I turned to see her waving at us from the door.
“Coming,” I called back, and she raced inside without waiting. I glanced at Trent. “She could be anywhere,” I told him from the side of my mouth. “What if she tries again?”
“Nothing is going to happen,” T promised, voice like steel. “I won’t let that nutjob anywhere near our daughter or son.”
An intrusive thought blew through my brain like a scarf on a windy day, the potency of it halting me in my tracks.
Trent stopped when I did, concern written all over his face. “Drew?”
I swallowed, appalled at my own brain.
Trent filled my line of vision, hands cupping my face. “Tell me.” His voice was gruff.
I glanced around, looking for the kids.
“They’re already inside with Romeo and Rimmel,” T said.
Nodding, I met his stare and wet my lips. Then I shook my head.
“Drew.”
“I don’t want to say it out loud,” I whispered. “It’s terrible.”
“You can say anything to me.”
“I-I…” I stuttered. “It was just a thought. One I don’t mean.”
Ever patient, Trent stroked my cheekbone with the pad of his thumb.
“I thought,I’m glad she’s dead,” I whispered, looking at him in horror. “I didn’t even mean to think that.”
Trent made a sound and pulled me in, hugging me right there on the sidewalk. “You’re a father who’s worried,” he said softly, not a trace of condemnation in his tone. “You just want them to be safe. I think what you really mean is that you’re glad she isn’t a threat to their safety. She can’t come back and cause turmoil and confusion in their lives.”
“I don’t want to share them,” I whispered. “Only with you.”
“You’re a good dad, Drew. It’s just a hard day.”
His words were comforting and made me feel less like an asshole.
Trent held me another moment and then stepped back. “We better get inside before Andi decides she wants one of everything.”
“Especially since you lack the ability to tell her no,” I teased.
“As if you’re any better at it,” he retorted, settling his palm at the small of my back and leading me inside.
“Touché.”
“Maybe we should have brought Braeden,” Trent mused.
The lobby of the shelter was clean and slightly scented of disinfectant. The summer intern sitting behind the counter waved as soon as we walked in. “They went that way,” she said, pointing toward the area where the dogs were housed.
“Thanks,” I replied.
“How ya doing, Kelsey?” Trent greeted. “Summer’s almost over. Classes start up soon, don’t they?”
She smiled slightly, and her cheeks turned pink. “Hey, Trent. Yeah, week after next,” she replied.
“We’ll miss seeing you around here. Thanks for helping our sister out this summer.”
