“But it’s not working.” The only way to combat gangs was to get to the kids before they joined up. But the results took longer than most politicians had in office. None of them had that much time or dedication. “So I guess I’m still exiled.”
David shrugged. “It’s for your own good, you know. What would you be doing in San Antonio right now? Hanging out with the kids at St. Paul’s Mission? Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I can’t.” Tony lifted his chin. “I’ve put a lot of time in with those kids. You can’t expect me to abandon them just because Captain Rodriguez doesn’t think I should be seen there.”
“Most of those kids are known gangbangers and Cap is trying to keep you from being brought up on charges of hindering an investigation.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong.” It wouldn’t matter. Tony had seen it too many times. Once a political witch hunt started, it didn’t end until someone went down. So in the meantime, he’d been banished to Salt Creek.
“You asked Mr. Chan not to press charges, so technically you did.”
Tony curled his fists. David was right. He’d let his own emotions get the better of him and he’d made a huge error in judgment. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Pain shot through his chest wound. “I guess I can kiss that promotion goodbye.”
“Captain Rodriguez is convinced the mayor is just blowing smoke. Hang tight and stay out of trouble. It’ll all work out.”
“Thanks, David. Keep me posted.”
“Will do, brother. Will do.”
A horn honked and then David’s wife pulled into the parking spot next to them.
“How are you doing, Tony?” Ashley asked through the open window.
“Good. Anxious to get back to work.”
“Well, hurry up. Without you around, David thinks he has to try out all his new jokes on me.”
David waved and jumped into the car. Tony waited for the two of them to pull away before climbing into his SUV. If he hadn’t blown it with Sabrina, would his life be more like David’s?
* * *
“CAN YOU STOP at the nursing home so I can pick up a job application?” Sabrina pointed the road out to her father.
Robert shot a look at her over Levi’s head. “Why do you want to do that?”
“I need a job, Dad. How else will I pay my half of the bills? And I want to try to get into the nursing program at Central Texas College. I need money for tuition.”
“Hmph. I managed to pay the bills before you got here. I reckon I can keep paying for them. All you need to do is worry about that boy of yours. Ain’t that the reason you moved here?”
“Yes, but I won’t let you pay for my school. If you don’t want to stop now, I’ll just come back and apply later.”
“Suit yourself.” He whipped into the turn lane. “You always do.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to remind her father where her stubbornness came from, but she clamped her mouth shut. She loved her father, but sometimes he was a hard man to get along with.
After her mother’s death, he’d retreated into a shell, cutting off everyone. Including his twelve-year-old daughter, who’d desperately needed to know someone still loved her.
Sabrina had tried to fill the void left in the house. She cooked, cleaned, shopped for groceries and paid the bills. Her father never seemed to notice. After a while, Sabrina had stopped caring if he appreciated her or not.
Instead, she’d found acceptance by excelling at school. She participated in every sport, organization and club her small high school offered. Most people saw her as an overachiever. Only Tony had understood.
Dad pulled up in front of the large brick building that housed the nursing home and parked without even glancing at her. She reached out to touch his arm. “I’m not trying to be stubborn, Dad. I want to contribute my fair share.”
She was proud of the fact that she’d been able to support herself ever since Aunt Patty moved to a retirement community in Florida. She refused to be a burden to her dad’s limited finances.
She returned just a few minutes later. Dad shifted into Drive and pulled out of the parking lot before saying, “They aren’t hiring right now.”
Sabrina stared at him. “How did you know that?”
He shrugged. “I called last week.”
He’d called on her behalf?
“Never could figure out why you always worked in nursing homes.”
“The only thing I have going for me is my CNA certificate. I don’t understand. Nursing homes are always hiring.” Now what was she going to do?
“They don’t pay much anymore, anyway. Ever since the high schools started letting kids earn college credits and certifications through them, the market is flooded. CNAs are a dime a dozen around here.” He turned onto the main road that would lead them back to Salt Creek.
“How do you know so much about it?”
His eyes never left the road. “I’ve been watching for CNA jobs ever since Patty moved to Florida.”
Sabrina’s hand came up to her throat. The same time he’d started rebuilding the addition to the house. She swallowed hard. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Something’ll come up. Don’t worry.”
The ride back to Salt Creek was made in relative silence. Only the drone of country music blaring from the radio filled the void. The highway ahead split and Dad took the left lane, bypassing the little town of Salt Creek. A few minutes later, he turned off onto a farm-to-market road before taking the long stretch of dirt laneway that led to the farm.
After crossing a cattle guard, the truck topped a hill and it felt as if Sabrina’s heart broke into song. Waving grassland stretched for miles. The red flagstone farmhouse stood out against the blue Texas sky, a testament to old-fashioned ingenuity. It was a sight she’d never get tired of. Funny how she didn’t know how much she missed it until she came back.
Taking refuge in Houston with her dad’s sister, she hadn’t planned to stay gone long. Just long enough to figure out how to juggle college and a newborn. Then her uncle Troy had suffered a stroke. Aunt Patty had had her hands full working enough hours to keep her insurance and find a home health aide to care for her beloved husband.
The Certified Nursing Assistant certificate Sabrina earned in high school had been intended to give her an advantage over other nursing program applicants. Luckily, it also gave her the qualifications required by Aunt Patty’s insurance company—and a convenient excuse to stay away from Salt Creek.
Aunt Patty was the only one who knew who Levi’s real father was. When Sabrina’s letters to Tony were returned unopened, it was Patty’s idea to create a fictional relationship with her GI friend to place the blame on. At the time, Sabrina had been too distraught and heartbroken to care. After a couple of years, the lie became easier and easier to live with.
Did anyone else suspect the truth? Her father had run Tony off the farm enough times to know there was more going on than homework. Certainly her friends and half the town knew about the secret relationship that wasn’t much of a secret. Would anyone even care enough ten years later to put the pieces together?
The truck jolted to a stop as her father pulled up in front of the house. Before Sabrina could unfasten her seat belt, Levi barreled out of the cab and grabbed two plastic grocery bags.
She smiled. “Wow. I didn’t