Page 45 of Heart of a Hero

“But why should she have to give up anything for me?”

“She isn’t. She’s moving to a different kindergarten class with a good teacher. And she’s gaining a dad who is happy and cared for. And I dare say she’s getting someone in her life longterm who will care for her. So it’s a small price to pay for a longterm family that in the end will help make her happy anyway.”

Forrest smiled and lightly bumped his shoulder as warmth spread through him. Conrad had been so worried about Lizzie and how she would feel about him and Forrest that he hadn’t given much thought to his own happiness. “I suppose as parents, we will do anything for our kids.”

“Good parents do,” Linda said as she turned to the girls, who giggled quietly as though they had just shared a secret. “Lester… not so much.” She paled and slid out of the booth. “Call the police,” she said flatly. Conrad turned as Lester approached the table next to them where the girls sat.

“I’ve been trying to see you,” Lester told Bethany and held out his hand. “Come on. We can go and have some fun.”

Bethany didn’t take his hand, and he grabbed her arm. Bethany gasped in surprise, Lizzie yelled, and all hell broke loose as Lester tried to pull Bethany to him.

Forrest stood, blocking Lester’s way in the aisle. He tried to go around and then backed up, pulling Bethany along with him toward the hallway to the bathrooms.

Conrad was on the phone calling the police as he went to the other side of the restaurant. The restaurant had once been two spaces that had been opened up with two doorways. He went through the frontmost one, heading back to the other passage that led to the restrooms.

Lester stood in the center of the passage with Forrest on one end and Conrad on the other. He held Bethany in front of him. “Let her go. The police are on their way, and you aren’t going anywhere,” Conrad told him.

“Why should I care what you say? You took my job from me, and that bitch out front took my child. I have nothing.” He held Bethany to him as she struggled to get away.

“Daddy, let go,” she said and dropped to the floor. Lester wasn’t prepared for it, and Conrad got to her and pulled her behind him.

“Go to your mom,” he told her, and she ran to where Linda was waiting. “Take both girls up front. He isn’t getting out of here.”

The restaurant owner approached him from behind. “I called the police.”

“So did I. Make sure both girls and Linda are okay.” He didn’t dare look away from Lester but made no move to approach him. The girls were safe, and that was what mattered. All he needed to do was keep Lester calm until the police got there… and hope like hell he didn’t have a gun or something.

Sirens approached and the police came inside and ushered all the customers out. “What’s going on?”

“I believe you have been looking for Lester Drovers?” Conrad said. “He’s right there. He tried to take his daughter, but she got away, and we figured it was best to leave him cornered in the hall until you arrived.”

“Thanks,” the officer said as two other arrived. He and Forrest stepped back, and the police took over, quietly taking Lester into custody.

Once he was gone, Conrad found Forrest and Lizzie as well as Bethany and her mother. A server got them seated again and brought glasses of water and food for the kids. Conrad wasn’t hungry.

“They’re going to have a number of questions for you,” Forrest said. “If you’re not up to it, tell them that that you’ll talk to them later. It’s okay.”

“I don’t know,” Linda said, her hands shaking a little. Bethany and Lizzie ate fries and talked quietly, sitting next to one another.

“Can we ask you some questions?” an officer approached and asked.

“Be gentle with her. She’s shaken up and has been through a lot,” Conrad told the officer.

“I understand,” he said. “I just need to confirm that there is a restraining order currently in force.”

“Yes. A copy should be on record at the courthouse,” Linda answered.

“Okay. That will be enough for us to hold him. Please come down to the station tomorrow so we can take your statement before sending the information to the DA for him to file charges.” They made a few notes and then left them alone.

“Can I bring any of you something to eat?” a server asked. “The boss said that it’s on the house.” She leaned closer. “And he never does that, so make the most of it.”

Conrad ordered a chili dog platter. Forrest got the same, and Linda asked for a small salad. “What an afternoon.”

“Hey, look at it this way. He’s off the streets and is likely to stay that way. I know it sucked, but now he’s going to be charged, and they are not going to go lightly on him. That’s the second time he’s tried to take her. The other was at the school, with multiple witnesses, just like today.”

Linda leaned over to Bethany. “Are you okay, honey?” She nodded, and Lizzie hugged her. “Well, eat what you want and then we’ll go home.” The server brought their food, and the girls asked for dessert, so they got slices of chocolate cake now that the excitement was over.

The adults didn’t talk much, which seemed like the right thing. Once the food arrived, they all ate quietly.