Free Pieces of the Past (Witness Security Book 1) by Jamie Hill Page A

just joking with you. We can watch whatever you like.” He handed the remote over.
    She accepted it and pointed it at the TV, pushing the up button and scanning shows as they went by. She couldn ’t help adding, “I hope you don’t let Daisy watch that, either.”
    “ Daisy watches no TV. Never had the interest.”
    She glanced at him. “How did you manage that? Most parents use it as a babysitter at one point or another, even the good ones.”
    He laughed again. “Did I hear a backhanded compliment in there somewhere? Like you don’t really think I could be a good parent?”
    “ I didn’t say that. My first impression of you was that you didn’t care for children, is all. Perhaps I was wrong.”
    “ Perhaps you were.” He motioned toward the TV. “Jurassic Park is on. Unless you have something against dinosaurs, that is.”
    “ I like dinosaurs. Ethan loves Jurassic Park.” She raised the volume and set down the remote.
    “ Hey, Ethan!” Doug called loudly. “Want to watch a movie?”
    Both kids ventured out and their faces brightened when they saw what was on. They sat on the sofa, but as the show went on moved over to sit on the floor by the adults. Doug brought out more pop and some bags of chips, and Cheetos which he kept for himself.
    By the time the movie ended, Ethan’s fingers were orange. He was sprawled across Doug’s knees, looking quite comfortable, as they laughed and joked about the merits of the movie’s two sequels.
    “ You need to wash your hands,” Christine told her son.
    “ Yeah, ya little oinker.” Doug poked him in the ribs.
    Ethan grinned. “What I need is someone to toss me Cheetos in the air, so I can eat them and not get my hands dirty.”
    “ Dream on, buddy.” Doug scooped him up and stood him on the floor.
    “ Just once! Can’t I try it, please?”
    Christine shook her head. “Good grief, no. Go get washed up.”
    “ Daisy gets to do it,” Ethan protested.
    Doug cleared his throat. “Well, now, you see…there’s something I didn’t tell you about Daisy.”
    The three of them looked at him.
    His face turned a faint shade of pink. “She’s a… Golden Retriever.”
    “ A dog?” Ethan and Peyton yelled in unison.
    Christine couldn ’t believe her ears. “Daisy is a dog? You told us she was your three-year-old.”
    “ No, you assumed that. She is three. And she does eat Cheetos. She doesn’t watch TV. I never lied.”
    “ And her mother…” Christine let the sentence trail off. It had bothered her slightly when he’d called the other woman a bitch. Now she could see how he’d been toying with her.
    Doug chuckled. “Yeah, well, like I said. I didn’t lie.”
    She rose and walked to the sofa, picking up a throw pillow. She spun around and smacked him squarely on the shoulder with it.
    Peyton grabbed the other pillow and joined in the assault.
    Ethan, with his orange-tinted fingers, stood to the side, jumping up and down, clapping.
    Doug fended off the attack as best he could until he ended up flat on the floor, hands raised in surrender. “I give! I give!”
    Ethan wiggled his fingers in Doug ’s face, but Christine shooed him away. “Go wash, now. Brush your teeth. Get ready for bed. I’ll be in to check on you in five minutes.”
    “ Good night.” The boy grinned at Doug as he walked toward the hall.
    “ Night, kiddo.”
    Christine gave Peyton a kiss on the cheek. “Good night, honey. I hope you can sleep.”
    Peyton nodded. “I’m pretty tired. Night, Mom. Night,” she said in Doug’s general direction.
    “ Sleep tight.” He lay on the floor, gazing up at Christine.
    It was all she could do not to crawl down there next to him. “I guess we’ll see you in the morning.”
    He smiled. “Not even going to help me up?”
    She took a step backwards. “Nothing good could come of that. I suspect you’ll manage. I see you have a pillow and some covers. I’ll just say good night.” She turned away quickly.
    “ Good night Christi,” he