Page 101 of Fierce-Dane

“Oh,” Mel said. “I’m sorry. Were they close?”

“No,” he said. He wouldn’t lie. “They didn’t talk often.” He figured he better add the part about Shiloh. No reason to keep secrets. “She was left custody of her half sister who is five. There was a lot to take care of and deal with between social services.”

“Why social services?” Mel asked, frowning.

“I’m not going to get into it all because we don’t know much. Her mother passed away at work. She was a single mother, no father in the picture. They put Shiloh in foster care, as their workloads are high. They found Sloane listed as the guardian, but in their due diligence they couldn’t just release the child without doing a thorough background.”

“And it’d look real good if her doctor boyfriend showed up with her,” Mel said.

It was the tone of voice that he caught.

The one that said Sloane was right and this was pure jealousy.

What he couldn’t figure out was why it was there to begin with.

Mel got everything she wanted out of their situation. She had no right to cast stones or judgment in his life now.

“Does it matter?” he asked. “Her lawyer took care of everything that needed to be done prior to us getting there. I was there for support and maybe some help. Whatever is going through your mind for whatever reason should end, just for the fact that this child—who is Tyler’s age—lost her mother and the only family she knew. Shiloh is now going to live with a stranger and has no choice in the matter.”

“Sloane never met Shiloh?” Mel asked, frowning again. And judging like she often did.

“No,” he said. No reason to say anything else. “Shiloh did know of Sloane through their mother and pictures.”

Which explained why the little girl rushed to give Sloane a hug when the door was opened.

He’d found the whole thing touching and knew Sloane did too.

It broke the ice of what was still a very tense and upsetting situation.

When he saw how little the child had, he’d been ill over it all.

He’d stayed last night at Sloane’s even though she’d told him he didn’t have to.

In his mind, he did. She needed support on a number of levels.

The fact she didn’t fight him much told him what he needed to know.

“That’s something, I guess,” Mel said. “And now things will get even messier. Tiffani is going to be upset if she thinks another child is getting attention from you.”

He let out a sigh. “I’ll deal with it when the time comes. I’d like to think you’d help some knowing the situation. Don’t you think it’s the least you could do?”

Mel seemed to hesitate. There was a shocked look on her face too.

“What is going on with you?” Mel asked.

“What does that mean?”

“It means this is the second time you’ve said things to me that you normally didn’t. You’ve put me on the spot to help you out and now you’re getting defensive.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said, trying not to snap. “I’ve been doing it for you for years. I do everything I can putting the children’s comfort first. I’d like to think you’d do the same thing for the sake of the kids.”

The door opened behind them before Mel could evenanswer. “Dad,” Tiffani said. “I didn’t know you were here. I saw your car in the driveway.”

“Mom and I are just talking,” he said, smiling. “Can you give us a minute and then we’ll go? It’s a nice day and Aunt Chloe invited us for a cookout. Grandma and Grandpa will be there too.”

“Yay,” Tiffani squealed. “I’m getting my suit on now.”

“So you’re going to drop them off and go spend time with your girlfriend?” Mel asked sarcastically.