Harkham's Case (Harkam's #1) (36 page)

His dad’s hands fell in his lap and then he stared at them. “You leave me no choice. I can’t let you go. You’re my responsibility. Stop calling me your guardian, especially around her, and I’ll let her stay here. I’m your father, and you’ll treat me with respect.”

Adam nodded and smiled even though his father couldn’t see it.

“And you will make sure she’s using clean language in my home.”

“I will.” Adam nodded.

“No sex, no nudity—at all.” His dad glanced up at Adam. “I mean it.”

“I know. We’ll keep to the rules.”

“She’s not staying in your room, so don’t even think about it.” His dad popped his knuckles, still in his lap.

“I won’t.” Adam’s tongue clicked. He could barely contain the fireworks going on inside his chest, and it had nothing to do with numbers, because they had all disappeared. “You’ll love her. I promise!”

“I highly doubt that, but I want you safe.” His dad’s mouth sagged, but he wasn’t quite frowning.

“I am safe—with her.”

“We’ll see . . .”

“And my music is back in my head. I want to take piano lessons again.” Adam leaned forward.

“Okay.” His dad’s eyes were dull.

“
Okay
?”

“Yeah. It’s fine.” His dad waved his hand like he didn’t care at all.

Adam’s chest burst with life. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Can I go get her now?”

“You may. But, Adam . . . ?”

“Yeah?” Adam bit his tongue on accident when he jerked up to standing. His body was a bundle of jumpy nerves.

“I’m giving this a shot to prove I trust and believe you. Do
not
let me down.” His dad gave a stern look.

“You’ll be so proud of me, Dad. I love you!”

“I love you, too, son. Go get her.”

“Bye!” Adam waved, hopped and raced out the door before his father could argue and change his mind.

Adam was in his car and calling her in his next breath. “Mari, you’re gonna love me even more!” he said to himself, waiting for the call to go through.

* * *

Mari walked to Katie’s. Maybe she could stay here tonight at her friend’s house and then find a homeless shelter for the next few weeks while she found a studio and a job.

“Mari?” Katie’s mom asked when the door opened.

“Hi, Mrs. Johnson. Katie’s home, right?” Mari slouched a little—exhausted in every way imaginable.

“Yeah, I’ll get her.” Mrs. Johnson left the door open and went after her daughter.

“Katie!” Mrs. Johnson hollered and walked upstairs. “Mari’s here to see you.”

Katie traipsed down the stairs and smiled until she saw the stuffed duffel bag. “I hope that’s not Rory’s corpse stuffed in there,” she joked.

“I wish . . . Nah, I was just wondering if I could spend the night tonight?” Mari bit her cheeks to keep from spilling all that happened.

“I . . . I kind of have plans tonight. It’s fall break, and I—”

Mari’s face fell. “No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” She turned to go.

“What’s going on? Why do you have that huge bag with you?” Katie stepped outside and shut the door. “Are you running away?”

“Not really. I’ve evicted myself. I can’t live with either of my parents anymore, and I’m eighteen. I’ve left home.”

“Where’re you gonna go?” Katie’s brows shot up.

“I’ll check in at a homeless shelter tomorrow. It’s too late to get to one today. I guess tonight maybe I’ll find a Motel 8 or something.” Mari shrugged. “I was hoping to avoid using any money, though, since I don’t have tons of it.”

“What if you slept in my car?” Katie offered.

Mari’s stomach shook as the willies took over, shuddering her entire body. When she was homeless, she broke into cars a few times to keep warm while she slept. She got caught once.

“No, thanks. I’ll be fine.” Mari waved and walked stiffly away before she had to explain anything else.

Katie hollered a goodbye after her. “Call me if you need me!”

Mari waved over her shoulder without looking back.

She walked to the nearest bus stop and took a seat.

Her phone rang. She pulled it out and smiled.

The smile faded, though, when she realized he might be in huge trouble.

“Adam, are you okay?” she answered her phone.

“Best day ever!”

“What?” She scrunched her face. Was he kidding?

“Come over,” he said.

“I can’t.” She scuffed her foot on the ground and stared at the bike skid marks. Maybe she could buy a bike tomorrow? She should have taken the one at her mom’s house. By now, her mom was probably hauling all her belongings to a thrift store to be sold.

“I’ll come get you. Where are you?”

“At a bus stop,” she confessed.

“Why?” She heard his car starting up. “You don’t need to ride a bus. You’re gonna live with me.”

“Adam, we can’t do that. We’ve gotta get through high scho—”

“I told my dad you were leaving your home, and I would leave too if he didn’t let you stay with us. We have a spare bedroom that never gets used. None of our relatives ever visit. It’s got a comfy bed, some closet space and a dresser. It’s not real big, but you’re not fat. You’ll fit in it well,” he said.

She smiled. Could he light up the universe with his exuberance? It sure seemed like it. “Your dad seriously said I could move in?”

“Yeah,” he breathed.

“Have him call me.”

“Tell me where you are first,” he insisted.

“Are you really coming to get me?” She stretched her neck, pushing her head from shoulder to shoulder. It felt like she’d walked all the way home from her dad’s to her mom’s. Her whole body ached.

“I am. I’ll always save you. That’s what I do.”

She chuckled. “I’m beginning to believe that’s definitely the case.”

“Where?” he repeated.

She gave him directions, and before he hung up, she instructed him to have his dad call her or she wouldn’t get in the Mercedes with him.

They ended the call, and within seconds her caller ID read
Dustin Latham
.

“Hello, sir,” she said, her voice like an avalanche of feelings.

“Stop pretending to have manners. You’re an animal,” Dustin said.

“
Ex-cuse
me?”

“You heard me. You disgust me the way you’ve constantly manipulated my son. First you get him to buy some expensive rock concert tickets, then you talk him into flying out there to Alta to come and get you so you’d have an excuse to leave your father. When does it stop? Oh, yes, having him buy you that ring,” he accused.

“It was my mother’s. She gave it to me, and I didn’t talk him into any of those things. I wanted him to keep his distance, but he won’t,” she rambled in a rush. “I only ever want him to be happy.”

“And he’s foolish enough to believe that.” He groaned. “I. Am. Not. Convinced.” He exhaled loudly into the phone. “So, here’s what we’re gonna do. You’re gonna stay here for a week. We’ll say we gave it a try, and it didn’t work out. I’ll help you find a place of your own so you can stay away. You can keep being friends at school, but if I hear talk of marriage again, I’m going to have to pursue legal action against you.”

She balled herself up on her seat. “Yes, sir . . .”

“Do you hear me—
really
hear me? You may have walked all over your spineless parents, but I’m not them. I have three children, and I take my responsibilities seriously. I don’t tolerate them lying to me, and I won’t allow it from you either.” She heard something click on his end. “And if I ever hear my son refer to me as his
guardian
again, I’ll see to it you have a hard time getting anywhere past having a job flipping burgers.”

She tucked her head down into her knees. How was it her fault Adam was referring to his dad as his
guardian
? She had nothing to do with that. All she was ever told was Dustin wasn’t his biological father—that was it. “If I ever hurt him, I’ll see to those things myself.”

“You talk a good talk, I’ll give you that, but your walk says something entirely different.”

“I’m trying to do the best I can and watch out for him,” she said.

“I’ll believe that when I see it with my very own two eyes. I’ll see you within the hour. I expect you to pick up after yourself and keep out of trouble over the next week while you’re staying here,” he said with a smooth, even voice. “Goodbye.”

He hung up.

Her head spun. What was she doing going to that man’s house? He hated her worse than either of her parents. How was this going to work out? And how would this be better than staying with her spiteful mother?

She stood up, ready to leave and find a motel somewhere when Adam pulled up.

He parked, jumped out of the car, picked her up and swung her around in a tight hug.

“I love it when you let me save you!” he crooned.

He put her down, opened the car door for her and she crawled in like it was a hole to hide in.

Her bag was set in the trunk, and Adam drove off with a giddy grin.

He held her hand, and she practically curled her whole damn body around his grip.

Would he ever realize how he really did save her in every way?

Nobody believed she was worth the breaths she took—nobody except him . . .

* * *

Mari was cooking. In his house!

Adam hovered, grabbing her any ingredient she needed.

He hugged her from behind repeatedly and kissed her a few times.

“Stop bugging her,” Sam said from the counter. She rolled her eyes at him and thumbed through her magazine.

“I’m not bugging her. She loves me, and that means I can be near her all the time.” He poked his tongue out at his pesky sister.

“You’re gonna make her wish she’d stayed with her Neanderthal of a father,” Sam said.

Mari halted stirring the food like she had something to say but bit her cheeks and went back to the cooking.

“I love spaghetti!” Adam moaned and rested his chin on her shoulder as he smelled the tempting aroma swirling around in front of him. “And this smells really tasty.”

“I hope you’ll like it. I make it a little different than most people do,” Mari said. “I do have to admit this one’s pretty fattening, but I couldn’t resist. You had all the ingredients, and since I’m no longer avoiding sugar . . .” She gave a half shrug.

He grabbed her tush and leaned into her back.

“You’re not?” Sam’s voice rose.

“For me.” Adam grabbed a little harder. Mari shook him off and gave a slight chuckle. “She’s gonna stay this size so I can’t accidentally hurt her if the numbers figure out a way to take me again.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Good luck to them, I say, because with Mari and now my music, they’ll never have a chance. I haven’t seen the numbers at all lately.”

He kissed her shoulder.

“Wait . . . Your music?” Sam sounded alarmed.

“Yeah. I’ve started playing again, and Dad said I could pick back up on my lessons. I know it’s been a long time since I played, but I’m ready to do it again.” He smiled at the thought of getting better and playing something for Mari.

“But you know how frustrated it used to make you.” Sam shoved her magazine aside and stood up. “Why are you doing this? If you’re getting better, then why take the risk of adding more stress?”

“I was little, Sa-mar-a. I was like a baby wanting to run before I could even crawl,” he told her. “You worry too much. Besides, if I get mad, Mari knows how to talk me out of it.”

“No, she doesn’t. She’s gotten lucky a few times, but that’s all.” Sam rested her hand on the counter and stared at them both like they were clueless.

“Hey, what’s that smell?” Zach asked, charging into the room all sweaty and smelly from football practice. “And, sweet Jesus, is that rock-chick cooking in my kitchen?” He moved his way over to the food and peered inside the pot. “Right on! I love spaghetti!”

“Dad’s gonna be mad. It has pasta,” Sam said with a sniff like it smelled terrible.

“Dad’s not gonna tell me what I can and can’t eat anymore. I’m better, and I’m seeing Dr. Harkham tomorrow as part of our deal,” Adam said.

Mari spun toward him. “Can I see this doctor with you?”

“Of course.” He patted her shoulder like he was comforting her, then he chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll want to hear from you how nuts I am.” He laughed harder.

“No more jokes. I can’t keep up with you,” Mari said with a smile.

Sam gawked.

Zach dipped the spoon in and tasted it. “Needs more sugar,” he pronounced.

“Don’t you dare put that spoon back in,” Mari said.

Zach dropped it in, then ran out the room, laughing like a maniac.

“Creep,” Mari said quietly.