Indemnity: Book Two: Covenant of Trust Series Read Free Page A

let Mom in?” he said. “I’m gonna get another chair for Glen.” The intensity in his eyes, the gravity in his voice should have reassured her, but the mundanity of his comment stopped her cold.
    She fought off the urge to grab his shoulders as he passed and scream, "This is not some stupid staff meeting!" She wanted him to stop his planning and strategizing and acknowledge the bitter fear churning and swirling inside her. Instead, he disappeared around the corner into the dining room.
    Fine. We’ll play like it’s the most ordinary thing in the world. She opened the front door, and reached to hug her mother-in-law.
    “ I can’t imagine what you’re going through,” Ann said. “I had to pick my own jaw up off the floor to drive over here.”
    Bobbi lowered her eyes. “It’s like it was the first time. That feeling of being lied to… I mean, I know he didn’t, but ...”
    Ann reached out, and took her by the arm. “I don’t blame you. That’s a perfectly understandable reaction.”
    “ Thanks for the reassurance.”
    “ Now, me, I worried. What would this do to you, how would it affect your marriage, what would the boys say, how would little Shannon feel, what was this woman after ...”
    “ You’re very efficient.” Bobbi managed a smile.
    “ I have years of experience,” Ann said with a wink.
    “ Can I get you some coffee?”
    “ No, I’m fine.”
    “ Glen should be here any minute now. Chuck wants us in there.” She pointed to the living room off to the left. Again, just Chuck.
    Ann nodded. “I appreciate his urgency, but he isn’t going to resolve this in one afternoon.”
    “ I think that’s his plan though.” Bobbi glanced around the living room as she took a seat on the sofa beside her sister. This wasn’t like before. She wasn’t isolated and alone. Rita and Ann were here. She and Chuck were on the same side. Right? Things had to be different this time, didn’t they?
    “ Sorry to keep you waiting,” Glen Dillard said, as he shook hands with everyone, and then slipped into the only open chair.
    “ I never heard the doorbell,” Bobbi said.
    “ Your husband caught me before I rang it,” he answered, pointing toward Chuck, who was gingerly stepping around the coffee table to stand in front of the fireplace. Chuck apparently carried the dining room chair the long way through the back of the house to avoid passing her in the foyer.
    Chuck had straightened his tie, and re-buttoned his cuffs. His glasses were clipped in his shirt pocket beside his Cross pen. He cleared his throat and began presenting his case. Her greatest fear realized was just another case to him.
    “ Thank you for coming on such short notice. You’ve been right there with us in the past, and Bobbi and I know that you’re willing to walk through this with us.” Chuck turned toward Ann and Glen. “Here’s what’s happened. Bobbi got her class list today, and one of her students is the son of the woman I had the affair with seven years ago.” Chuck paused, and looked at his mother. “It looks like he’s my son.”
    Ann couldn’t hide a quiet gasp, and Bobbi dropped her eyes to avoid her mother-in-law’s glance. Even empathy cut to her core.
    “ I think she purposely put the boy in Bobbi’s class,” Chuck continued, “but who knows what she’s up to.”
    “ You gotta find out, Chuck,” Glen said. “You’re gonna have to confront her.”
    “ Absolutely not!” Bobbi said, her shoulders stiffening. “I don’t want him anywhere near her.”
    “ How do you know he’s yours?” Gavin asked.
    “ I don’t,” Chuck answered. “We’re just going by his birthday, and what he looks like.”
    “ You’ve seen him?”
    “ Gavin, I’m sure it was him,” Bobbi said. “He was on the playground this morning, and he looks just like Joel. Just like him.”
    Gavin scratched at his beard, and leaned forward. He looked at Bobbi, then at Chuck. That meant he sided with Chuck. Her protests were doomed