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Lainey tilted her head, studying him. Frowning, as if she didn’t understand his hesitation, and he knew he’d eventually have to explain to her. Tell her about where he’d come from. Not what he wanted to do, but if she pressed, he’d tell Lainey his reasons. He’d learned from his failed marriage that honesty was important.
Finally Lainey said, “We’re the adults, Brody. We’re supposed to be the ones who do the right thing.”
“And we will,” he assured her. “But let’s give it a few days. See if Phoebe wants to stay with us. Who knows? She might decide we’re totally lame. That she’d rather stay with one of her friends.” He hesitated, then said, “She seemed pretty adamant about not getting in touch with DCFS.”
“She did,” Lainey said with a sigh. “And I don’t want to go behind her back. So we’ll give her a few days and see what happens. She’s old enough to make decisions for herself, but teens don’t always make the right decisions.”
Brody blew out a breath, relieved that she hadn’t insisted on calling DCFS. He wanted Phoebe to feel safe. To know he and Lainey wouldn’t betray her trust. And he wanted the girl nowhere near the horrors of the foster care system. He’d survived it only because an underpaid, overworked but dedicated staffer had found his father. “Okay. Good. Let’s go back downstairs. I’m guessing she hasn’t had a hot shower in a long time. Maybe she’d want to do that, now that she has some food in her belly.”
Lainey nodded. “Let’s ask.”
* * *
By the time they sat down to dinner, Phoebe had taken a long shower and put on a pair of Lainey’s yoga pants and a tee shirt. Her pale hair was still dark with water, but it was beginning to curl.
She was very thin -- Lainey’s thumb and forefinger would easily fit around her wrist. And even though she’d eaten a sandwich an hour earlier, she wolfed down Vi’s beef stew like she’d never see another meal. Noticing, Vi put her hand on Phoebe’s arm.
“Don’t eat so fast, honey,” she said quietly. “I know you’re hungry, but if you keep shoving the food in your mouth, you’ll puke it all up again. Eat more slowly, okay?”
Red-faced, Phoebe nodded and took a deep breath. Stared at the food, as if she wanted to inhale it, but she slowed down. Chewed carefully.
Lainey wanted to weep for the ravenous child. But she wouldn’t embarrass Phoebe like that. So she patted her arm. “Save room for Vi’s dessert,” she said. “You probably already know, but she’s an amazing baker.”
Swallowing a too-big mouthful, Phoebe nodded. “I know.”
On her other side, Brody watched Phoebe, as if counting every bite she ate. When she took a drink of milk, he jumped up. “Let me get you more milk,” he said.
“Chill, Brody,” Phoebe said, frowning a little. “I still have half a glass.”
He paused, half out of his chair, staring at the glass. Nodded once, then dropped onto the seat. But he still watched every bite that went into Phoebe’s mouth.
As soon as Phoebe’s plate was empty, Brody was on his feet again. “More stew, Phoebe?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m good.” She gave him a strained smile, as if wondering what was going on. “Need to save room for Vi’s dessert.”
Frowning, Lainey studied Brody. He was trying too hard. Pushing too much. Lainey wondered why.
They’d talk about that later. The strong, comfortable man Lainey knew had vanished, replaced by this awkward guy pushing food on a jumpy, skittish child.
Clearly oblivious to the undercurrents swirling between Brody and Phoebe, and Lainey’s preoccupation, Violet swiped a piece of bread through the last of the gravy on her plate and said, “Tomorrow’s pizza night.” She smiled at Phoebe and pointed at Brody. “Mr. Nice Guy built me a pizza oven on the patio. I’ve already started the dough, so all I need to know is what toppings you like.” She nodded at Lainey and smiled at Phoebe. “I already know everyone else’s order.”
“Pizza?” Phoebe’s eyes gleamed. “My favorite! I love pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers. But I’ll eat anything on pizza.”
Violet nodded. “I think we have you covered, then. Lainey?”
“Veggies for me. But just like Phoebe, I’ll never turn down pizza.” She scrunched up her eyes. “Unless it has anchovies. I draw the line at tiny fish.”
“Oh, my God,” Brody said, putting his hand on his chest. “This friendship is doomed. How can you not love anchovies?”
Brody’s intense focus on Phoebe vanished, and Lainey wondered if she’d imagined it. The conversation devolved into teasing about everyone’s favorite toppings and how everyone else’s choices were lame. Lainey watched Phoebe as her gaze flicked from one person to the next. The girl’s eyes were wide. Amazed.
Hadn’t she and her parents ever teased one another? Been playful together?
Lainey bit her lip. Maybe not. She didn’t seem to want anything to do with her father. And maybe her mother had been sick for a long time.
She vowed she’d try to add fun to Phoebe’s life. And when Brody eyes caught hers, she saw the same resolve in their blue depths.
An hour later, Phoebe was sound asleep in one of the twin beds, and Lainey was sitting in the living room with Brody. He’d poured her a glass of wine and had a beer on the table beside his chair. He swiveled to face her when she sat down. “Did she say anything upstairs?”
