“Why didn’t you tell me Dad was in town?”
She clenched her hands as her legs went weak. “What do you mean?”
“Dad stopped us on the way home,” Jordan said, his voice rising. “He was upset I didn’t want to see him, that I didn’t answer any of his emails. He wants to see me andyou’vebeen keeping me away. You lied to me!” He scrambled to his feet. “I hate you!” He pushed past them all and ran out of the house.
Shit. That was Kurt’s game. The bastard.
“It’s not nice what you did,” Cody said.
Holly’s eyes were wide, but she said nothing.
“I’ll call you later and explain,” Gretchen said, and hurried after her son.
Jordan was already halfway down the street.
She debated running after him and decided the car was the better option. She wound down the window as she approached and slowed to a crawl. “Jordan, please get in.”
He folded his arms across his chest and kept walking.
“Don’t you want to hear my side of the story?”
He flinched a little.
“We discussed your dad, remember?” But right now, it was Kurt’s word against hers, and Kurt could be very convincing when he wanted something. “I know you’re hurting.” Her phone beeped.This is just the start if you don’t get the information I need.
Still watching them. She gritted her teeth. No. He’d gone too far. She would not be manipulated, she would not let him use her child as a pawn in his sick games. This had to stop. She would stop it. And he would never hurt them again.
Maybe showing Jordan the text messages would help her cause. Though she hated to break Jordan’s heart, it was safer this way. “Jordan, please get in the car.”
Another car came from the opposite direction and slowed. Arthur and Sam. Damn it.
Sam wound down his window. “You need a hand?”
Her face flushed red. “We’re all right.”
Arthur leaned over. “Do you want me to walk him home?”
She’d told Arthur about some of the problems with Jordan, but she hesitated. “I don’t know.” Jordan was walking ahead.
“I can try.” Arthur got out of the car and hurried to catch up with the boy.
Gretchen sighed when Jordan perked up at the sight of him. She turned to Sam. “I’m sorry. I’m not making the best impression. Jordan’s going through a rough patch at the moment.”
“It’s all good.” Sam smiled. “Tell me if you need more time, or different shifts. We’ll make it work.”
Gratitude filled her. “Thank you.” Ahead, Arthur turned and waved, which she took as a sign that Jordan was happy to walk with him. “Jordan and Arthur have hit it off.”
Sam twisted to look behind him. “I’m glad. The kids seem to have a way of getting through to him when I couldn’t.”
“He seems happier.”
Sam nodded. “Something’s clicked. He can see ahead now. He’s pretty excited about the journals.”
Gretchen frowned. “What journals?”
He grimaced. “Just some family stuff.” He glanced in his rear-view mirror. “I’d better stop blocking the road. Tell Arthur to call me if he wants a lift home.”
There was definitely something going on. Something she wasn’t privy to. Something Kurt wanted to know. But there was no way she’d be the one to tell him. Gretchen watched Sam go in her rear vision mirror and then put her car into gear and drove home.
