Lori Armstrong - Merciless

I rolled over and rested my cheek on his chest. “That was it? That was how she said good-bye to her son?”

“Yeah. The kid was trying so goddamn hard not to cry… and I know that shit can eat you up inside if you don’t let it out, so I told him to let ’er rip. I told him I wanted him to be honest with me about everything, the ugly stuff, the embarrassing stuff, the stuff he couldn’t tell his mom or anyone else. And he lost it, Mercy. Had a complete, blubbering meltdown in the front seat of my truck. Christ. Big talk on my part. I didn’t know what the hell to do.

“When he calmed down, I asked him about getting kicked out of school. He said he did it on purpose so he could come here to live with me, because Mona threatened she’d send him away for good if he screwed up again.”

“Again? He’s eleven. How many screwups can an eleven-year-old have?”

“Not many. And he’s not a bad kid, not like he’s dealing drugs, or doing drugs, or jacking vehicles, or stealing electronics, or hacking into computers. He gets into fights at school. A lot. Mona had to go to the school every time it happened. Deal with the teacher, the principal, the counselors, and the other parents. Evidently, one of the last counselors suggested Lex spend more time with me, when Lex mentioned being unhappy that Mona limited my visitation. She refused to consider it, and Lex kicked up his antagonism to the point where he got suspended.”

I listened to him breathe. Listened to what he wasn’t saying. He agonized over the fact he hadn’t been there.

“Mona’s always had a pretty good stranglehold on him. Now that he’s old enough to think for himself, maybe he’ll understand you were always trying to be part of his life.”

“I hope so. When I offered to continue paying child support even if Lex lived with me, she jumped at the offer. And she didn’t argue when I told her I expected we’d draw up an official custody agreement.”

“Any idea why she’s had a change of heart?”

“Who knows? I think she’s relieved to be rid of him, and that’s so freakin’ wrong. Jesus. He’s just a boy.”

I let my fingers trace the muscles bunched in his jaw. “So Lex might be here permanently?”

“Maybe. Sounds stupid, huh? Being as he’s only been here four hours.” He made a soft groan when my fingers delved into the muscles knotted in his neck. “But here’s the kicker. When we were driving here, and I was talking about my expectations for him in school? He blurted out that he wanted to register as Lex Dawson, not as Lex Pullman.”

“Whoa. Really?”

“Yeah. Shocked the shit outta me. He wants everyone to know he’s my son, and I can understand that because he needs something to feel he belongs here. Then he asked how long it’d take and how much it’d cost to have his name changed permanently.”

Whatever it cost, I knew Mason would pay it. I just hoped his kid wasn’t dicking with him. “Are you okay with that?”

“Like I’d say no. Christ. I’ve been after Mona for years to let me get his name changed.”

Another thing I hadn’t known. “Guess that means I’ll have to stop calling you Dawson, since there’ll now be two of you.”

“I know I’ve asked you a couple of times, but be honest. Are you really okay with all of this?”

I don’t know. “When haven’t I been honest with you?”

He brushed his lips across my brow. “With work stuff. I can tell you’re… agitated about some things that are going down at G-man central. But I suspect you can’t talk to me about it or you would have.” His lips started moving farther south. When he reached my belly button, he looked at me. “I’m done talkin’. You?”

“Uh-huh. But feel free to keep using that mouth.”

• • •

I woke up late the next morning, so the kitchen was full of people when I sought out my first hit of caffeine.

Dawson and Lex. Sophie and Hope. Jake and Joy. Even TJ and Luke were sipping coffee. Damn good thing I hadn’t strolled out in my thong.

Hope smiled at me. “Good. You’re up. You can help us plan this thing.”

“What thing?”

“A welcome-to-South-Dakota dinner party for Lex.”

I almost choked on my coffee. “What? When?”

“Tonight.”

I glanced at Dawson, who was ignoring me, the traitor. Or maybe this was his idea. “So who all are you inviting?”

“Our neighbors. Geneva and her family.”

“I’ll invite John-John and Muskrat. And of course Devlin will come,” Sophie added.

Hope scowled and exchanged a look with Jake.

“Penny will be there, too. It’d do her good to get out of the house.” She pointed at her grandsons, Luke and TJ. “Better be inviting your families, too, eh?”

“Yes, Unci, ” they said in unison.

“The sheriff’s friends and coworkers.” Hope cocked her head. “Do you wanna invite that guy you work with in the FBI?”

Hell no. “I’ll ask if I see him today,” I lied.

Dawson stood. “Come on, Lex. Let’s get you to school.”

TJ and Luke headed out, their coffee break over. Jake handed Joy to Hope and kissed them both on the cheek before he followed his cousins outside. Their workday had started hours ago.

Lex smiled at Joy and curled his hand around her shoe. “She’s cute.”

“Thanks,” Hope said, smooching Joy’s dark head.

“A woman in our building had a baby girl. Sometimes if the mom had to run to the store, I’d watch her. So, if you need anyone…”

“That’s very thoughtful, Lex. Thanks,” Hope said softly.

Okay, that was pretty sweet. And seeing the sheen of tears in Hope’s eyes, I know she was thinking of Levi.

Mason handed Lex his coat. “Go on out to the truck. I’ll be right there.” He pointed to the living room, and I followed him. He put his mouth to my ear. “Just so you know, the party wasn’t my idea, but I went with it, okay?”

“This is freakin’ bizarre. Anyone who knows us knows we’re not Hey-let’s-have-a-dinner-party type of people.”

“Agreed, but Lex seemed excited.”

I hadn’t seen that reaction. I poked Dawson in the chest. “You’d better be here, buster. No I-have-to-work-an-extra-eight-hour-shift cop excuse.”

“Same goes, Special Agent Gunderson.”

As I watched him walk away, the words a party kept ricocheting in my brain. What was next in my life? Joining a bridge club? Dawson and me buying matching club jackets?

God. I hoped this party had plenty of booze.

• • •

I made a quick detour to the Q-Mart for a cup of coffee. I had a craving for one of those Old Home fruit pies: a sugar-glazed crust filled with sweet, thick artificial filling. A snack laden with lard, sugar, and empty calories that would make Mason frown.

The clerk, Margene, gabbed on her cell phone while she rang up the young woman in front of me. When she turned to get money from her purse, I recognized her.

“Hey, Verline. I usually don’t see you in here.”

“I needed milk. And a pack of smokes.”

She gave me a haughty look, as if she expected me to chastise her for her nicotine habit.

I held up my cherry-filled fruit pie. “We all have our vices.” After I paid and headed to my pickup, I saw Verline lounging against the side of the building.

She walked toward me. “I, ah, forgot the other day when you stopped by. I wanted to say thanks for the basket of baby stuff. That was really cool of you and Hope.”

“You’re welcome. How are the kids?” I couldn’t for the life of me remember their oddball names.

“Tiring. Seems like I don’t ever get a break.”

I felt sorry for this girl, even when I understood that her choices had put her in this situation. I surprised myself and her, when I said, “We’re having a welcome get-together for Dawson’s son tonight. Around six or so. You and Rollie should come if you don’t already have plans.”