Chapter One
TJ
The sun shone brightly; a few clouds scattered across the blue sky. A gentle breeze moved the leaves on the trees, the flowers that had been planted in the spring swaying too. The grass was lush and green, a few drops of water still glistening on them from the sprinklers, which had stopped spraying just before the party had started. Soft music played from inside the house, the patio doors open, so it drifted into the garden.
TJ Redding stood in the corner of the garden watching people mill around, talking, smiling, laughing. With the sun shining overhead, TJ had found a nice, shaded spot to stand in and drink his soda. Sighing softly, he closed his eyes and listened to the birds chirp as they nested in the trees then opened them when he heard his name called.
Glancing around the garden, he watched his ex-wife Toni Paarman waddle over to him. At eight months pregnant, she was more than ready to give birth, and he did feel some sympathy for her. The day was unusually warm, and he could only imaginehow she felt carrying the extra pregnancy weight. Toni had piled her long, light blonde hair on her head, and when she reached him, her hazel eyes had a hint of mischief in them.
“I’m not having any more, TJ. If I ever say to you ‘I’m broody’, shoot me.”
Smiling, TJ asked, “How does Carter feel about it?”
“That man is so laid back I could walk over him, and he wouldn’t react, which means he’s perfect for me, as you know, and if I said no more, he’d agree with me.”
“Where are the boys?” Toni and he had two boys, Arthur, eight soon to be nine, and Lincoln, who’d just turned seven. They both lived with Toni and Carter, Toni’s husband. TJ had them every weekend he could, but as deputy sheriff, sometimes they had to move days around.
For a long time, TJ had tried to make the marriage work, but when he had realized he was gay, he’d sat Toni down and told her. She’d been furious at first, but eventually calmed down and asked him how they were going to sort everything out. Their divorce had been amicable. In fact, they’d sat talking as their lawyers did their thing, as did the judge, who knew TJ from his job.
“Carter took them inside for some ice cream. He said he’d get us both some as well.”
“Did I tell you I love your husband?”
Toni giggled and then elbowed TJ. “You can’t have him. He’s mine.”
“And who introduced you?” TJ asked, his eyebrow raised.
“You didn’t introduce us. You set us up on a blind date and I’ll love you forever for doing it.”
“You bitched at me.” TJ sipped his soda, then rubbed the short blond hairs at the back of his neck. “So did Carter.”
“And look at us now.” TJ had known Carter for a couple of years, since TJ’s job had brought him into Carter’s workplaceand they’d become friends. After their divorce, and Carter’s relationship ended, TJ had set them up on a blind date. A year later, they married, and TJ had been Carter’s best man.
They worked well together for the boys, and were close. So close, TJ was often at their house and was the first person they’d told when Toni had found out she was expecting. They were lucky. Some families split and hated each other, but the three of them were good friends and it helped where the boys were concerned. They knew they were loved, whoever they were with.
“Did you go on that date with that man from the bank?”
Wincing, TJ said, “No. I went to ask him, then saw him picking his nose and eating it. That put me off.”
Toni screwed up her face. “Eww. If you’re going to do at least do it somewhere private.”
TJ chuckled, soft crinkles forming at the corners of his green eyes. “He examined it too, before eating it.”
Toni mimed vomiting. “Stop. I’m pregnant.”
Carter appeared, carefully balancing several bowls of ice cream, and when he reached them, passed them out. “Cody’s here,” he murmured as he ran a hand over his short black hair. His light blue eyes glanced back to the house, then back to them, and he raised his eyebrows, then pursed his lips.
Cody Paarman was Carter’s nephew, his brother Cass’ son. Recently, he’d become argumentative, wouldn’t listen to anybody, often disappeared at night. He looked rough as well. Long, badly dyed, stringy hair, the bleach blond appearing a dull yellow. Skinny too, clearly underweight but he refused to listen to anyone when they tried to talk to him. Cass had put it down to teenage rebellion, but TJ believed there was more to it.
Cody was fifteen, soon to be sixteen, and TJ knew the signs of someone who drank heavily and did drugs, but he couldn’t prove anything. Cass wouldn’t listen, even when Carter had tried to talk to him about Cody’s downward spiral.
“How does he seem? Do we need to take the boys and go?” Toni asked, her hand rubbing her stomach.
That was another thing. Cody had outbursts. He would kick and scream and hurl abuse. A number of times they’d had to leave, taking the boys with them. A couple of times, TJ had offered to take Cassandra, Cody’s younger sister, but Cass and his wife Emily would refuse.
“He’s quiet. For now.” Carter ate his ice cream. “I gave him some food.”
“He needs to eat more. I don’t understand why they aren’t getting him some form of therapy. He’s having mental health issues.”
