She scoffed. “I’m shocked you could find the time, in between the bible studies you took up to impress the parole board and all the hours you’ve obviously spent working out in the prison gym.”
“People can change, Lenora.”
“Not you. And just to be clear,” she added, “Riley’s not your son. He never will be.”
His hard expression turned stony. “We’ll see about that.”
At that same moment, Riley burst out of the restroom like the force of nature he was. “I’m ready, Aunt Leni! I even washed my hands two times.”
“Good job, buddy.”
Travis’s big body went utterly still as his gaze lit on Riley. His breath gusted out of him on a low curse. “Shit. Look at him. He’s so big. I kept picturing a baby in my mind.”
Oblivious to the situation taking place across the diner, Riley skipped over to the back booth then halted. “Hey, where’s my mac-n-cheese?”
“I’ve got it for you right here,” Leni said. “Come around behind the counter with me, kiddo.”
As reluctant as she was to bring him any closer to the Parrishes, she needed the reassurance of a solid barrier between her and Riley and the two men who were determined to take him from her. To her relief, he obeyed without a hint of resistance. Entering from the open end opposite her and his father, he shuffled up to her side. Leni wrapped her arm around his shoulders and drew him close.
Travis never took his eyes off him for a second. “Hi there, Riley.”
“Hi. Can I have my mac-n-cheese now, please?” He tilted his face up at Leni, giving her a goofy grin.
She brushed some of his pale blond hair away from his eyes. “Yes, you can. Why don’t you eat your lunch in the kitchen?”
“He’s got his daddy’s smile,” Enoch said, patting Travis’s hand, which was gripped on the edge of the counter.
“I don’t have a daddy,” Riley stated matter-of-factly. “I don’t have a mom, either.”
“You’ve got a mom,” Leni countered. “You’ll always have your mom. Remember what I told you about that?”
He nodded, touching the center of his chest. “She lives in here.”
“That’s right. Until we see her again, you need to keep her right there in your heart.”
Enoch’s airless chuckle rattled quietly. “Sweet sentiment. But I’ve always believed little boys need their fathers more than they need their mothers. Don’t you agree, Travis?”
“Yeah. I sure do.”
Leni bristled, her hold on Riley tightening. “Are you two going to order something? If not, I’ll thank you both to leave so I can get back to work.”
“Oh, hey.” Travis snapped his fingers. “I just remembered. I brought something for you, Riley.”
He stared at the stranger, confused. “You did?”
Before Leni knew what he was doing, Travis reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a shiny new phone. He woke the screen and held it out to Riley. “It’s got some fun games on it, and if you push this button we can talk to each other anytime we want to.”
“Cool.”
Leni snatched it away before Riley had a chance to touch the device. She handed it back to Travis. “He’s too young for a phone, and he has no reason to call you.”
“I had a feeling you might say that.” He stared at her for a long moment, then smiled. “So, I brought something for you too.”
He pulled a white envelope out of his pocket and slapped it down on the counter. “It’s a court order for a paternity test.”
Riley glanced innocently up at her. “What’s a per-ternity test?”
Travis gave her a thin smile. “Do you want to tell him, or should I?”
