by Debra Holt
Angie kept her attention on her surroundings and away from the man at her side. It was made harder when he lightly placed his hand at the small of her back and moved to walk beside her through the office area. There was a central area with many desks and people who were either on phones or computers or speaking in small groups. Many of their eyes follow her and Jace as they walked the length of the room. Just as they were about to reach the office door that held Jace’s nameplate, a man stuck his head out from another office and motioned that Jace was needed again.
Jace muttered something under his breath that she didn’t catch. It was clear that he was not happy about the interruption.
“Have a seat here in my office. Hopefully, this won’t take long.”
He indicated one of the two chairs that sat opposite his desk. When he sensed she was about to make a protest, his gaze sought out and held hers.
“Promise me that you’ll be here when I come out.” Between the look in his eyes and the nearness of his body to hers, she would have promised almost anything.
She nodded and was rewarded with one of his incredible smiles. Her heart wanted to answer back, but her mind kept control. Jace left her there.
Angie sank down in the chair nearest to the open office door. She turned her head to glance over the office walls and to the window beyond. A swift movement beside her brought her attention back to the door just as Jace’s quick strides came back to her chair. Her startled face was turned to his.
His two powerful hands took her face gently between them. Her eyes had only a moment to refocus before the light was blocked by his head as his mouth lowered to place a quick, hot, searing kiss on her lips. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was aimed straight at her heart.
“Just in case there’s any doubt how I feel.” His silver eyes held a glint of forged steel in their depths as his words matched their strength. Jace strode from the room as quickly as he had entered.
Angie sat for several moments transfixed in the same spot he had left her. She was very grateful for the chair. Had she been standing; her knees would have buckled under the power of that kiss. It was his words that kept going round and round her brain. Did it mean what she thought? Could it be? Dare she hope Jace felt something more for her than she imagined? Was there a chance for them after all? Did he want her to stay with him? Could they work it out?
There she went with the dreaming again. Life wasn’t a fairytale. Reality hadn’t changed just because of a kiss.
Chapter Fourteen
“Excuse me.” A female’s voice broke into her confused thoughts. Angie looked up to see a woman, mid-forties, dressed in a three-piece navy suit and briefcase in hand standing in the doorway.
“I was looking for Marshal Blackhawke?”
“He just stepped into another office,” Angie responded. “I don’t know how long he’ll be.”
The woman frowned with a swift glance at the watch on her wrist.
“I’m running late from court and still have another hearing in fifteen minutes. Could you give him a message for me?”
“Of course.”
“I’ve brought the Martin children with me. They’re sitting out there.” Her perfectly coifed head motioned to a point beyond Angie’s sight.
Angie stood and stepped to the doorway. Her eyes lit on a small boy about seven and a little girl about five. They were seated in a pair of chairs that made them appear even smaller in frame than they already were. Each had huge chocolate eyes that seemed to dwarf the rest of their facial features. The look in them immediately reminded Angie of a stray animal on a street corner who cowered away from people… unable to trust any hand that reached out to help… or to hit. Their clothing was faded and their tennis shoes had holes in them. Something struck a deep cord within Angie.
Just at that moment a woman stepped out of the office next door and nodded to the social worker. “Are you waiting on Marshal Blackhawke? He’s in a meeting right now, but is there something we can do in the meantime?”
Angie’s eyes stayed on the pair of children as they tried to cower further down into their chairs in order to not be seen as nuisances as the pair of women conversed a couple of feet away. Angie was also tuned in to their conversation.
“These are the children he came across when they made the raid on the trailer park outside of town. The one where their parents… and I use that term very loosely”—the woman spoke in a cold tone—“were cooking meth in the family kitchen. The judge signed the paperwork and social services will come by and pick them up as soon as they can get over here. I don’t know if they have room for them to go to the same home or not. But that’s not my worry. They’ll have to wait here as I’ve got to get to another hearing.” She was already walking away. Her thoughts already abandoned the two small figures.
The woman left behind shook her head and glanced at her watch. Then she saw Angie. “I’m sorry, but I have to get back into a meeting myself.”
“I’m Mrs. Blackhawke, and I’d be happy to have them wait with me if that’s okay?”
A look of relief crossed the woman’s face. “It’s such a whirlwind around here today, but it would be a big help if you could. I’m sure your husband shouldn’t be too much longer.”
Angie swung her gaze back and found herself the focus of their frightened eyes. Their little bodies were so skinny. Each needed a haircut and a good bath. They needed care. “Of course. I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“Thanks a bunch.” She disappeared into the office again.
It didn’t seem right to have them sit out in that strange room with so many noisy machines and strangers coming and going. She bent down in front of them and gave them a warm smile. Her voice was low and soft.
“My name is Angie. What’s yours?”
They did not reply. Their eyes still kept their watch on her face.
“I know you’re probably scared because this is a new place to you, but you’re safe here. I promise. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Now why did she say that?
As soon as she said those words, she realized that she had no way to ensure that. She wanted to take away their fear… perhaps because she knew exactly what they faced. The kindness of any stranger would be remembered for a long time. It could make all the difference.
“Ricky.” The word was so soft; Angie thought she might have imagined it.
She offered her hand slowly. “It’s nice to meet you, Ricky,” she responded with another warm smile.
It grew wider as a small hand reached out to touch her fingers… a shy bit of smile came and went quickly. His hand went back to hide beneath his leg. Angie turned her smile on the little girl. She sat so still, her bottom lip trembling a bit now and then.
“You must be Ricky’s little sister. Can you tell me your name? Ricky and I are friends now. I’d like to be your friend, too.”
“Emily… she’s Emily.” The answer came from her brother.
“Hello, Emily. You have a beautiful name.”
Emily looked quickly over at her brother and then back at Angie. Her eyes went down to her lap then where her hands gripped each other.
“Would you like to come sit with me in this office? I’ve been lonely sitting in there all by myself. It would be nice if you could sit with me.”
Angie was rewarded by Ricky sliding off his seat and then he reached out and took his little sister by the hand. She came out of her seat more slowly. Angie’s heart sang with the small victory. She walked slowly back into the office and the small pair followed. She moved the two chairs closer together. This time, Ricky wriggled into the chair and there was room enough for his sister beside him.
Angie reached down and gently lifted Emily to sit beside him. Her heart wanted to break as she gauged how light the little girl was and how her bones had little meat on them. She felt a stab of anger inside her then that she could have done harm to both parents herself for treating their children in such a manner, but she squashed that thought. She needed to concentrate on the
pair.
Over the next half hour, Angie plied them with simple questions and even told them a couple of childhood bedtime stories she remembered. She had often put the smaller children to bed at night as part of her duties in the foster homes. She would make up wondrous stories about princesses and magical butterflies that had the power to grant wishes and carry you away on their wings to a land of beauty and safety. Yes, it all came back to her as she wove the stories around them. She was just finishing the story about the magical butterfly when she felt a presence behind her.
Jace stood just outside the doorway, arms folded, leaning against the door jamb. His face was a mixture of emotions… most of which she could not fathom. She did notice how the children immediately shrank back into their chair when they saw him.
Angie stood but did not move from beside them.
“This is Ricky and his sister, Emily. We’ve been making friends.” She turned to the pair, a gentle coaxing smile on her face as she looked at them. “This is Jace. He can be your friend, too. He’s a very nice man. Can you say hello?”
The pair looked first at her. Then they looked at Jace with a solemn look of assessment. Ricky made the decision for both of them.
“Hello.”
Jace moved slowly into the room at that point. Angie watched as he knelt in front of the pair. He had sensed that his height was a bit overpowering to them. Once again, Angie’s heart skipped a beat at the care he was showing.
“It’s nice to meet you. I wish I had been here to hear the entire story your friend Angie has been telling you. Do you think I could talk to her for a minute? We’ll be right outside that door and you can see us.” Jace received a nod in reply. He smiled at the pair and then stood up, his eyes speaking silently to Angie.
“I’ll be right back,” she reassured the siblings before she followed Jace to stand just outside the doorway.
He kept his voice lowered for both the benefit of the children and the others in the outer room. His eyes bolstered the intent of his words as he faced her. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m trying to help two frightened little children. That woman just brought them in and sat them in those chairs over there and left them. What would you have me do?”
“What woman?”
“The lawyer who brought them here from the court. She said to tell you that social services would be coming here to pick them up.” Angie’s eyes met his full-on. The depth of her concern was quite apparent.
“Jace, you just have to do something. You can’t possibly allow them to be taken to some foster home. She said she doubted they would even be able to find the same home for them to stay in. They could be separated into different homes. Jace, you’ve got to stop that from happening.”
Jace’s heart overrode his common sense for a moment. His face softened as he heard her plea.
“Angie, it’s not up to me. The judge ruled on this case. There are laws to be followed.”
Her eyes held the sheen of moisture now and there was almost a desperate quality to her words.
“Laws don’t matter to a small, frightened child. Those two need each other. They’ve lost the world they knew and now they’re at the mercy of grownups that don’t care anymore about them than those horrid parents did. Please do something. Call in one of your favors or something. You know judges… Please.”
Jace had never felt so helpless. It was an unusual feeling and one he did not care for. More importantly, he never wanted to deny Angie anything. It was clear these two children had touched some chord inside her. He knew she had a soft, caring heart, but he sensed it was more than that. However, he was an officer of the law and, once again, he experienced the helplessness of being torn between his sworn duty and the woman who held his heart.
“Angie, be reasonable and think.” Jace’s voice was steady but his tone held a plea for her understanding of the impossible situation he was faced with. He wished he had not asked her to come down to the office. This heartbreak could have been avoided for her.
“I don’t have to think… I know. I know what will happen to them if you allow this.” Then her mind latched on to a sudden thought. Her eyes held a new light as they implored his.
“Why can’t they come home with us? You have plenty of room. They won’t be any trouble. I’ll take care of them myself…”
“Angie, stop.” The firmness in his voice stopped her in mid-sentence as did his hands on her upper arms. “They cannot go anywhere with us. They’re in state custody now.”
Her eyes changed to green fire and she stepped out of his grasp. “You just don’t want to try. You don’t want them in your house. They aren’t good enough.”
Jace’s narrowed eyes showed his total confusion. A crease deepened his brow. “What do you mean by that? That has nothing to do with this.”
“It has everything to do with it. If a judge said that you could take them out of here and do what you wanted with them, what would you do? Right now, what would you do?”
“I wouldn’t take them out of here, Angie. I helped put their parents behind bars. There would be too many legal issues that would be associated with those children.”
She held him with her silent green gaze for several long moments. He could visibly see shutters coming down between them. Jace felt an odd sense of panic.
“Marshal Blackhawke… sorry it took so long to get here.” A short Hispanic woman, with a stack of folders in hand and a rushed look on her face interrupted the tense standoff.
“Mrs. Trevino.” He acknowledged her presence with a curt nod of his head, slowly letting his hands drop from Angie’s arms.
It was hard to drag his gaze away from Angie. But he needed to take care of the matter at hand. It was not going to be easy on Angie. He felt torn right down the middle.
“Angie, why don’t you wait in the office with the children while I have a few words with their caseworker?”
Was there a chance? Did she dare to hope she had gotten through to Jace? Jace did not meet her eyes before he turned to the other woman. Angie walked back into the office. Instead of sitting, she stood just inside the door out of view of the pair in the outer office. She gave the children… still seated quietly where they had been told to stay… a reassuring smile and placed a finger lightly to her lips. They nodded their heads. They knew that meant to be quiet. Angie leaned her ear closer to the opening.
“Mrs. Trevino, can you tell me what the plans are for those two children?”
“Well, they’re going into the system. You know the drill. They’ll stay there until the state determines what to do with them. If the parents go to prison… which we know is probably the case… then the state can seek termination of parental rights. If that happens, then they’ll be placed for adoption. The female child may have a chance for adoption… she is still small and cute and couples tend towards that. But the boy is older; his chances are less likely for adoption. Either way, they’re in the system for a while. Why?”
Angie’s ears strained to hear Jace’s reply. He just had to say something now.
“Will they be placed together? Wherever you are taking them today?”
“I tried, but our emergency care homes are already strained at the seams. There was no home that could take both of them.”
“What if an officer of the court volunteered to take them in for a short period?”
Bless you, Jace! Angie knew she could count on him. The next words dashed her hopes.
“Are you talking about yourself, Marshal Blackhawke?” The incredulity in the woman’s voice was apparent. “You can’t be serious. Even if that were allowed, it wouldn’t be wise. These children are young, but they come from a different world than you or me. How would they fit into your life or that of the rest of your family? Already at this early stage, these kids are damaged goods.”
Angie didn’t need to hear any more. She moved away from the door and went to stand in front of the window. Her senses were reeling. Her eyes looked out onto the early e
vening of the city below but she saw none of it. She just heard the words…damaged goods replaying over and over. That was what she had been. Angie still heard the derisive tone of voice that her own caseworker had used when she had spoken those same words in describing her to yet another set of foster parents. And that was why Jace wouldn’t fight for the small pair now. Damaged goods didn’t belong among his family. She had just received the biggest reminder possible of why she could never belong.
Angie closed her eyes and said a fervent prayer from her heart to the heavens above. She prayed for the strength that Ricky and Emily would need in the days to come. She prayed for a guardian angel to always be with them. She prayed for the strength they would need to survive in the world that considered them damaged goods. Then she had to let it go. All fight left her. Angie would scoop them up in her arms and run far away with them if she could. But, in reality, she wouldn’t get past the first guard. It was time to walk away.
She turned from the window with a smile fixed to her face that she was far from feeling. Angie crossed to the pair just as Jace and the social worker stepped through the door. Angie did not look at them. Her gaze was intent on Ricky and Emily. Kneeling in front of the children, it was hard to keep her voice steady, but she fought to do it.
“I have to leave you both now, but you’ll be okay. You just remember that I’ll be thinking about you every minute and sending you lots of smiles on those butterfly wings I told you about. Take care of each other.” She quickly rose and placed a soft kiss on each little forehead. She could not look at their eyes again. Instead, Angie turned away and walked out the door. She heard her name called, but she kept walking. Let the people around her think what they would about her behavior. Angie reached the elevator just before a hand on her arm swung her around.
“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” Jace’s eyes were a turbulent dark gray as they searched her face, a silent pleading in his depths. “We need to talk, Angie. I tried to talk to the woman. But she has her job to do.”
