the year, the smaller islands like Anchor only having dedicated deputies during the high-traffic summer months.
“I’m on the island, actually. Just finishing up lunch at The Catch. What’s going on?”
“Can you come over to Brookings Inlet? We’ve got a bit of a situation.”
“That’s all you’re going to give me?”
“That’s all I can say right now.” I worried if Janet figured out in her drunken brain that we were calling the cops on her, she’d become even more belligerent.
Parker sighed. “I’m on my way. Be there in five.”
“Thanks, man.” I hit End and turned back to Janet, who was spewing even more hatred at her daughter. “Sit down and shut up.”
Janet stumbled back a step at my tone, the bench of the picnic table hitting the backs of her knees and forcing her to sit. “Well, thas not very nice.”
“You treat other people like garbage, that’s what you should expect to get in return.”
“Crosby…” Kenna’s hand squeezed my arm gently.
“No. She doesn’t deserve your defense.” Janet deserved nothing but sitting in the drunk tank for a few hours and then getting booted off this island to go back to whatever hole she’d crawled out of.
“I was trying to give her one last chance.” Janet’s eyes narrowed to slits as she spoke.
Unease pricked at my skin, and Kenna tensed. “One last chance for what? Family bonding? I think I’ll pass.”
Janet snorted. “To give me my money.”
“I’ve told you, I don’t have any money to give you. And even if I did have extra cash floating around, it wouldn’t be going to feed your addictions.” Kenna’s voice remained calm, but the pink in her cheeks spoke of a mix of anger and embarrassment.
Janet pushed shakily to her feet once again. “You’re gonna regret that, girlie. I’ve got other ways to get what I want.”
Just as I was about to ask what the hell she meant by that, the sheriff’s SUV pulled up. At the slam of Parker’s door, Janet glanced over her shoulder. She let out a string of curses that would’ve made a sailor blush. “You called five-o on me, you cocksuckers?”
“That’s what happens when you break the law,” Kenna said evenly.
“I’ll show you breaking the law.” Janet lunged for her daughter, fist raised and screeching. I caught her around the waist at the last second, pulling her back as she thrashed. “Let me go, asshole. Thas my girl. I gotta teach her some respect.” My gut soured at the woman’s words.
Parker jogged over. “What the hell is going on?”
“A little help here?” I asked. Janet was remarkably strong for a woman who likely subsisted on mostly booze and cigarettes.
Between the two of us, Parker got her cuffed. “Sit down, or I’ll have to tase you.” That shut the woman right up. Parker looked between Kenna and me. “Who is she?”
Kenna cleared her throat. “She used to be my mother.”
Parker cursed. “She’s drunk, and she attacked you. Do you want to press charges?”
Kenna shook her head. “No charges. But can you take her in until she sobers up?”
Parker’s face gentled. “Of course. If you change your mind about the charges, just let me know.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you handling this.”
Parker gave Kenna’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “That’s what we’re here for. You take care of yourself.” He turned to me. “And you look out for this one.”
I forced a grin. “I’ll try, but she’s quite the troublemaker.”
Kenna gave a small laugh just as I hoped, and Parker chuckled. “I’ll see you guys later.” With that, he escorted a visibly deflated Janet to his SUV.
“Come here.” I opened my arms, and Kenna walked into them. No hesitation like there would’ve been just a few weeks ago, simply open acceptance. “I’m so sorry.” I wrapped her tightly in my arms, wishing with everything in me that I could erase the pain the past twenty minutes had caused, obliterate the agony of a lifetime of having Janet as a mother.
Kenna burrowed her face in my chest. “It’s not the first time. It won’t be the last.”
I pressed my lips to her hair, inhaling the mix of sea air and hints of something feminine and alluring. “You don’t deserve the hate and ugliness she was spewing.”
She tipped her head back so that her chin rested on my sternum. “You’re right, I don’t. But people live with far worse. I’ll survive.” Her eyes closed a fraction. “I just hate that you and Parker had to see it.”
I pulled Kenna tighter against me. “You don’t apologize for that.