hear the upbeat tone in her son’s voice. She caught the smiling glance he gave Nate, one filled with a camaraderie she hadn’t seen before.

“I have all the gear in the car,” Nate said, grinning at Adam. “We’ll be fishing for a few hours.”

Gayle was so relieved to see how much her son seemed to be looking forward to the day ahead.

As Adam came up and stood beside Nate, Gayle realized that the two of them were nearly the same height. Her son was growing tall and slim, so like Harry. She blocked any more comparisons between her son and her ex. Adam would not be like his father...she hoped.

Nate turned his attention to Gayle with a look so intense it took her breath away. “I packed lunch for the both of us.”

For a split second she thought he was referring to her—to her and him—to a day for just the two of them. The thought of someone caring enough to invite her on a picnic made tears sting her eyes, longing crouch near her heart. “That wasn’t necessary...but thank you.”

“You’re welcome. We’re going to have a great day.”

“I’ll bet the fish aren’t looking forward to our arrival,” Adam said, a grin on his face as he walked past Nate with his backpack slung over his shoulder.

Acutely aware of the handsome man standing so close, Gayle waited uneasily for Nate to turn and leave. He didn’t. Instead, he moved a step closer to her, his wide shoulders blocking the light from the front door. “Would you like to have coffee sometime? We need to talk about a few things.”

His words startled her. “What? Adam’s doing okay, isn’t he?”

“I believe so, but I would like to run through a few things with you.” His grin was so endearing.

“You and me having coffee?” she asked, feeling exhilarated, until she realized that he probably did this with all the parents of the teenagers he mentored. Yet it didn’t stop her from wondering about him, about the women in Nate’s life. They were probably supersophisticated, and wouldn’t be acting as stunned as she was right now.

She wanted to say yes. To sit in a cozy booth someplace like Bobby’s Bistro down on Market Street while they sipped coffee and watched people on the street. To be with this man, to have his full attention focused on her, would be wonderful...only if she was prepared to face the consequences should she let something slip out...some inconsistency in her story that contradicted what she’d already told him. Darn!

She stalled for time, trying to decide if she should take the risk. “When?”

“Whenever our schedules allow. You work all week and so do I. What about tomorrow?”

“That’s Sunday.”

“Yes, it is.” He cocked one eyebrow, his smile charming her.

“I’d...I... Can we do it next Sunday?”

His brows burrowed together. He looked genuinely disappointed. “Sure.”

She felt like a jerk for not simply accepting his invitation, but she had little choice. If Adam continued to improve, Nate’s part in their lives would quickly come to an end. She was pretty sure that if Adam no longer needed Nate’s mentoring skills she wouldn’t have to worry about being invited out to coffee.

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