“Anything to do with Jake comes first. Tell me.”
Her mother sighed. “Sally wasn’t there today.”
“When you picked up Jake? I know. She told me she was going to leave a little early.”
“Sally never showed up.”
Katy rubbed her temples. “Not at all?”
“No, but a strange man was there. Your neighbor, Royce?”
“Why was he there?”
“Apparently he and Jake have some sort of code….”
“Yes. Royce lives below us. They exchange Morse code messages through the floorboards.”
“Are you sure that’s wise, dear? I have to admit I’m a little surprised. You’ve always been very cautious where Jake is concerned.”
“It’s not like I planned it, Mom. And Royce seems to be a good man. Jake likes him.”
“He’s…a little rough around the edges.”
“Why? Because he’s missing a hand?”
Her mother made a noise of censure. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Look, Mom, Royce has government clearance, which includes an extensive background check. And I trust him.” She was surprised to realize it was true.
“Well, I won’t tell you how to raise your own child.”
Since when?
Katy pushed away the disloyal thought. “I know you only want what’s best for Jake.”
“I just wish I’d been able to keep the house after your father died. There would have been plenty of room for you and Jake to move in.”
Katy smiled at her mother’s familiar refrain. “It probably wouldn’t have been good in the long run. Besides, your condo is perfect for you.”
“But I don’t like Jake being alone like that. Who knows what might have happened before I got there.”
The muscles on Katy’s neck tightened. She could feel a headache starting along with the realization that some changes needed to be made. “There’s not much I can do a thousand miles away. I’ll handle it when I get home. Sally’s all set to watch him after school tomorrow, isn’t she?”
“That’s just it. Her mother has a doctor’s appointment. Jake will be all by himself unless I take time off work to pick him up. I’m almost out of vacation time at the boutique.”
Katy had rarely felt so helpless. It made her wonder, not for the first time, if she was being the kind of mother Jake deserved. But she simply couldn’t see herself anywhere but in the world of car auctions.
“I don’t want you to do that. You’ve already done so much for us.” Katy hated owing anyone a favor, but the decision to spread the debt outside the family was especially difficult. “Maybe I can make other arrangements for the afternoon. Let me make a few phone calls and call you back.”
“Other arrangements? I can take the time off without pay. No need to—”
“Yes, there is a need.” She tried to infuse her voice with certainty. “I’ll call you back. Bye, Mom.”
ROYCE GROANED when the phone rang. He hoped it wasn’t Becca doing her long- distance mother hen thing again.
“Hello.” It came out sounding more irritable than he anticipated.
There was a hesitation, then, “It’s Katy, your upstairs neighbor. If this is a bad time, I can call later.”
“No, it’s fine. What can I do for you?”
“I’m in Chicago. Thank you for hanging out with Jake today. Apparently there was another babysitter miscommunication.”
“No problem. The kid said he was hearing weird noises, so I went upstairs to check it out.”
“We were lucky you were there. I owe you…about a year’s supply of dinners.”
Royce didn’t like the anxiety in her voice. And he didn’t like the fact that she seemed to think she owed him for such a little thing.
She hesitated. “I need to ask a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“Would you mind, um, hanging out with Jake tomorrow after school? It’s only for a couple hours and I’d be happy to pay you….”
Royce started pacing.
“Royce?”
“I’m here. Just checking my calendar.”
More like stalling for time.
In the past, he would have avoided getting tangled up in Katy’s problems. But that was before he woke up in a hospital room unable to recognize his own son because the kid had grown into a man when Royce wasn’t looking. Though he’d failed Michael, maybe he could help Jake. It was only one day, after all.
“Um, yeah, I guess I can do it.”
“You don’t sound too sure. I really shouldn’t have asked. It’s no big deal, my mom can probably take time off work.”
Clearing his throat, he said. “I’m sure. No big deal.”
But it was a big deal. Anyone who knew him well would have been downright amazed.
CHAPTER FIVE
ROYCE CHECKED the peephole before opening the door. “Mrs. Donovan, come in.”
“I’m here for Jake.”
“He’ll be ready in a minute.” He gestured awkwardly for her to enter, aware he was playing host in an apartment she probably knew as well as he did.
“Jake, it’s your grandma. Get your bag,” he called.
“Do I have to? I can stay here with you.”
“Not for the weekend, buddy.”
“Why not?”
“Because I said so.” Wasn’t that an appro priately parental way to dodge tough ques tions? “Now scoot.”
“My bag’s not packed yet.”
“Why not?”
“You didn’t tell me to.”
Royce sighed. “You’re ten years old, I shouldn’t have to tell you.”
Audrey Donovan stepped forward. “Jake, you know better.”
“Hi, Grandma. I’ll, um, go pack my bag.”
The woman crossed her arms over her chest and eyed Royce as if he were an escapee from the penitentiary. “How long has my daughter known you?”
“About a month.”
“She says you have some sort of government clearance.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I take it they check for felony convictions?”
“Among other things.”
“I don’t like Katy leaving Jake with someone inexperienced in child care. Do you know CPR?”
Did he know CPR? “Working in remote locations, I’ve even had to use it once or twice.”
Royce didn’t add that he’d flunked the baby Heimlich maneuver when Michael had been a toddler. He would never forget the panic in the baby’s eyes as he’d struggled to breath. How helpless Royce had felt.
And how he’d done possibly the worst thing—smacked Michael