Free About That Man by Sherryl Woods Page B

of them budged an inch. In fact, Walker looked a little shell-shocked. Finally, after a firm nudge by her elbow, he crossed the deck and hunkered down beside Tommy.
    â€œYou look just like your mother,” he said softly, a hint of wonder and sorrow in his voice. “Same eyes, same hair, same smile. I noticed that in the picture Mrs. Jackson showed me earlier.”
    Tommy’s expression remained sullen. “So?”
    â€œIt’s just that it makes me realize how very much I missed her,” Walker said.
    â€œThen how come you never came to see us?” Tommy demanded.
    â€œBecause she didn’t tell me where she was and I couldn’t find her.”
    â€œLike you really tried,” Tommy scoffed.
    â€œOne day, if you like, I’ll show you a file with every single thing I did, every place I searched,” Walker offered. “Your mom was my baby sister. I never wanted anything bad to happen to her.”
    â€œWell, something bad did happen,” Tommy shouted, jumping up. “She died! Just like my dad, only I never even knew him. My mom was all I had and she’s dead. Now I got nobody.”
    â€œThat’s not true,” Daisy protested, taking a step toward him.
    Before she could reach him, he scrambled away from Walker, skirted around her and ran into the house, letting the screen door slam closed behind him.
    â€œI’ll go after him,” she said at once, heartbroken for both of them.
    â€œNo,” Bobby said. “Let me. You stay here with Frances and Walker and work things out. You all have a lot of tough decisions to make.”
    Daisy reluctantly agreed. Her younger brother had a way with kids. Maybe it would be best to let an unbiased third party try to calm Tommy down.
    As Bobby went inside, Tucker stood and gave Walker’s shoulder a squeeze. “How about a beer?”
    His expression numb, Walker nodded. “Sounds great. I’ll come with you.”
    That left Daisy alone with Frances.
    â€œI’m sorry about accusing you of trying to hide Tommy,” Frances said eventually. “You know how fond I am of you, but I have a job to do.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. We were all upset. We all said some things we shouldn’t have,” Daisy conceded. “Where did you find him, by the way?”
    â€œTucker found him hiding in Madge Jessup’s toolshed. She said she’d heard noises out there earlier, but thought it was a raccoon. Tommy was sitting on the riding mower eating a peanut butter sandwich when Tucker checked it out. He swore he’d planned to come back as soon as he knew his uncle and I were gone.”
    Daisy sighed. “What a mess. What do we do now?”
    â€œI’m going to try to convince Walker to stay here for a few more days so that he and Tommy can get to know each other. Then we’ll see. It’s obvious that they can’t be united overnight. Neither of them is ready for that.”
    A few more days might be the reprieve they all needed. “Do you think he’ll agree?” Daisy asked.
    â€œI don’t know. And I don’t know what to make of the man. What do you think?”
    An hour ago Daisy would have guessed that Walker Ames would tear out of Trinity Harbor at the first opportunity, but that was before she’d seen the look on his face when he got his first glimpse of his nephew. “I think he’ll agree,” she said at last. “He might not be happy about it, but he knows in his heart he owes it to his sister.”
    â€œAgree to what?” Walker asked as he and Tucker came back outside.
    â€œTo stay a few more days,” Frances said. “And don’t tell me about your job. I’m sure under the circumstances, they could spare you through the weekend. The crime will still be there when you get back.”
    â€œExactly what my boss said when I spoke to him not five minutes ago,” Walker said. “It seems I’m not