Reuniting His Family. Jean Gordon C.

smiled at the night sky. As time goes on. He liked the sound of that.

      “Be at the office at six, Monday morning. We take company trucks.”

      He patted the side of his pickup. Another plus. “I’ll be there. Thanks for giving me this opportunity.”

      “You’re qualified. Why wouldn’t I?”

      Rhys could think of many reasons another man might not. But he simply said, “See you Monday,” then hung up.

      Rhys pushed off the truck, climbed in and let out a cheer as he headed home, not sure that he’d be getting a whole lot more sleep than if he hadn’t called Neal.

      * * *

      Morning’s arrival proved him right about the sleep, or lack of it. The two cups of coffee he’d had at home before leaving for Dylan’s soccer game had only taken the edge off his sleep-deprivation fog. So he’d stopped at the coffee shop in Schroon Lake for another, which had taken far longer than he’d expected. Now, he was running late for the game.

      He approached the field behind the high school and spotted his son. He lifted his hand to raise his arm and get Dylan’s attention, so he’d know he was there, but then stopped. Rhys didn’t want to embarrass him, or worse, distract Dylan and get him in trouble with his coach.

      “Rhys!” Jack Hill beckoned him over to the bleacher where he and Suzi sat.

      This morning was supposed to be Dylan’s time, so Suzi had arranged for Owen to go to his friend Alex’s house.

      “Sorry.” Rhys lifted his coffee cup. “It took longer than I expected.”

      “Don’t worry,” Suzi said. “The game is just starting.”

      Rhys sat next to Jack. “Did Dylan say anything about me not being here?”

      “No, he was fine,” Suzi said.

      He knew her words were meant to reassure him, but they didn’t. Rhys gulped down the rest of his coffee. Thursday afternoon at the lake had gone so well. He’d been looking forward to today and thought Dylan might be, too. He crumpled his empty cup. He was making too big a deal of things.

      “Hi, Rhys.” A voice he couldn’t place at first came from behind him.

      He turned. “Hi, Claire.” He nodded. “Renee.” They were with several other people he assumed were family members.

      “Robbie plays on Dylan’s team,” Claire said.

      “Claire, you can socialize later,” an older man said. “The game’s starting.”

      “Dad, it’s a kids’ game, not the World Cup.”

      “But your bobbing back and forth is distracting,” Mr. Delacroix said. “I want to be able to see Robbie.”

      Claire shook her head and sat back on the bleacher.

      Rhys had no intention of socializing with Claire, but he did want to talk privately with Renee about the job and working out of town the next three weeks. It would save him a phone call to CPS on Monday. He’d have to catch her after the game.

      He turned his attention to the field. The game was more a comedy of errors than a competition, and he enjoyed every minute of it, cheering Dylan and his team on, along with the Hills and Renee’s family behind them. A fleeting thought of Gwen, the only woman he’d ever loved, and what she was missing—what he’d missed—made his joy bittersweet.

      Dylan raced over after the game ended. “Suzi, did you see? I kicked the ball three times.”

      Rhys swallowed his disappointment that his son went to Suzi and not him. He knew he was expecting too much too soon. “That last kick was almost a goal.”

      “I know.” Dylan beamed at him, lifting his spirits. The boy turned to Jack. “Can we get ice cream on the way home?”

      “Sure thing,” Jack said. “Your dad can meet us at the ice-cream stand.”

      Two steps forward. One step back. “I wouldn’t miss it. I need to talk with Ms. Delacroix and then I’ll be right there.”

      Dylan nodded and Rhys watched him walk away with the Hills, nearly missing Renee leaving with Claire. He jogged the few steps to catch up with them.

      “Renee, I need to talk with you, if you have a minute.”

      Claire raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be at the car.”

      He rubbed the back of his neck. “About Owen and Dylan.”

      “I don’t...all right,” Renee answered.

      “Can we sit?” Rhys asked.

      She nodded and he led them back to the bleachers they’d just left. He waited until she’d settled on the front bench before sitting.

      “I have a job with Hazard Solar starting Monday.”

      “Congratulations.”

      Rhys searched her face for an indication that the job was good news for his custody case. “I know. I could have called the office about that on Monday, but there’s more. I’ll be working in Watertown during the week. I’m going to talk with Jack and Suzi about weekend visitation. I’m meeting with them at the soft-serve ice-cream stand. They can coordinate with you.”

      She shook her head. “Didn’t your caseworker contact you? My internship with CPS ended yesterday.”

      His heart sank. He was going to have to start all over with someone else at CPS? Just when he and Renee finally had a working relationship going. While he couldn’t say Renee appeared crazy about working with him, she seemed to have been a lot more invested in his boys’ welfare than the caseworker. “So I have to contact Ms. Bulmer?”

      “I’m afraid so. They don’t have another intern lined up yet.”

      Rhys had hoped to have Owen and Dylan back before CPS shuffled them off from the caseworker to yet another person. He rubbed his palms against his jeans. “How does this go? I call Ms. Bulmer and let her know about the job? Then what?”

      Renee turned her body to face him fully. Her gaze softened. “You’ll need to provide documentation about the job, and Ms. Bulmer will have to approve any new visitation schedule you and Suzi work out. Be patient with her. All the caseworkers have heavy loads.”

      Patience wasn’t one of his strong points. “But someone will get back to me about visitation?”

      “Yes, probably Suzi. Anything else?”

      “No.” He didn’t want to end the conversation. He could ask her what she was doing now that her internship was done. Maybe get that read he wanted on how his job would affect his custody application.

      “Okay then, I’m going to get going. Claire’s waiting.” Renee stood.

      The moment was gone. “Right, sure. Thanks for the information.”

      After Renee left, he rested his elbows on his knees, head in hands. Again, what had he expected? That she’d be excited for him? He felt good about the job and the opportunity it offered him and his boys. That’s all that mattered. He was a CPS client, her former CPS client, and that was all.

      Rhys ignored the hollow feeling in his stomach. Once he had Owen and Dylan back, between caring for them and working, he wouldn’t have much time for friendship—with her or anyone else.

       Chapter Four

      Rhys dropped the wire crimpers into his toolbox and rubbed the back of his neck. He shouldn’t feel like he was pulling a fast one, leaving the job in Ticonderoga early. Neal had okayed his working a short day on Thursdays so he could volunteer at the weekly Bridges meetings for the kids at church. The only stipulation was that he make up the time. Working late