The Deputy's New Family. Jenna Mindel

he should have made the time. “My mother-in-law thought it might be best for Corey. I trusted her judgment and agreed.”

      “Did his grandmother follow a lesson plan, do you know?”

      He should have known, but he didn’t. Another failure. “Why? Is there a problem?”

      “I’m not sure. Do you read together?”

      Nick had plenty of excuses like working nights and leaving education concerns to his wife. He hadn’t read to his boy since Corey started school. So many things he hadn’t done for his own son. But that was changing, starting with this move north.

      “No.”

      Beth gave him an encouraging smile. “I’ll send him home with some books. Read together and see how it goes.”

      He narrowed his gaze. “What are you trying to say?”

      “It’s too soon to say anything other than I think your boy struggles with reading.”

      “Which means what?”

      He watched her shutter her thoughts with a calm face. “We’ll cross that bridge when we know more. After I hear from Corey’s previous school.”

      That bridge was looming awfully close considering it was April. He knew for a fact that Corey’s previous school had nothing good to report. It was why Nick had agreed to his in-laws pulling the boy out.

      Nick looked into Beth’s eyes expecting to find more disappointment, even censure, but it wasn’t there. She was a blank page with that teacher face going.

      At that moment Mary Ryken poked her head out of the sliding glass door to announce that dinner was ready.

      “After you, Mr. Grey.” Beth stood and waited for him to do the same.

      His appetite was pretty much gone, leveled flat by Beth’s concerns and the half-dozen cookies he’d ingested earlier. He’d make room, though.

      As they walked away from the swing, Nick couldn’t get the conversation out of his head. Corey had issues with reading. His boy had enough stress in his life—he didn’t need more. As his father, Nick didn’t want Corey to feel like a failure or be ashamed of his lack of skill with words. His kid was smart. He’d always been good with numbers.

      Before they reached the door that would take them back inside, Nick stalled Beth with the touch of his hand to her arm. “Whatever I need to do to help Corey, let me know.”

      “Mr. Grey—”

      He cut her off. “He can’t be held back.”

      Her eyes widened.

      Nick softened his tone. “This is important.”

      “Of course it is. All my students are important.”

      “That’s not what I meant.”

      She held up her hand. “I know, Mr. Grey. We’ll do everything we can.”

      “Thank you.” But Nick had the sinking feeling that Corey’s second-grade teacher had already written the boy off as a lost cause for this year. That didn’t sit well. Nick had succeeded in getting some really bad guys off the streets, but at what cost?

      Walking into the house, Nick was struck by the sound of his son chattering about baseball with Mary Ryken as they set the table.

      “My mom’s a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan,” Beth said.

      Nick nodded. Corey loved baseball. They used to watch games together on TV. One more thing they hadn’t done in a long time. But all that would change, starting today with bringing his son to the Ryken house. He’d made a good move.

      For Corey and maybe, with time, him, too.

       Chapter Three

      “Here, Corey, try this one.” Beth handed him a beginning-level reader book about puppies.

      Corey glanced at her and then cracked the cover. He stared at the page, muttered a couple of correctly read words and then pushed the book away. “I don’t feel like reading.”

      She smiled at him, knowing this was the excuse he hid behind. “It’ll get better with practice. I promise.”

      “Can I go across the street now?”

      “Let’s get through this book first.”

      The boy slumped lower in his chair.

      “I know you can do it, Corey. And I’m here to help. Let’s try again.”

      The boy let out a sigh and picked the book back up. Hearing the kid stumble over several words in a row, Beth’s heart sank. Her suspicions had been correct. Corey Grey was nowhere near a second-grade reading level. “Let’s sound this word out....”

      It took a while to get through only a few pages. Beth was glad she’d called her mom before they’d even started and let her know that Corey was going to hang out with her after school. This was going to take patience, something she wasn’t sure Corey’s father had.

      Nick Grey’s reaction to Beth’s concerns a few days ago still bothered her. He’d displayed such vehemence that his boy pass second grade. Was it a pride thing? Nick seemed to have more depth than that. She hoped he did.

      Holding back a child to repeat a grade was openly debated within the LeNaro school district. Beth believed in some cases the hard choice was needed. Might even be needed here. But she wouldn’t get Nick’s cooperation, that was for sure. He wasn’t offering up any information about Corey’s old school, either. Beth called to rush those transcripts. The sooner she reviewed what was there, the sooner she’d figure out what to do. And find out why Nick had allowed his son to be pulled out.

      She couldn’t ignore Corey’s failure to meet reading benchmarks, move him forward and hope for the best. The chances of him becoming more lost and falling further behind were too great. He excelled with math, proving the boy both was bright and could see. The need for glasses wasn’t the issue here. So why did he lag so far behind in reading? What had he missed? And more important, could he catch up before the end of the school year?

      By the time Beth and Corey finished the book and made their way to Beth’s home across the street, Beth knew it’d take a lot of work to get Corey reading where he should. She had a theory, though. If she was correct, maybe they could go back and fix what Corey had missed.

      “What took you two so long?” Beth’s mom was decked out in a ruffled apron she’d purchased off a home-shopping show.

      Beth smiled at Corey. “We were working.”

      Corey didn’t look amused. Frustrated for sure.

      Her mom clicked her tongue. “Corey, did you have anything to eat since lunch?”

      “No.”

      “Well, dinner’s almost ready. Go wash up and we’ll eat right away. Your dad called. He’ll be a little late.”

      Beth watched the boy do as her mother asked without hesitation, before she let loose her irritation. “This better not become a habit.”

      Her mom lifted her chin. “What are you talking about?”

      “Corey’s dad being late.”

      Her mother gave her a hard look. “That’s between him and me. He promised to pay me extra when he’s late.”

      Beth sighed. She couldn’t really argue with that. Her father used to be late a lot, too. At least Nick had called.

      “So why’d you keep Corey at school so long? The poor kid needs an afternoon snack.”

      Beth scrunched her nose. How much could she really share with her mom? “We were reading.”

      “He’s