Page 54 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

Mary’s scent rose from it, rain, blackberry, a hint of whiskey, and faded but unmistakable violet.

Hudson saw me look at it, and Damien followed my gaze too late.

“That’s not mine,” he said.

“No,” I said.

His face colored. “She left it.”

“Marli?” Hudson asked.

Damien’s teeth came together. “Yeah.”

The name landed because Marli was Mary, and Mary was ours.

Hudson’s expression didn’t change, but his scent went cold enough that Damien shifted his weight.

“Tell us about her,” Hudson said.

“Why?”

“Because you were frantic five weeks ago when you couldn’t find her.”

Damien looked away. “She’s fine.”

“Is she?”

“I saw her around campus.”

“Did you speak to her?” I asked.

His mouth twisted. “She doesn’t want to speak to me.”

“I wonder why.”

Hudson glanced at me. But I didn’t apologize.

Damien’s face hardened. “You don’t know what happened.”

“You told us she found you with someone else,” Hudson said. He then sat on the edge of the desk because he knew standing over Damien would make the boy defensive.

I stayed by the chair with Mary’s scarf behind me, because I didn’t trust myself not to pick it up.

Damien shoved a hand through his hair. “I messed up.”

“How?” Hudson asked.

“I was talking to someone.”

“You said. The cheerleader?” I asked.

His eyes snapped to mine. “Nothing happened,” he said.

“You keep using that sentence,” Hudson said. “But if that was true, she would’ve forgiven you.”

Damien flinched, and a hard, uncharitable part of me was glad. Then guilt hit me, because he was still my son.

“I didn’t sleep with her,” Damien said. “We kissed, but mainly it was just flirting. Maybe. Marli saw lipstick on my mouth and lost it.”