“You need to be even more cautious now. Keep your eyes open. I need to talk to Mrs. Baker and make sure she keeps a close watch on Scotty and explain that even if someone says they are family, not to let Scotty go with them. I’ve got to keep him safe.”
Cal looked at Becky Lee’s troubled expression and wondered how the heck he was going to protect not only Scotty, but Becky Lee. For about the millionth time in his life, he cursed his luck for being born into the Grayson family.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After three days of double shifts at Magnolia Cafe and no sign of Cal’s father, Becky Lee was beginning to breathe a bit easier. Surely Cal was exaggerating how ruthless his father was. She was actually getting a bit cocky about her covert trip to see Theresa Jean, but not cocky enough to venture another visit. At least not yet.
Becky Lee hung up her waitress apron and called goodbye to Keely. She was headed home for a nice night of sweet tea and knitting on a blanket she’d started for Bella’s baby. Just as she slipped out onto the sidewalk she spied Cal approaching with Scotty, Josh, and Louie.
“Hi there. We were just going to see if you wanted to come to the park with us this evening now that it’s cooled off a bit.” An easy smile played at the corners of Cal’s mouth.
“Ya wanna come, Miss Becky?” Scotty looked up at her.
“Sure, I’ll come for a while. I was just going to go home and knit for a bit, but some fresh air sounds good.”
“Hey, I’ll race you.” Josh started to run.
“No. Boys. Wait for us.” Cal sounded anxious and Scotty skidded to a stop. They crossed the street at the corner and headed into the park. Cal looked around carefully before he seemed to relax a bit.
“I don’t want them to get too far away. Mind if we keep moving around close to them?”
“Not at all.”
They sat on a bench close to the fort climbing structure. The boys were playing some elaborate made up game of capture the flag.
“They seem to have become fast friends.” Becky Lee watched the boys play.
“They have. I figured I’d bring Josh along to the park and give Steve and Holly some alone time this evening.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Or selfish.” Cal grinned. “If Josh is with Scotty, they play and run around and it tires Scotty out. Also, that means I don’t have to run around with Scotty after a long day’s work.” Cal leaned back on the bench, his long legs stretched out in front of him. “He’s a hard boy to keep up with.”
“I think it’s the age. They seem to have boundless energy until they drop.”
“That about explains Scotty. I don’t know how your sister ever kept up with him when Gordon was in prison…” Cal’s voice drifted off. “I guess she’ll have to go it alone now, too.”
“No, she won’t. She’ll have me. I’m going to try to persuade her to move here and let me help.”
Cal looked across the park and Becky Lee felt him stiffen at her side. He jumped up abruptly and she rose beside him.
“What is it?”
“Trouble.”
A man with gray hair and a business suit headed towards them. Cal glanced over at the boys and put his hand on her elbow.
“James.” The gray-haired man stood directly in front of them.
James? Who was the man talking to?
“Father.”
“James?” Becky Lee couldn’t help asking.
“James Calvin Grayson the third,” Cal said each word separately as if to punctuate the name.
“Yes, he’s my namesake. Even if he didn’t live up to the name.” The man looked over at her, his gaze sweeping from her head to her toes before dismissing her.
Cal’s muscle twitched in his jaw, but he said nothing.
“You’re a hard one to find, but I knew you’d mess up eventually. This is the sister, I presume?”
Becky Lee stared at the man. His face was hard with lines etched around his eyes. His haircut was as precise as his pressed trousers. Expensive leather shoes were being covered by the dust in the park. She briefly wondered if he polished his own shoes or had someone who would clean them up for him.
“It was good of you to visit your sister. Made it much easier for me to track down my son.”
Becky Lee’s heart pounded in her chest. She thought she’d been so careful. Cal was right, she’d made a really big mistake.
The man opened up his suit coat and drew out a folded paper. “I wanted to give this to you personally.” He held the paper out to Cal.
Cal stood there not moving.
“Go ahead and take it, son.”
Cal flinched but reached out to take the paper. “What is it?”