A Place to Call Home by Sharon Sala

Author:Sharon Sala [Sala, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460342886
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1999-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Raymond Shuler entered the police department, walking with the aid of a cane. His limp was pronounced and so was the frown on his face. Everyone scattered to make room for his entrance, including Charlie, who scooped Rachel off the floor, and Davie, who ran to stand behind Judith.

“What’s this about finding my watch?” he announced.

Wade held it out. “This is just a formality, but I need you to identify this for me.”

Shuler all but snatched it from Wade’s fingers, then turned it over. His face reddened as he spoke in an accusatory tone.

“It’s mine, all right! Where did you find it?”

Wade pointed to Davie. “He found it,” Wade said. “He and Judith just turned it in.”

Raymond’s gaze scanned past Davie as if he didn’t exist.

“Where did you find it?” he asked.

Judith frowned. “I didn’t, Davie did. It’s him you’ll be needing to thank.”

Raymond looked flustered, obviously resenting the fact that he’d committed a social faux pas. He stared at the lumbering man-child standing beside her and tried not to let his true feelings show.

“Yes…well…thank you for finding my watch.”

The man’s angry voice seemed frightening. Davie turned his face against his aunt Judy’s shoulder and refused to look at him.

Raymond flushed, taking Davie’s behavior as a personal affront, and started to leave, muttering beneath his breath that people like him should be put away.

Judd heard just enough of what Shuler said to get mad.

“I suppose it’s a damn good thing he wasn’t or you wouldn’t be standing there with that watch in your hand.”

Shuler glared at Judd, but Judd held his ground. Finally Shuler relented.

“Yes…well, I apologize. I didn’t mean to speak out of turn, but this hasn’t been a good week for me, you know.”

Judith drew herself up to her full height of nearly six feet and took Davie by the hand.

“If you think your life is tough,” she snapped, “try walking a mile or two in Davie’s shoes.” Then she headed for the door.

Judd felt bad, both for Judith and for Davie, who had started to cry.

“Hey, there,” he said, patting Davie on the back. “You weren’t going to leave without your reward, now, were you?”

Davie blinked. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but the man’s voice was nice.

Judd took off his own watch and then slipped it onto Davie’s wrist.

“How’s that?” he asked. “Does it fit okay?”

Davie smiled widely and quickly lifted the watch to his ear to listen for the tick.

Judith Dandridge sighed. “That wasn’t necessary, Mr. Hanna.”

Judd shook his head. “I disagree. I think it was very important that Davie be rewarded for his honesty.”

Raymond Shuler realized too late that the offer should have come from him. He reached for his pocket and pulled out his wallet in haste.

“Yes, of course,” he said, thrusting two twenty-dollar bills in Judith’s face. “Here, buy the boy something nice.”

Judith backed up from the money as if Raymond had tried to hand her filth.

“That’s what’s wrong with you, Raymond Shuler. You always did think that money could buy anything, including a good reputation.

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