I really need to talk to Mrs. Claypool more. She’s like the underground network. “Do you think it’s his kid?”
“Does the baby have blond hair?”
“No.”
“Freckles?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Dark brownish, black hair and no freckles.”
“I don’t know my biology as well as my friend, Angela, but Mackenzie also has blonde hair, and both her parents have lighter colored hair.”
Angela Tennison was my middle school science teacher. And while I don’t know as much as my biology teacher did, and I don’t know Lucas’s entire family tree, I’m doubtful that they all had a recessive trait for black hair. And Grace’s skin tone is darker than either of them. Which means that Grace’s biological father is likely not Lucas.
“Thanks, Mrs. Claypool. You’ve been a big help this morning.”
Color stains her cheeks. “Thank you. I’ve missed being out in the community. When I was the postmaster, I had a good pulse on everything that went on in town.” She winks. “Along with things that people didn’t want anyone else to know. Like what they get in the mail from certain stores that they wouldn’t want everyone to know about.”
“Right.” I chuckle at the thought of different items people have delivered and wouldn’t want anyone else to know about. “You should get out more.”
“I would, but my car broke down last month, and I haven’t had the money to get it fixed.”
“Consider it done. I’ll get a couple of my friends and take a look at it this weekend. Between us, we should be able to figure it out.”
“That’s so kind of you.”
“I have to go. Thanks for talking to me this morning.” I wave at her and return to my original destination. The morning rays lighten the gravel in between the shadows.
Shit. I’ve taken too long. What if Xavier is texting a girl and lets Grace fall off the sofa? Or Kaleb drops her when he’s busy checking his phone? My stomach cramps as visions of all the horrible things that can happen to an infant fill my vision.
I yank open the door of the ambulance station, finding Emily standing in the middle of the room. “Hey, Em.”
She surveys me from head to toe. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s good.” I drum my fingertips on the door’s edge. “I was going to stop by to see you.” I wave at Dale who popped his head into the room from the office. He’s wearing their standard uniform with his ballcap turned backward. “Hey, Dale.”
“Jake.” He nods in return.
“I need to go.” My attention shifts back to Emily. “I’ll call you as soon as I get to your place. I was talking with Mrs. Claypool and didn’t realize how long it took.”
“Are you sure everything is okay?”
“I’m just worried about Grace. I didn’t intend to get sidetracked for so long.”
“Right.” She swipes her hands on her black pants.
“I’ll call you in ten minutes. Five minutes.” I close the distance between us, grab her face, and kiss her soundly on the lips before stepping back.
“Okay.” Her face is pale as she bites her bottom lip. “They’d call if something was wrong, wouldn’t they?”
“I’ll call in five minutes.” I spin on my heel and snap the door shut behind me.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Emily
Later that Night
As I’m walking to my apartment, my phone rings. The light above the stairs buzzes and flashes on as the sun dips lower on the horizon.
