A Promise to Protect (Logan Point Book #2): A Novel (13 page)

“You have your hands full with Leigh’s case,” Wade said. “I want this one, Ben.”

E
ven though her replacement had come on duty to the ER at three, Leigh had stayed until four, waiting for a lab report on a patient. She checked her lab coat to make sure the pockets were empty before she tossed the coat into the laundry basket in the doctors’ lounge. She couldn’t believe it was the first of August and a week since the fire. A week living with the Logans. Ian’s offer of a house tempted her each day as TJ grew closer to the family, and even though she tried to avoid Tom, when she managed not to, his eyes bored into her with certainty. If he could communicate, she would have already been out of there.

There’d been no word from the fire marshal yet, and there’d been no more attempts on her life. Tomorrow night, she was having dinner with Ian. She’d tell him then that she was accepting his offer of the house on Webster Street. The sooner she got TJ away from the Logans, the better. Now to figure out how to tell Ben.

He still escorted her to and from the hospital and had arrived ten minutes ago to escort her home. Home. She wished. Instead of wishing, she should be grateful the Logans took them in. She should be grateful, period. No one had been hurt in the fire, and everything destroyed could be replaced. She’d even discovered TJ’s baby album intact under her bed.

It
’s me, God. Leigh Somerall, in case you’ve forgotten
my voice.
It’d been so long since she’d prayed that shame wormed its way into her heart. It’d been so hard to get to church all these years, and it had been easier to relinquish TJ’s spiritual growth to Sarah. Leigh winced. Sarah. She’d meant to call her last night.

Anyway, God, thank you
for keeping us safe.

What about Tony? Why hadn’t God protected him? She shoved the thought from her mind. She didn’t want to make God mad. Besides, it didn’t seem right to question God. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. Ben was leaning against the front desk, talking to the guard.

“I’m ready.”

He fell in beside her. “Those teenagers from the wreck last week—do you have an update on their condition?”

She’d called the Med earlier in the day to inquire about them. “The doctor I talked with said all three were improving and should be released soon. The kid who broke his leg went home the first of the week. Did you learn anything from the fire marshal?”

“He’s still sifting through the evidence.”

Leigh clicked the remote on her key ring, and her car motor jumped to life. “Did he give any clue to what he’s thinking?”

Ben shook his head. “Clancy plays his cards close to his vest. He won’t give out anything until he has a complete picture.”

She eyed him. “Do you play poker?”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Used to, right after college, but not anymore. Wasn’t too good at it, anyway. Besides, I don’t think the people of Bradford County would appreciate their sheriff doing anything illegal.”

Yeah, the Logan family always had the voters in mind, but she laughed anyway. In the past week, they’d become more comfortable with each other. “Mr. Straight and Narrow.”

He held up his hand. “Hey—you do what you gotta do.”

She opened her car door. “Wouldn’t want anything to tarnish that badge, Sheriff.”

Ben put his hand on the door. “Speaking of gambling, someone mentioned that Tony had a photographic memory, and I’ve meant to ask if he did.”

“Only if it had anything to do with numbers. His memory wasn’t as good with words. As a kid, I learned early not to play cards with him. Do you think someone realized that and thought he was cheating?”

“It’s possible,” he said and shut her door.

When she pulled through the gate behind Ben, a white Honda sat in front of the garage. Sarah? She was supposed to be in Jackson. Ben hurried ahead of her to open the back door. As with most homes in Logan Point, the back entrance was the one most people used.

“Thank you,” she murmured as she stepped into the den. Ben’s nephews, Josh and Jacob, sprawled in front of the TV, their fingers constantly moving on the controller in their hands.

Her breath caught in her chest when she saw TJ with her iPad, sounding out words to Tom.

“Ta . . . ta,” TJ said, forming the sound with his tongue as he pointed at an image on the tablet. “Ta-ma-toe.” When he saw her, his eyes widened. “Mom, I think I can show Pops how to do it.”

Pops.
Every time TJ spoke that word, her heart stopped. Tom’s gaze went from TJ to Leigh, piercing her. There was a keen mind locked inside his body. He knew who TJ was. What if he learned to speak? “I don’t think you should be worrying Sheriff Logan with your games.”

Tom shook his head. “Uhh.”

“See, he doesn’t want to be bothered.”

TJ dropped his head. “I’m sorry, Pops. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

His dejection almost crushed her, but before she could remedy the problem, laughter from the hallway floated into the room, and she turned as Marisa came into the den followed by Sarah.
“Leigh, I didn’t hear you come in. Did you have a quiet day in the emergency room?”

“Very quiet. Mostly respiratory distress problems in children because we have a nasty virus going around.” Leigh hugged Sarah. “I was surprised to see your car in the driveway.”

“Me too.” Sarah laughed. “But I got to thinking about you two, and Marisa called and one thing led to another, and here I am.”

Leigh’s heart warmed. Sarah had been more of a mother to her than her own. “I’m so glad you did. Are you staying at the motel?”

“No, she’s not,” Marisa said. “Her things are already in the guest bedroom.”

“I’m only staying for the weekend,” Sarah said. “Maybe long enough to see TJ play a little ball. He tells me he plays in his first ball game Saturday night.”

Leigh turned to her son. Why had she not heard about this? “Is that right, TJ?”

TJ’s head bobbed up and down. “I can play, can’t I? We have practice tonight.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Mom—”

Marisa clapped her hands. “Everybody get washed up. Dinner’s ready.”

“Aw, Granna! Can we finish our game?” Jacob wailed.

Marisa crossed her arms. “March, young man.”

The Logans ate in their kitchen, where Marisa ladled fresh peas and squash and new red potatoes onto plates from stainless steel pots on the stove and topped them off with a square of crusty corn bread. Then they gathered around an oversized table where, after Marisa said a blessing, warmth and laughter flowed. Everyone took part in the conversation except Tom, and where she saw in TJ’s eye a hunger that had nothing to do with food.

A shadow crossed her heart, searing her conscience. TJ belonged here. Her fingers curled into the palms of her hands as the cornbread turned to sawdust in her mouth. Why, oh why, had she come to this place where her decision of ten years ago haunted her? Where Marisa treated TJ like he
was
one of her grandsons. Leigh swallowed down the lump choking her. Maybe on some level, Marisa already knew, sensed it somehow, and that drew her to TJ. Even Tom seemed drawn to him.

If Marisa ever found out TJ was her grandson, she’d begin an all-out campaign to get her and Ben together. And Leigh didn’t want that. Did she? Her heart betrayed her with a flutter, and she reined it in. Ben Logan wasn’t husband or father material. She’d noticed that even though Ben tolerated being around the twins, there was an invisible line he never crossed. It was like his mind was there, but not his heart. And that was the last kind of father she wanted for her son.

“This is great, Mom,” Ben said from the other side of the table. “And you boys eat that squash. It’s good for you.”

In the chair beside her, one of the twins—Leigh couldn’t remember which—pushed his yellow vegetable to the side with his fork. At the end of the table, Tom struggled with his left hand to scoop peas into his mouth, only to have them spill. His face flushed, and he banged his fist on the table.

Marisa put her fork down. “Tom, would you like me to help you?”

A growl erupted from Tom’s lips.

“I take it that’s a no.” Marisa sighed, turning to Leigh. “The therapist is trying to get him to move his arm from left to right, but I’m afraid the connection in his brain isn’t very good.”

“What exercises is she doing with him?”

“Not as many as she’d like.” She turned to her husband. “You aren’t cooperating with her, are you, hon?”

Tom scowled at his wife.

Marisa patted his hand. “She tries to get him to play games. I’m pretty sure he thinks they are for children.”

Leigh couldn’t keep from evaluating Ben’s dad. Even though his coordination and speech weren’t good, Tom had a lot going for him. He could move from his bed to the wheelchair, usually with minimal help, and hadn’t had any problem swallowing, a plus in a stroke victim. He just couldn’t get the food to his mouth. “Sheriff Logan, the exercises will help you to get better.”

His hazel eyes drew a bead on her. “Ummph.”

He had great comprehension.

“Tomorrow I’ll help you,” TJ said. “We’ll make it fun.”

Not a good idea. The more her son interacted with this family, the harder it would be when they left. “TJ—”

“Let him help, Leigh,” Sarah said, her voice soft but firm.

She clamped her lips together. Leigh knew Sarah’s motive. “I just don’t want TJ tiring him out.”

The twin sitting beside her chimed in. “Pops, we’ll help too.”

She glanced at the boy. “You’re Josh, right?”

He grinned, wrinkling his nose. “Nope, Jacob.”

“No, you’re not!” the other twin yelled. “I’m Jacob.”

Leigh flicked her gaze from one twin to the other, their identical faces posturing a fake innocence.

“Boys.” Ben’s voice carried a warning. “Play nice. And you know better than to yell at the table.”

“Pops does.”

Ben eyed the offending twin with a warning. “Josh.”

He squirmed. “Yes sir.” Then the boy turned to her. “I’m sorry. I’m not Jacob.”

She pressed her lips against the smile trying to show itself. “How in the world do you tell them apart?” she asked Marisa.

“That’s easy, Mom,” TJ said before the boys’ grandmother could answer. “Jacob doesn’t talk much, but Josh is like me. He likes to run.”

Marisa laughed. “TJ’s right, and if you’re around them enough, you’ll see their differences. I’m glad Emily doesn’t dress them alike.”

“Can we be ’scused?” Jacob asked.

Marisa looked over their plates and sighed, and again Leigh struggled not to grin. The boy had hidden his squash with a napkin.

“No dessert, boys?” Marisa asked with raised eyebrows.

The three boys looked at each other.

“Can we have it later? We want to finish our game before baseball practice,” Josh said.

“Mom, can I go? Huh? Please?” TJ flashed his most winsome smile.

“It’s at the ballpark,” Marisa said. “I understand TJ’s practiced at least once before, and the twins said he was a good pitcher. From what else they’ve said, they need one if they’re going to make the playoffs. It’d also be a good way for TJ to make a few friends before school starts in two weeks.”

With practice canceled for the past week because of rain, she hadn’t had to deal with this problem, but now hope burned in TJ’s face, and dread once again closed around her heart. Leigh couldn’t come up with a single reason for him not to go, other than she didn’t want him out in public without her. But going into a new school was hard, and a few friends would help. She swallowed down the no in her throat. “Sure. Maybe I’ll even come.”

Ben pinched his brows together. “Might be better to wait until next week. Uh, the boys will be much better by then.”

For a scant second she’d forgotten why they were at the Logans’. She hated being held prisoner by this unknown crazy person. Surely . . .

Her thoughts were interrupted by the back door scraping open.

“Sorry I’m late.” Emily, the twins’ mother, set her briefcase on the kitchen counter. The boys hugged her on their way out of the kitchen with TJ in tow. “Good to see you too, boys!” she called after them. “And your dad says hello.”

“Jeremy’s a geologist,” Marisa said to Leigh. “He’s in Afghanistan, working on a big government project.”

Leigh had met Emily Matthews at a hospital board meeting not long after she returned to Logan Point. Right away, Emily recruited her for whatever hours she could give the free medical clinic and crisis pregnancy center in the downtown area. Leigh was glad for the opportunity to meet some of her volunteer hours. She hadn’t talked with Ben’s sister since coming to their parents’ house—either Emily had been out of town or Leigh had been at the hospital.

“I’ll be so glad when this job Jeremy’s doing is finished.” Emily hugged her dad and nodded at Ben, then emitted a small gasp as her gaze connected with Leigh’s then shifted to Sarah. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know we had guests.”

“I wondered when you’d notice.” Marisa gave her daughter a wry grin. “You remember Leigh, don’t you? And this is her friend from Jackson, Sarah.”

“I know Leigh, and I’m glad we’re finally getting together. I want to talk to you about the clinic.” She nodded to Sarah. “And I’m so happy to meet you, Sarah. Mother told me all about how you’ve helped Leigh with TJ. He’s such a sweet boy.” She picked up a plate. “Can we talk about the clinic while I eat?”