Free Forever Beach by Shelley Noble Page B

woke up. “Have you seen your parents lately?”
    Nice segue, Kev. Ilona’s smile stayed securely in place. “Not lately. I’m up to my ears in cases.”
    â€œI saw them the other day. I didn’t think your mom looked too good. Is she ill?”
    Ilona had no idea. They only spoke in public, and they were rarely in public at the same time. Ilona made sure of that. “A little tired; she just got off the garden club circuit. You know how exhausting these house tours can be.”
    â€œWell, we’d better get going. Meeting some people for drinks.”
    Ilona smiled. “Orange juice for you, little mama.” She gave the baby bump one more rub. And the couple left.
    â€œHell, girl, you are lethal. You were rubbing that tummy like you thought a genie might pop out.”
    Ilona laughed. “And wouldn’t that have been something for the veranda staff to talk about. We’d all be blackballed for sure. I think I’ll have that second gin and tonic.”
    Garrett expelled a breath. “I’m going straight for the Bud in a bottle.”
    R EESA DECIDED SHE would knock off and go home at three, but at five till, one of the field caseworkers showed up with a boy, about thirteen, dirty and obese. The caseworker, whose name she remembered was Dominic, looked like he’d had the worst time of it. His shirt was torn, and there was dirt of some kind Reesa chose not to observe too closely on his cheek and hands. As soon as he released the kid, the kid bolted for the door, but he slipped on something, probably whatever was stuck to his shoe, and slammed into a file cabinet.
    The caseworker closed his eyes. “Eddie, help me out here.”
    â€œI’m not on duty, get Heckle or Jeckle to help you, that’s what they’re here for.” Eddie swiveled his chair so that his back was to Dominic.
    Travis, who Eddie usually called Thing One, looked up from his tablet. “Is he talking about us?”
    â€œYep,” Eddie said, not turning around.
    â€œWhat did you call us?”
    â€œHeckle and Jeckle.”
    â€œWho are they?” Thing Two, real name Carl, asked.
    Eddie groaned and slid down in his chair until only the bald spot showed over the back.
    â€œMake some calls,” Reesa told them. She walked over to the boy. “Hey, I’m Mrs. Davis. What’s your name?”
    He looked at the ground.
    â€œWould you like to use the bathroom to clean up?”
    A minute nod of his head.
    â€œGood. Mr. Hawes will show you where it is.”
    â€œAnd Mr. Hawes will clean up a little himself,” Dominic said. “Travis, you can come help out.”
    Reesa smiled encouragingly. This is not what they thought their job would be back in whatever college they graduated from. She just hoped they stuck around long enough to do some good.
    Travis reluctantly followed the other two. Carl waited expectantly.
    â€œYou start on the emergency families,” Reesa said. “I’ll call the group homes.”
    Fortunately they hit pay dirt with the second group home. They had one bed. Reesa claimed it and sent Dominic, Travis, and the kid over with the paperwork.
    Reesa said good night to Eddie who hadn’t turned back around and was probably sleeping. The night shift would be coming on soon. Carl could handle things until then.
    She considered stopping by the grocery, but she didn’t feel like cooking. She’d order out, Greek maybe. Maybe she could convince Michael to get up and go out to the diner orthe pub. But who was she kidding; he never wanted to go anywhere.
    As she drove home she considered calling Karen or Sarah to see what they were doing. She knew they’d be glad to have her. But Karen had her family, and hopefully Sarah had managed to apologize to Wyatt and would be with him tonight.
    Reesa wished she could tell Sarah to just let Wyatt help her. So what if it didn’t last forever? But Reesa had been around foster