“Well, I hope he keeps her. It’s obvious to me how much he loves her, and I can’t imagine a better father.”
“No one is taking that little girl from him.” Keeping her explanation as brief as possible, Pixie gave a rundown of the facts—that Ruthie had no relationship to Brogan and that his sister had legally named him as Shayna’s guardian. “Will you let me know if you see Ruthie again? I think Brogan will have to call the police. If you want the truth, she seems dangerous to me.”
“To me, too,” Ellen agreed. Cautiously, she said, “She also seemed drunk.”
Not surprising. “Did she drive to the store?”
“I don’t know, but I hope not. There’s no way she should have been behind the wheel of a car. I can’t know for sure, but she seemed to be with that man, so I’m guessing she arrived and left with him.”
Oh, no. Was Brogan’s father hanging around, too? “Can you describe him?” She’d be able to share the details with Brogan and maybe he could identify the guy.
“I’d say he was easily twenty years older than her. Heavyset, with unkempt gray hair. I’d never seen him before, but then Lankton isn’t as small as Bramble, and I can’t claim to know everyone.”
“Thanks. I’ll let Brogan know.
“Jansen could probably help.”
“Jansen?”
Feigning sudden interest in one of Shayna’s curls, Ellen avoided eye contact. “Officer Jansen Flynn. He talked with Benny and me at the hospital after the accident, and since then he’s checked on us a few times.”
Recognizing the signs, Pixie unleashed a slow smile. “Is he handsome?”
“Well …”
“Come on, Ellen. Is he?”
With a husky laugh, she purred,“Very.”Excitement brought Ellen closer. Now instead of looking away, she reached out to clasp Pixie’s hand. “I can’t tell my regular girlfriends because they’ll immediately start a campaign. Since none of them are married, they’re always trying to get me to hook up, but as a single mom, you know how it is.”
Really, Pixie didn’t have a clue, but she nodded.
“Jansen has really dark hair and eyes, and he’s great with Benny. He gave him a special badge they have for kids, and he asked if he could take us to dinner sometime.”
“Will you go?”
She bit her lip. “I want to. Usually, I dodge interested men, but the difference is that Jansen includes Benny. He doesn’t just expect me to get a sitter, you know? Between school and my work, I’m absent enough from his life.”
Pixie felt for this lively woman who carried such a big load. “I think having a date every now and then wouldn’t be so awful.”
“I guess, but I’m not ready for one-on-one. That always seems to include expectations, you know? Dinner with Benny along is less pressure. And Jansen is fine with it. The first time he checked on us, it was official business. The next time he called, he said it was unofficial, and he just wanted to see how we were doing. He’s been up front with me.”
“I like him already,” Pixie said.
“After that awful scare with Benny, I don’t mind telling you I was shaken. I could barely sleep because I kept thinking about what could have happened, how I might have lost …” Her lips quivered before she firmed them. “I don’t think I want to let Benny out of my sight for a while. That’s unrealistic, of course. He has school and his friends.”
“I understand. You’re his mother and you love him. You had to have been terrified.” Fortunately, Brogan had been there.
Ellen took a moment to collect herself, and when she spoke again, her voice was softer. “Jansen understands, too. He’s been really supportive.”
Just like Brogan. Again, Pixie glanced at him. Andy was now leaning over him, his cheek against the top of Brogan’s head, his arms hanging loose. She thought he might be ready for another nap.
“I feel really lucky to have met him.”
“Who?” Pixie asked.
Grinning, Ellen said, “Well, Brogan, of course, because he saved my boy. But I mean Jansen.”
Ellen’s happiness was contagious. “I’m sure he’s the lucky one.”
