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“Impeding an investigation.”
“How do you figure?”
“I want to know what you were going to ask, which means I have to find it. Or you could just tell me and save me the time. Hence, impeding.”
“That was quite the circle of thoughts you constructed there.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty proud of the structure.”
“Did you take me along so you could use the carpool lane?”
“Aren’t you the wise one?”
“I are,” I joke.
“And a pirate at that. Where do you find the time?”
With the mood lightened from the nonsensical teasing, I see the person Rae probably is when her life isn’t upside down. “Thank you, Detective Devlin,” she whispers, placing her hand on my arm in a quick gesture, no doubt to convey how deeply she feels the appreciation. My mom is like that. Words aren’t always enough, in her opinion. Sometimes a touch, a hug, is necessary. Then again, my family is an affectionate bunch and physical contact such as that is a common occurrence.
“It’s Danny, please,” I offer. “For?”
“Letting me feel normal for a minute or two.” A sniffle. “It was nice.”
“If I get my way,” and I refuse not to on this, “you’ll have nothing but shortly.”
Rae stares at me, searching. “A statement that comes off confident instead of cocky.”
“My mom would have my hide for the latter.”
“You’re scared of your mom?” Her question doesn’t sound judgmental, but amused.
“Terrified.”
“Aren’t you the wise one?” She retorts, throwing my earlier tease back at me.
“Graduated top of my class,” I inform her, “of the Devlin offspring.”
“Oldest or youngest?”
“Only,” I respond, making her snort. “You?”
“I have an older brother. Finn Dalton.” She grins at the middle name and I add the first thing that pops into my head.
“Road House,” I say in the manner of Peter Griffin from Family Guy.
Rae grins. “You’re the first to get the reference. My mom was Swayze Crazy.”
“And where did Rae come from?” This, she blushes at.
“My mom’s water broke and dad took her to the hospital. It had been raining all day, but dad swears, seconds before I was born, the sun came out. A ray of it hitting the window as they placed me in her arms. He saw that as a sign, but didn’t want to use the male spelling for it, so he feminized it.”
“A Rae of sunshine.” I nod. “I can see that in you.”
“How?” She asks as she points to her head, tacking on, “With all this going on?”
“It peeks out,” I answer honestly, relying on a play on words for her namesake to lessen the personal meaning behind it. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, and I know I’m crossing all kinds of lines, yet I can’t keep it inside.
Despite needing to for numerous reasons. Rae already has too much going on. She doesn’t need me to add to it, whether it’s welcomed or not.
