Free A Sticky Situation by Jessie Crockett

had died. My legs went out from under me and I dropped to the floor. I wasn’t expecting anything like that.”
    â€œNo, of course you weren’t. It was just a normal day and then it all fell apart.” Tansey leaned forward and patted my knee with her callused hand.
    â€œThat’s it exactly. One second you are going about your regular business and the next you’ve become unmoored. It’s a terrible thing to find yourself without a father.” I had really meant to be a comfort to Tansey but I felt a lump tightening in my throat.
    I looked up and thought I had made things even worse because a tear was sliding down Tansey’s weather-beaten cheek. I never thought I’d see the day Tansey Pringle cried. The world must be tilting on its axis. Before I had a chance to say something comforting she spoke.
    â€œIt is a terrible thing to be without a father. My Knowlton has lived with that particular disadvantage all his life. I thought it was for the best that he not know anything about his father but now I’m not so sure.”
    â€œWhat does this have to do with Knowlton?” A light was starting to dawn but I thought it best if I let her share the news instead of me grabbing at it.
    â€œSpooner was Knowlton’s father.”
    â€œAnd you decided not to tell anyone because everyone thought Spooner ran off with the money from the festival?”
    â€œThat’s right. It may be difficult to understand now but when I was pregnant with Knowlton the world was still hard on unwed mothers. It was gonna be tough enough on my baby to be raised up without a father but for everyone to say his daddy was a thief, too, was not something I was prepared to saddle him with.”
    â€œDid you love him?”
    â€œLord, help me, I did. I loved that man like I didn’t know I could love anyone. When he up and left me my heart just went dead. Until I held our baby in my arms for the first time. I’ve spent thirty years giving all that love to Knowlton, trying to make up for his missing father. Hoping if I loved our boy well enough Spooner might feel it somehow and find his way back to us.” Tansey dragged a flannel-clad arm across her eyes. I was completely stunned. She had always seemed obsessed with Knowlton but now it all made sense.
    â€œAt least you know why he never made it back to you.”
    â€œThat’s something, I guess. But now the past is all dredged up again and I am worried everyone is going to know about Knowlton being Spooner’s son.”
    â€œWould that be a problem if Spooner didn’t steal the money?”
    â€œNo. I can’t say it would. Now that’s an idea.” Tansey struggled up to the edge of the chair, a hopeful flicker in her eyes. I didn’t like the look of it any more than I had liked the way she had seemed so depressed. I liked Tansey best when she was her normal no-nonsense self. But I had to ask.
    â€œWhat is?”
    â€œYou could poke around and ask a few questions about the investigation.”
    â€œWhy me?”
    â€œBecause you’re the police chief’s goddaughter. And, if it wasn’t for your renovation project Spooner would never have been found. You owe this to Knowlton.”
    â€œHow do you figure that?” I didn’t like to think of owing Knowlton anything. Just the idea of him having a hold over me made my skin crawl like I’d had accidentally taken an overdose of antihistamines.
    â€œPeople are bound to talk and they may put two and two together about me and Spooner. If your project hadn’t unearthed him none of that would have happened. You’ve got to help clear Spooner’s name before Knowlton is connected with him.” Tansey stood up out of her chair like our business was concluded. I took my cue from her and followed her to the door.
    â€œBut what if I can’t? I’m not an investigator and I’m out straight between the sugaring and the