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He had a perfectly good desktop computer he only used to check e-mail, since he had access to state of the art software at work. Maybe if he gave them the computer, all would be forgotten. He would have done his part. Surely, Maggie would see the sense in that.
“You can have mine.” He would check his e-mail at work from now on.
She blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“You can have my computer. I don’t use it all that often. The little time I’m home I eat and sleep.”
Or tried to sleep. More like lay awake and watched the neon green numbers on his alarm clock turn.
She laughed and tossed that wavy hair. “I couldn’t do that. That’s very generous of you.”
Generous or cowardly? “It’s nothing.”
“Although, if you wouldn’t mind, it would be great if Lexi could come here and borrow your computer for a little bit. She’s got a project for her photography class, and I think our computer just died. I haven’t told her yet, but I may have to break down and buy one soon. But for now, until I save up enough money, your offer is accepted.”
Offer? He hadn’t offered to bring the kid into his home. He’d given up his computer, a clear signal that he’d do almost anything to avoid having her in his house. Apparently, Maggie-Rose-Colored-Glasses wasn’t getting his hints.
“But I was going to…” His mind sought an excuse but came up with nothing.
“This would give you a chance to just say a few encouraging words.” Maggie smiled and his resolve crumbled.
After all, he’d agreed to that. “Uh, sure.”
“We can come over anytime that’s good for you. I hope it would only take her an hour or so to get her project done.”
“I’ll be home most of the day.”
He fastened onto the ‘we’ in Maggie’s words. No way would he allow a teenage girl in his home—especially one with Lexi’s attitude—without a parent present. However, something about Maggie’s presence and the soft lilt of her voice soothed his jangled nerves like nothing else.
“I’ll ask Lexi, but we should be over just after lunch.”
At least he’d have some time to figure out what he could possibly say to a teenage girl that would make any sense.
He closed the door and immediately began straightening up his family room. The computer was in there, along with moving boxes, which lined the walls. The unpacked boxes reassured him that this was all temporary, and soon enough he’d be back in Virginia with the Marshals, this entire experience nothing but a memory.
Except that now the boxes, the bare walls and sparse furnishings sat in judgment. What would his neighbor think? He’d moved in a month ago and still hadn’t settled in. Often the same kind of behavior he’d witnessed from the fugitives he pursued.
For the next hour, he worked like a fiend and lined up all the boxes in his bedroom instead, which he should have thought of sooner. Maybe the reassuring presence and reminder that soon he’d be back in Virginia would help him get a good-night’s sleep tonight. Might as well try that, since he was starting to get desperate.
He went over a mini-lecture that he’d give to Lexi. Something he’d heard mentioned in the Marshals’ youth programs.Stuff about responsibility, caring for others, selflessness, appreciation. Although how he’d fit it all in one brief talk was beyond him. His experience was speaking to prisoners in short, clipped sentences.
Don’t move. Show me hands. You have the right to remain silent…
He should probably call Calhoun and ask for advice, but Maggie hadn’t even given him any time to do that. Probably he should have thought of that first before going to Ryan, who, as usual, was of no help to Jack whatsoever. If he thought about it now, he was pretty sure Calhoun had mentioned something about a youth group. He made a mental note to ask him.
Now that he lived near a single mother and her troubled teen, he was supposed to be some kind of expert. Right. Everyone who knew him realized that his skills didn’t go much beyond ordering kids around. Fortunately, most of them listened, unlike Lexi.
If there was a God, and Jack still doubted that, He had some kind of wicked sense of humor. Jack had traveled almost three thousand miles from Virginia only to wind up living close to a teenager. And if her mom had any idea how badly he’d messed up with the last teenager he’d tried to help, she might not be so anxious for his help.
True to her word, Maggie was back with Lexi within a short hour.
He’d barely had enough time to more the boxes and straighten up the place.
She carried a plastic-wrapped plate of something that looked like lasagna. “I brought you some lunch in case you haven’t eaten yet.”
Maggie placed the covered plate in his hands.
His stomach growled since he’d forgotten to eat again. “That wasn’t necessary, but thanks.”
