“I’ll be right back,” he said with a mischievous laugh.
Michelle glanced at me, and I focused on cutting the lawn.
Winifred’s warning tone as she said Jim’s name had me looking up just as he swung a leg over my motorcycle and inserted the key. I let go of the mower, killing the engine just as the bike’s engine roared to life.
“Damn it, Jim. Get your own bike.”
Jim laughed loudly and revved the bike to drown out my words. With a salute to Michelle, he took off.
“Nana,” I said in frustration. “You couldn’t stop him?”
Just then, Jim revved the engine again out by the road and squealed a tire on the blacktop. The sound faded rapidly.
Nana glanced at Michelle with a small smile.
“Jim was lonely without Emmitt.”
I heard her quiet words as I went back to the mower.
“Missed me or missed my bike?” I said under my breath, knowing Winifred would hear.
“I can tell,” Michelle said absently.
I rubbed my hand through my hair in frustration.
“Did Emmitt miss Jim, though?”
“Not even a little,” I said.
Winifred laughed. “Let’s get you that towel, Michelle.”
* * * *
After I finished the backyard, I moved to the front. Jim still hadn’t returned when I heard Michelle and the boys come outside. It was probably good he was taking his time. I’d cooled off some. He was just trying to stir up trouble and redirect attention like he usually did when there were problems.
The motorcycle roared into the yard not long after that thought.
“I’ve got some cool stuff for tomorrow,” I heard him say loudly.
I stopped the mower, curious about what Jim had found and considered cool. Rounding the corner of the house, I saw Winifred and the boys look down into a plastic bag Liam held.
“James Grayson Cole,” Winifred said. There was a definite warning growl in her words. “That wasn’t your money.”
I saw the immediate effect her tone and words had on the kids and Michelle. Withdrawal. Fear.
“I got what we needed, Nana.” Jim met her eyes steadily, silently challenging Winifred.
The big idiot was going to get his butt handed to him in front of the kids. What was he thinking? I stepped forward, drawing Michelle’s attention. She looked relieved to see me, and I heard her heart skip a beat.
I winked at her, trying to break the tension, and she blushed. What a sight. I almost forgot what I was doing.
When I neared, I glanced at the contents of the bag and saw what had caused all the trouble. Fireworks and sparklers.
“Let’s save this conversation for another time,” I said softly, setting a hand on Winnifred’s shoulder.
The kids look ready to pass out. You’re destroying your grandma image.
Though Winifred nodded, her eyes promised Jim she wouldn’t forget what he’d done. We were raised to pinch pennies and give back to the pack to help everyone. We didn’t waste money on fireworks.
Still, I smiled at Liam.
“Do you think we should light some of these tonight?”
Liam’s eyes darted to Michelle, then between Jim and Nana.
“I think we should go inside,” Michelle said, holding her hands out to the boys. Liam dropped his bag, and Aden immediately did the same. They went to Michelle and quietly walked inside with her.
“New rule,” I said softly. “Never show anger around them.” I turned to Winifred. “I can still taste their fear.”
“You’re right,” she said with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“Jim, stop making it so easy to get mad at you.” I walked away without waiting for his smart response. After I finished mowing, I found the third floor door firmly closed and everything quiet.
“Have they been down for dinner?” I asked Jim, walking into the apartment.
“No. They’re barely moving up there.”
I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, considering what I should do. Twisting off the top, I heard Winifred open her door. She joined us in the kitchen and grabbed a beer for herself.
“I don’t think we should push them right now. If they get hungry enough, they know we’ll feed them. I think they just need to feel safe for a while.” She took a drink, her gaze pinning Jim. “Jim, you need to be on your best behavior tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I didn’t believe him and from the look Winifred gave, neither did she.
Chapter 5
The quiet from the third floor drove me crazy. I paced Jim’s apartment until Winifred opened her door and told me to go for a run. It helped, but not much. When I returned, I lay on the couch for hours,