Taken In by Erica Abbott

Author:Erica Abbott [Erica Abbott]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781594935527
Google: xEJPvgAACAAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 32073026
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2017-06-20T03:00:00+00:00

Laura was lying on her bed, her cell phone resting on her stomach. CJ said, “May I come in a minute?”

“Sure.”

“I wanted to say goodbye. I’m due at your grandmother’s house for tea in a while.”

Laura made a face. “Oh, I bet that’ll be fun. Is she as mean to you as she is to my dad?”

“Until a couple of weeks ago she refused to talk to me at all. How is she mean to your father?”

“Always runs him down. No matter what he does, it’s never good enough. Dad told me she threw you out of the family for being gay.”

“Pretty much.”

“I think that’s stupid. It’s not like you can help it.”

“You’re right about that. So…I think you should tell me what you meant.”

Laura’s eyes shifted away to the comforter on her bed.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not playing twenty questions with you like your father does,” CJ said. “Tell me what you meant when you asked me to get you out of here or don’t tell me. I’m not going to play games.”

“Dad told me you’re a cop. You talk like one.”

“Have you talked to a lot of cops?”

“Nah. But I watch Law and Order sometimes.”

“That’s not necessarily the real deal. And you’re changing the subject.”

Laura still wouldn’t look at her. She gazed around her room, which had the unlived-in look of a part-time residence. She hadn’t lived here, CJ realized. She was only here on weekends before her mother was killed.

“I’m glad we met face-to-face,” CJ said. “I’ll call you if you give me your cell number and maybe I can see you again before I leave.”

“Wait a minute.”

CJ remained standing.

Every emotion was visible across Laura’s face. In one moment she seemed to be a child again, fearful and uncertain. The next second she seemed resolute and very grown-up. CJ watched the silent war until Laura said, “I’m scared.”

CJ sat down on the bed.

“You’d be pretty foolish not to be,” she said.

Laura looked surprised. “Really?”

“Really. You lost your mom. Your father might be going to prison. You can’t do anything about the whole situation and that’s terrifying. I’m so sorry, Laura.”

“I…I’m just…” She bit her lip. “What if they convict Dad? They’ll really put him away somewhere, won’t they?”

“Yes, very likely.”

“Then…oh, my God, they’ll send me to live with Grandmother. And I can’t take that, I really can’t.”

CJ covered her hand with her own.

“Listen carefully to me. If you don’t want that, then we won’t let it happen. You’re borrowing trouble before it gets here, okay? If things get really bad, I…” CJ took a deep breath. “We’ll come back and get you.”

“You’d do that? Let me live with you?”

“I’ll have to talk to Alex, but yes. We’ll figure it out. I promise.”

Laura took a deep shuddering breath. CJ watched a little of the tension go out of her.

CJ took Laura’s cell phone and punched in her own number.

“Call me anytime,” she said. “If you need to talk, I’m here. And do me a favor. Try to be a little patient with your dad.

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