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With a groan, she stuffed everything back into her handbag, wishing she had a second emergency packet of jelly beans.
Her hand brushed against her phone and she drew it out, horror filling her as she took in the three missed calls.
All from Grady.
Shit. She might be in trouble.
* * *
Steele waiteduntil Effie was safely back in the car and out of earshot.
“You were gonna have her back in there.” Brooks wasn’t asking a question but rather making a statement.
“Of course.”
The kid swallowed heavily, then brushed his hair off his face. It looked like he was about a month overdue for a haircut, his dark hair flopping around his face. Green-blue eyes peered up at Steele. “My aunt needs someone at her back. Looking out for her. She hasn’t really had that since my dad died. That really upset her and she wasn’t in a good way afterward. But she still went to bat for me. I had to go into foster care for a bit because she wasn’t able to look after me straight away due to her back. And the people I was with were good to me, but they weren’t her.”
“I get that,” he said quietly, letting Brooks talk.
“Aunt Effie, she’s strong, but she always looks for the best in people. And she gets upset when they let her down. Which happens. A lot. So I appreciate you looking after her today. I didn’t want them to call and upset her, but they insisted.”
“You had a lot of problems with that principal?” Steele asked.
“A few.”
“Those kids?”
“Yeah,” he muttered.
Yeah, Steele thought that was likely the case. Little assholes probably thought he was an easy target. Steele might need to inform them that he wasn’t without protection.
He wouldn’t do that through the kids, though. Nope, he’d go straight to the source of their attitude.
The parents.
“I’m gonna give you my number. You have any problems with anyone, you call me.”
“Really?” Brooks looked uncertain. “Not sure my aunt would like that.”
“She doesn’t have to know.”
“You want me to lie to her?”
“Lie? No. But have you been telling her about the problems you’ve been having?”
“No. She has enough to worry about.”
“Well, let’s just keep making sure she has nothing to worry about. Get out your phone. I’m going to give you my number, you call me. Also want you to text me the names of those kids and their parents if you have them.”
“What are you going to do?” Brooks asked, eyes wide.
“Nothing too bad.” Yet.
Brooks put his number into his phone, which looked so old it was a wonder that it was still supported. He needed a new phone. So did Effie since hers actually looked older.
He’d get on to that.
“Oh, and Brooks?”
