The Deputy's New Family. Jenna Mindel

knew, either. He’d rather his son remember his mom’s good days.

      He turned away from the stove to holler down the hall at his son, but the kid was already dressed and seated at the kitchen table.

      Nick slipped a plate in front of his son.

      Corey stared at it for a few seconds before digging in.

      Susan’s mom made picture-perfect eggs. Susan had, too. When things were good, they were great, but then she’d hit a dark stretch and nothing worked well. If only they’d dated longer before they married, if they’d waited to have Corey, maybe...

      Maybe he would have known, but then again, maybe not. Her wild bouts had come well after Corey was born.

      “You’re ready early.” Nick sat across from his son and sprinkled his eggs with hot sauce before digging in.

      Corey nodded.

      Nick racked his brain for something else to ask. Getting his kid to talk to him was worse than questioning a perp. They went nowhere fast. “I’ll pick you up after school.”

      Again the boy nodded.

      They ate the rest of their meal in silence.

      Nick grappled with frustration. He had a lot of ground to make up for leaving his boy behind for the past six months. Pretty hard to make a seven-year-old understand that he was safer with grandparents who lived an hour north of the city.

      Another reason to transfer. Nick wanted to sleep better. He’d never grown used to worrying about some thug finding out where he lived. That had been the sole reason he’d refused to buy a house despite Susan’s prodding that she and Corey deserved better than their Grand Rapids apartment.

      The quick drive to LeNaro Elementary School was a quiet one, but the closer they got, the more Corey came to life. He’d lean forward, look out his window and clutch the backpack given to him by his lovely teacher.

      Nick parked and unbuckled his seat belt.

      “I can walk in by myself.”

      Nick looked at his son, careful not to bruise that seven-year-old ego. “I know you can.”

      “Then why are you getting out?” Corey’s eyes narrowed.

      “I’m going to talk to the school counselor. You being new and all, it’s probably a good idea, don’t you think?”

      Corey shrugged. “I dunno.”

      Nick didn’t, either. Beth Ryken had suggested it and since she probably knew more about kids than him, he was taking her advice. He didn’t start work for a few days yet, so now was as good a time as any to see what this school counselor was all about and let her know Corey’s background. He only prayed they wouldn’t label him as troubled like the last school.

      Entering the elementary school, Nick was struck by the noise of kids banging their lockers shut and chattering as well as the smell of breakfast wafting from the cafeteria. Maybe Corey would have eaten better here? Once he started his morning shift, Corey probably would. The principal had informed him about the school’s breakfast program for kids dropped off early.

      He looked down at his son with a mop of red hair and scattering of light freckles. The kid was the spitting image of himself as a boy. Sad, too. Nick’s parents had divorced the summer he had turned ten. As the oldest, Nick had always felt as if it was somehow his fault. His and his sister’s for fighting, for not being quiet when his dad came home exhausted from his shift as a Grand Rapids city cop.

      A sharp tug at his heart kept him walking alongside Corey instead of turning into the school office. Crazy maybe, but he didn’t want to say goodbye to his son. If he had kept his boy out today, they could have spent more time together. Doing what, he didn’t know. Nick hadn’t spent enough time with Corey ever since Susan had died. He’d always regret that.

      Nick let work come first too many times. Needing to get the bad guys never flew with Corey. Those big eyes of his son’s saw through his excuse for what it was. An excuse.

      Nick was scared of raising a little boy on his own.

      “What are you doing?”

      “Thought since I’m here, I might as well walk you to class.”

      “I’m not a baby.”

      “I know.” Nick caught a glimpse of a flowered skirt attached to the pretty second-grade teacher standing in the doorway.

      Beth Ryken gave them a sunny smile that nearly knocked him on his backside. The woman was that beautiful.

      “Good morning, Corey and Mr. Grey.”

      He gave her a nod. “Miss Ryken.”

      “I got my backpack, see?” Corey stepped into class without a glance backward.

      “That’s good. I’m going to talk to your dad a minute.”

      Corey actually smiled at her. The woman had charmed his son, as well.

      She stepped out of the doorway into the hall. “He’s a great kid. A little serious.”

      Nick sighed. “It’s been tough on him since his mom died.”

      Her blue eyes softened. “And on you, too, I imagine.”

      Not as it should have been. He’d stayed undercover and sloughed off his kid first to his mom, then to Susan’s parents. Not fair to them, even though they’d welcomed Corey with open arms. He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

      “I wanted to tell you that I might have found an option for Corey after school.”

      “Really? Where?”

      She took a deep breath and smiled. “My mother.”

      “Across the street?”

      “Yes. She could use the extra income. I think she’d be great with Corey, but you’ll want to meet her and find that out for yourself.”

      Nick couldn’t believe his ears. Corey had requested the same only yesterday. “And you’ll be there.”

      She looked confused. “Ah, yeah, after I finish up my day here. But you’ll have to talk nuts and bolts with my mom. Pickup times, that sort of thing. I can introduce you after school today if that works.”

      “That definitely works. I’ll pick up Corey here and then walk over with you.” It was nice to talk to a woman at eye level. Corey’s teacher smelled like spring and new beginnings. Like kissing in the rain. Whoa. Not a place his mind should go.

      “And your mom’s name?”

      “It’s Mary Ryken. She works part-time at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.” Beth Ryken sounded breathless.

      Nick stepped back, away from the allure of the woman in front of him. Her mother needed the money, she’d said. With gas prices the way they were, her twenty-mile one-way commute would be expensive. “I look forward to meeting her, and then we’ll see.”

      “Great.” That sunny smile again.

      Nick couldn’t look away.

      “I better get started with class.” Her cheeks went rosy pink.

      “Oh. Yeah.” He extended his hand. “Hey, thanks for this.”

      “You’re welcome.” She accepted his handshake and her skin felt soft.

      He didn’t want to let go but had to before he made a fool of himself. “I’ll see you later, then.”

      She nodded and slipped back into her classroom.

      Nick walked down the hall and checked his watch. He’d see the school counselor and then head for the sheriff’s department. He’d run a background check on Mary Ryken before making any decisions.

      * * *

      Beth