Page 33 of Out Of A Fix

“Yeah, he didn’t think you were making jailhouse hooch,” Tatum chimed in, and we all turned to her.

“What? That’s how you make booze in prison. In your toilet.”

“Seriously, what is she watching?” I asked Griff.

He started laughing.

“But I also examined all your hanging rods, and nothing.”

“People hide stuff inside there?”

“Yep. In light fixtures, in the ceiling, which, you don’t have tiles in your room, so that wasn’t an option. But I looked in your drawers, under your drawers, everywhere. And you’re right, there’s nothing there.”

“I told you, but I get why you had to see for yourself.”

“We’re not friends, you get that, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I am your guardian. I will take care of you. That’s my job, and I like it.”

“You do?” Tatum asked.

“Yes, ma’am, I do.”

“You said you would never leave what’s yours,” she confirmed.

“That’s right.”

“So you would never do what Mom did?” Griff asked me.

“I would have made you guys go with me, and maybe that would have been a mistake. And maybe because your mom trusted your dad, she didn’t worry as much.”

All three sets of eyes locked on my face.

“That’s what I think.”

“She was going to have a baby,” Tatum said softly. “It means we’ll have a half brother or sister we’ll never know.”

Darwin turned his head away and wiped at his eyes.

“I haven’t been a great big brother, but I’m gonna change, and I would be careful with a baby,” Griff promised as his eyes filled.

So much grief and pain. “I know you would be, and I know you’re a good brother,” I assured him.

He winced. “How do you know?” His voice broke as he sniffled.

“Because today, both Darwin and Tatum wanted to come with me to pick you up at the police station. And yes, they had to because I don’t know who I can trust in this town, but before I said they had to, they both insisted on accompanying me. They wouldn’t have cared if you weren’t a good guy to begin with.”

His eyes went to Tatum first, then at Darwin, who were both crying. “I’ll be great from now on, you’ll see.”

They nodded.

Griff’s attention was suddenly focused on me. “And you can drink wine, okay?”

“We’ll figure it out, all right?”

“All right.”