Free The Family Man by Trish Millburn Page A

accompanied David out of the building. “Thanks for taking care of him,” she said. “I’m relieved he’s okay.”
    “You were good with him.”
    She shrugged and headed toward her desk. “Kids who run away are usually skittish. They’re hurting or scared, feel like they’re alone in the world.”
    “You’ve dealt with lots of runaways?”
    “Several. Too many,” she said as she dropped David’s case file atop her desk.
    “Sounds like a hard job.”
    “Sometimes. But times like now feel good, when we find them alive and for the most part okay.”
    Adam glanced toward the now empty front entrance. “He won’t have to go back to that bastard, right?”
    “If everything he said checks out, no.” She rubbed her temples, dreading the next part.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Now I get to call his father.”
    “I could just go beat the daylights out of him.” He looked like nothing would give him more pleasure.
    “Thanks for the offer, but I’m pretty sure they don’t have happy hour at the jail.”
    He smiled at that, and she felt herself slip further under his spell. She had to get him out of here so she could think straight and do her job.
    “I’ll go so you can finish.” His gaze met hers for a moment before he turned and headed for the door.
    When he walked out of sight, she sank into her chair and took a deep breath. She steered her thoughts away from him and toward the task at hand, then reached for the phone.
     
    S ARA STARED INTO her closet an hour before the Helping Hands Ball was set to start, no idea what to wear. Why hadn’t she made the time to go shopping? Maybe because she’d been sure the date wouldn’t really happen. After all, she hadn’t seen or talked to Adam in the week since he’d brought David to the station. Although Lara had told her he’d called David to check on him a couple of times.
    She placed her hand against her upset stomach. Would anyone find her if she just stepped into the closet and hid in the corner until the night was over?
    “Stop overthinking,” Ruby said from the open doorway.
    “Let me guess. Tana called you.”
    Ruby held up her thin, baby blue cell phone. “Texted me, actually.”
    “Texted?” There was something bone-deep funny about a little white-haired lady using abbreviations and emoticons to communicate.
    “Yes. She’s been showing me how to do that. She even set me up on Twitter. My granddaughters think it’s hysterical when they get my updates. You know, I’m ‘baking a pie’ or ‘weeding my flowerbeds.’”
    Sara lifted her hand to her mouth to try to muffle a laugh but wasn’t successful. “Okay, it is a little funny.”
    Ruby shrugged and slid the phone into her pocket. “Hey, just because I’m a granny doesn’t mean I can’t be hip.”
    Sara stifled a snort and the urge to hug Ruby for no apparent reason.
    “Now, let’s get you ready for this party.” Ruby wandered into the room, followed by Tana. Lilly ran in and jumped up on the bed. She loved playing dress-up, so of course she was in on the conspiracy, as well.
    Old insecurities combined forces with doubts about the wisdom of letting herself get closer to Adam. What if she found herself softening toward him more than she already had? What if she even let herself fall for him? She knew it wouldn’t last and she’d just end up hurt.
    “I’m tired. I think I’m going to cancel.” Sara headed for the door to the hallway. Maybe she’d make cookies and watch a movie with the girls.
    Ruby grabbed her by the wrist. “Oh, no you don’t. You finally got up the nerve to ask that boy out, and you’re going through with it.”
    “Why?” Sara’s voice, against her will, held a noteof pleading. She wanted Ruby to say something that would convince her this was a good idea.
    “Because it’ll be fun,” Ruby said.
    “How do you know that?”
    “I’m old. I know everything.”
    Both girls giggled. “Don’t worry,” Tana said. “We’re going to fix you up. You’ll