Davina (Blue Belles Investigations Book 2)

by Tee Smith

  “Oh wow, those are pretty,” she sighed.

  “Special delivery,” came a familiar voice from behind the display.

  “Who are they for?” she asked, confused.

  “You,” Drew smiled placing them down on the reception desk in front of himself and moving to the side.

  Davina’s brow crinkled.

  “Okay, I’ll admit. I didn’t buy you flowers,” Drew laughed. “I was actually delivering a parcel nearby, and the woman there had just received these. She was sneezing all over the place. Apparently, she was allergic. She asked me if I’d toss them in the dumpster on my way out. I figured they were too good to throw away, so here they are. You’re not allergic, are you?”

  “No,” she giggled, reaching over to smell the posy. “That was very kind of you to think of me.”

  “Why wouldn’t I? Pretty flowers for a pretty girl.”

  “Thank you.” She loved when he called her pretty. She had always thought she was more nerdy than pretty, but it was nice to hear it.

  “Well, I better get back to work,” Drew said as he turned on his heel and headed back to the elevator.

  “Bye,” she called after him. All too soon he was gone again, and she was left with something to at least brighten her day. Drew was quickly becoming her ray of sunshine.

  Chapter Six

  “No, Logan, don’t touch,” Davina snapped pulling her son’s hand away from the cereal box. “Just sit still, and mummy will get you something when I’m done.”

  His sad brown eyes found hers, and she felt a pang of guilt. She knew she shouldn’t be so harsh. He was a good boy. She was tired, and grocery shopping was the last thing she needed after a long day of work.

  “I’m sorry, little buddy.” She relented, dropping a kiss on the top of his head. Taking the opportunity, he wrapped his arms around her neck.

  It was easier to have him sit in the shopping cart than allow him to walk alongside her. At least she could keep him contained, and he couldn’t run off.

  “Davina?” came an unfamiliar male voice, causing her to look up.

  When she found the same brown eyes she saw in her son, her heart sunk into her stomach. They belonged to someone she had hoped she would never see again. “Tr…Tr…Trent,” she finally managed out.

  “And who’s this little guy?” Trent asked bending down to make eye contact with Logan.

  “L… Lll… Logan,” she stammered. She didn’t usually have trouble speaking. Other than when she was around Drew; he made her nervous for entirely different reasons.

  “Logan, huh? How do you do, Logan?” he asked as if he were talking to another adult.

  Logan turned to her and signalled his confusion.

  “He doesn’t speak,” she blurted.

  “What do you mean? He doesn’t speak?” Trent asked straightening his back and taking a step into her personal space.

  “He was shot.” She automatically moved a protective hand to cover his deformed ear. Even though it was not horrendous looking, it was still obvious something was not right, and the scaring was still fresh.

  “Shot? What the hell?” Trent asked, raising his eyebrows.

  “Oh, there you are,” a woman suddenly appeared at Trent’s side. A pretty girl around her age-early twenties. With her long blonde hair and a slim figure, Davina thought she wouldn’t look out of place on a catwalk. “Who’s this?”

  “Davina,” Trent smiled. “This is my girl, Larissa.”

  “Hi Davina,” Larissa said eyeing her up and down. “Is this your son?”

  “Yes. This is Logan. I have to go, now,” she forced out. She had to get out of there: she was suffocating. Why was Trent suddenly in her neighbourhood and why was he acting so friendly? The last time she had seen him, he had ignored her. She would be happy if she never had to see him again.

  “Davina,” he called to her back.

  Davina stopped, rooted to the ground but not turning back. What could he want from her? Heat pricked at the skin on the back of her neck as she felt him closing in behind her.

  “Is Logan my son?” Trent asked. Just like that. Straight out.

  Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. What could she say? She couldn’t lie to him. He had a right to know. Closing her eyes tight she formulated her words before using them. Davina opened her eyes and focused on her son’s face.

  “Logan is my son.”

  Scooping him from the cart, she wrapped her arms around him and made for the exit. The groceries could wait. She could not deal with this right now. Footsteps pounded behind her, but she didn’t turn around. When she finally reached her car, she hit the unlock button on her key fob and climbed into the driver’s seat with Logan still in her arms.

  “You get into your seat for mummy. I’ll buckle you in, in just a minute.”

  As she peeled the car out of the parking lot, she caught a glimpse of Trent, Larissa hot on his tail, making their way out through the supermarket doors.

  She knew it was wrong. She should have stayed and faced it. What could he do? Instead, she had panicked and run. Leaving her groceries behind and putting her son in danger by not securing him in his car seat.

  Rounding the corner, she checked to make sure Trent was not following in his car before pulling over on the side of the road. The pounding of her heart in her chest made her feel like she might vomit. Then two tiny hands found her cheeks and the tears began to flow.

  “I’m sorry, baby boy,” she sobbed, pulling Logan into herself. His little arms snaked around her neck. He was a loving boy. She could always rely on him to give her a hug when she felt down. She couldn’t have asked for a better child.

  “Come on, Mummy better put you in your seat properly, huh? We don’t want the police to pick us up.”

  At the mention of the police, Logan’s face lit up, and he opened and closed both hands. Reese had taken him out to his police car the last time he had called into the office. He had even allowed him to turn the lights on. Seeing her boy so excited and happy was more than her heart could take, and more tears slipped down her cheeks.

  Who did Trent think he was turning up out of the blue, after all this time? She would be damned if she was going to let him have anything to do with her son.

  “I thought you were bringing something home for dinner,” her mum called, as she walked through the door empty-handed.

  “Yeah, I know. Sorry, mum. I’ll call for take-out.”

  “We can’t afford takeout. I thought you were going shopping.”

  “I was. Something happened, and I came home.”

  Logan ran into his grandmother's arms and started signing flashing lights.

  “Did you get picked up by the police?”

  “No, Mum. It’s nothing like that. Logan and I were just talking about when he got to play in the police car.”

  “Then what happened? Why no groceries?”

  Logan pressed his grandmother's cheeks together as she spoke, making her voice distort.

  “I just saw someone I didn’t want to see. Now can we just leave it alone? I will call up for pizza.”

  Her mother sighed heavily and shook her head in frustration.

  Davina knew she should tell her what had happened, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to explain herself. The fact she had taken Logan and ran had surprised her. At times, she had rehearsed in her mind how she would handle bumping into Trent. Never had she imagined he would actually care to ask if Logan was his child.

  Chapter Seven

  Rolling over in bed, she looked at the time on her bedside clock. Three am again. It seemed every night since Logan had been shot, he would wake at the same time. Climbing out of bed, she made her way into his bedroom, flicking on the small lamp as she made her way to his crib. Soon, he would be in a proper bed. She hated to think what would happen then. He didn’t cry anymore, and she missed his crying. There were days in the past that it would drive her crazy, but now that he made no noise it broke her heart. When he woke at night he would s
tand against the side of his bed and rattle it with all his toddler might, until she heard and went to him.

  “What’s up, buddy?” she asked scooping her son into her arms. “Do you want a little drink?”

  When he nodded his head, she carried him to the kitchen and sat him on the bench, whilst she poured him a cup of water.

  “Good boy. How about going back to bed now?”

  Logan shook his head and pointed to the living area.

  “No, we are not going to play with toys. It’s sleeping time, look,” she pointed out the kitchen window to show him the darkness.

  When his little face dropped, she felt bad. She was so tired. She wished she had more time to spend with him each day, but with her mum being sick, it was impossible. She was earning the only income the family had. No one ever told her the worst part of motherhood would be the guilt she felt at not being able to give her child everything she felt he should have.

  “How about you come and have a little sleep in bed with mummy? I’ll read you a story, then you can go back to your own bed.”

  This appeared to please him as he reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around her neck. Tomorrow was the weekend; it didn’t matter if she slept late. She knew these moments would be fleeting and she would enjoy the times she could be lying in bed with her son as much as he did.

  Chapter Eight

  Her phone buzzing beside her bed woke her. She had no idea what time it was, but the room was filled with light. The ache in her right arm told her Logan was still in bed with her. They must have fallen asleep together. Looking down, his little lips protruded in a perfect pout. She could watch him sleep for hours. Even his damaged ear didn’t distract from his perfectness. Not in her mind.

  Reaching for her phone, she noticed an unfamiliar number on the screen. As she swiped the screen, she noticed not one, but three messages;

  Would you and Logan like to come to the beach with me today?

  Just say yes, Davina.

  I’ll need your address- I’ll pick you up at ten.

  Then as she was reading the final message, the phone buzzed again.

  It’s Drew.

  Before she had a chance to chicken out, she texted back her address, a smile a million miles wide spreading across her face. Drew wanted to take her and Logan out for the day.

  After scouring the cupboard for a one-piece bathing suit, she settled on a pair of shorts and a tank top. She might have lost her baby weight pretty quickly, but she still felt self-conscious about her post-baby body. Besides, she had never really filled out a bikini top properly, anyway.

  Logan was dressed in a tiny pair of board shorts and a muscle shirt. He looked adorable. From the moment she had told him they were going swimming at the beach, he had run and fetched a towel and proceeded to carry it around the house, tucked under his arm. Even through his breakfast. He had never been to the beach before, but Davina had taken him swimming at the local aquatic centre; he loved the water.

  “So who is this man who’s taking you out?” her mother asked over coffee.

  “He’s a guy I met at work. He’s really sweet.”

  “Well, I think I should be allowed to be the judge of that, don’t you?”

  “No,” she snapped in return. She loved her mum, but she really didn’t need her running her life for her.

  “It’s only fair that I get to meet him. If he’s picking you up, are you taking Logan’s car seat in his car? Maybe you should take your own car.”

  “Mum! Stop it already. It will be okay. You don’t need to meet him. I will sort the car seat out. Stop stressing out, already.”

  “I worry about you two, Davina.”

  “I know, Mum,” she sighed and softened her tone. “Honestly, it will be okay. We aren’t going to do anything crazy. Drew’s going to take us to the beach. We’ll probably have a splash around, maybe have some lunch, then come home in time for Loges’ nap.”

  Her mother eyed her disbelievingly.

  “I’m answering the door when he comes,” she announced indignantly.

  That was her mother, though, and she had to accept that. She worried about her daughter and grandson. It was only fair. In reality, Davina had given her mother plenty to worry about. First coming home pregnant while in her last year of college. Then her grandson being shot.

  Pamela had raised Davina on her own. She knew the challenges being a single parent presented and had been determined to make her daughter’s life easier.

  “I love you, Mum,” she said wrapping her arms around the older woman. She was a lot thinner and more frail than she had ever been. Her battle with breast cancer and the subsequent treatment had taken its toll on her fifty-year-old body.

  “I just want you to be happy, Davina. I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”

  “I understand, Mum. It’s just a date. We are just getting to know each other. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  “Your Mum seems pretty cool.”

  They sat in the cool sand helping Logan build a sand castle.

  “I can’t believe she insisted on you coming into the house. I’m really sorry,” Davina said, finding his eyes.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I enjoyed meeting her.”

  “What are your parents like?” She asked shielding her eyes from the sun so she could get a clearer view of his face.

  Drew shrugged. “Pretty normal, I guess.”

  “Bsssh,” Logan verbalised as he threw his little body down on top of the sand structure he had helped create.

  “Logan,” she laughed, pulling the child back. “What did you do that for? It’s all broken now.”

  Mischievously the child reached down and scooped another bucket of sand, tipping it over to begin the foundations for a new castle.

  “He just wants to make a new one, don’t you, mate?” Drew chuckled.

  She wondered if this is what it would have been like if Logan had a dad. Or if the novelty of playing with the child would wear off after a time and he would be forgotten. She certainly had no regrets at not telling Trent about his son. Others might feel she had made the wrong choice, but they weren't in a relationship. He didn’t need to know about him. Logan was her son. It was as simple as that.

  “And this one on top?” Drew asked Logan as he inverted the final bucket of wet sand on top of their construction.

  “Bsssh,” Logan let out again, as he smashed the sand castle with his arms.

  Even that small amount of noise made Davina smile. Her baby was vocalising. He was laughing and enjoying himself. They all were.

  “Ready for a swim now?” she asked him reaching for his hands. Her invitation was met with a fierce shake of the head. He was not interested in swimming in the beach. Davina couldn’t blame him. It looked ferocious to her, she couldn’t imagine what it must look like through the eyes of a small child. “How about Mummy holds your hand, and we will just paddle in the shallow waves?”

  Logan gave her a wary look before turning back to Drew and holding a hand out to him.

  “You want me to come too, mate?” Drew asked rising to his feet.

  Logan nodded in the affirmative and Drew scooped the child’s small hand into his much larger one. Looking over, Davina gave him a coy smile. She had been unsure about going on a date with this sexy hunk of a man with her child in tow. She needn’t have worried. Drew was amazing with Logan, and Logan was taking to him as if they had known each other their entire lives.

  “Look out, look out,” Drew called to Logan before swinging him away from the waves as they rolled in gently at his feet. The child dissolving in fits of laughter.

  Davina wasn’t sure she had seen her son having so much fun since before he was shot. Listening to Drew, she wasn’t sure which of the two boys were having the most fun, and she loathed to drag them away. Logan was beginning to tire, though. He was tugging at his good ear, which was always an indication. She was keen to get some lunch into him and let him have a nap, or else she knew she would be in fo
r a long night.

  “Maybe we better go get some lunch,” she tried, but neither of the boys was listening. “Logan, are you getting hungry?” she tried again. This time, he heard. The boy did like his food. His free hand went to his belly, and he looked up at Drew. “Yes, Drew can come, too,” she told him, gaining a smile.

  “Is that alright?” she asked Drew, to be sure. “It’s just he’s getting tired, and I would love to get him fed and put him down for a nap.”

  “Sure thing, Mamma,” he answered with a wink. “I believe they do an awesome fish and chips up at the surf club.”

  “Sounds perfect,” she answered reaching down to pick Logan up. To her surprise he allowed her to, even resting his head down on her shoulder as they made their way back up to the beach café for lunch.

  Logan barely made it through lunch before falling asleep in her arms. She gently placed him into his car seat and buckled him in. It was a nice day for this time of year. Not too hot and the car was parked in the shade, so she propped the door open while they shared a cool drink on the park bench beside the car.

  “You were great with him today.”

  “He’s a great kid,” Drew agreed.

  “I am amazed at how well he has taken to you. He doesn’t know too many men. And well…” she pointed to her own ear. “After what happened to him.”

  “Well, it’s understandable if he were a little scared of men. Poor little guy. Do you like working there? At Blue Belles?”

  “It’s okay for now. Maybe when Logan is older, I might get around to finishing my degree.”

  “Degree huh? Looks and brains as well.”

  Davina laughed at his comment. “I almost finished my degree in business. I had to pull out because I was pregnant with Loges.”

  He nodded with understanding. She was glad he didn’t ask any further questions about that. It wasn’t something she wanted to elaborate on.