of chocolate and cream filling. “But I hope it doesn’t upset Kevin to have them asking him about that night. Maybe it’s wrong of me, but I hope he never does remember.”
They stood for a moment, watching their sons. Even though their lives were different in so many ways, she and Judith valued the same things: home, family, tradition. Judith would say that she was content in the place God had put her. It was a good place, despite what had happened to Dixie.
“We should go, since you’re expecting people.” She swept into the kitchen. “Ach, look at the two of you. Such dirty faces. Let’s get clean, and then Benjamin and I must get home.” She smiled at the expected outcry. “Benjamin can visit tomorrow, if your mamm says it’s okay.”
While Judith supervised the cleanup, Deidre put the milk away, noting that the refrigerator was filled with dishes she hadn’t put there. Obviously the neighbors were intent on seeing they didn’t go hungry.
By the time the front doorbell rang, Judith and Benjamin had already gone out the back. “Somebody’s here!” Kevin started to run to the door, but Deidre was close enough to grab him.
“You’re not supposed to run, remember? Just for a few days.”
Kevin nodded. “I know. But it’s hard to remember.”
“Try,” she said. “Okay, let’s answer the door.”
Jason had arrived before Chief Carmichaels was due, as they’d arranged. At first the judge had insisted that he be personally present for this interview, and he hadn’t taken kindly to her obvious negative reaction. Imagining the tension that could so easily develop any time her father-in-law was present, she’d been relieved when he’d given in to Jason’s reminder that he was representing her and Kevin. It had been hard enough running interference between the judge and the doctors, let alone trying to referee between him and the chief.
Jason came in, giving Kevin a friendly smile. “So, you’re home at last. Bet it feels good.”
Kevin nodded, instantly at ease. After a couple of visits with Jason at the hospital, Kevin had decided, apparently for reasons that made sense to a five-year-old, that Jason was an okay guy. “The hospital wasn’t bad. But being home is better.”
“Right.” He sent a questioning glance to Deidre. “Did you tell him about Chief Carmichaels yet?”
“No, I was just about to.” She reminded herself that she ought to ask him about what Judith had said. But not now. She touched Kevin’s shoulder. “Kev, Chief Carmichaels is coming over in a few minutes. He wants to ask you about your accident.”
“You mean when I fell out of the tree?”
Obviously she should have cleared that up for him before this, but she’d wanted to let him hold on to his comfortable story for as long as possible.
“You didn’t fall out of the tree, sweetie. It was later when you fell. During the evening. You fell down the stairs.”
His small face crinkled, and he shook his head. “But the tree...”
“You’ve forgotten some things from that day. That happens sometimes when a person gets a bad bump on the head.”
Kevin seemed to digest that. “Okay. I remember Chief Carmichaels from when he came to kindergarten to talk to us about safety. He let me wear his hat. Remember, Mommy?”
“Yes, I remember.” Kevin had been so proud, standing there in the cap that was way too big for him.
“But why does he want to know about me falling?”
“Well...” How did she explain that without getting into the thing she didn’t want to say?
Jason squatted down to Kevin’s level. “See, Kev, it’s this way. Sometimes the police look into accidents to see what caused them. Like if anyone was to blame.”
“Oh.” He nodded. “Okay.”
Jason rose, opening the attaché case he’d carried in with him. “I hear you like trains, and I thought maybe you’d like this one.” He held out a new locomotive for Kevin’s train set.
“Wow.” Kevin’s eyes widened. “Wow. It’s for me?”
“For you. In honor of coming home from the hospital.” Jason grinned. “Think it’ll work?”
“It’s great.” Seizing the train, he raced for the stairs. “I have to put it on the track.”
“Don’t run,” Deidre cried as he reached the stairs.
“I’m not,” he protested, scrambling up them.
Deidre’s breath caught, her chest tightening as he scooted past the place where he must have tripped.
“It won’t always be this bad.” Jason’s voice was low and infused with more than simple empathy. “Even the worst memories fade with time.”
She looked into his face, but it didn’t tell her anything. He was too good at hiding his feelings.
“That sounds like personal experience talking.”
He shrugged. “I guess we all have bad things we don’t want to remember.” He turned, glancing out the front window at the sound of a vehicle. “Looks like Carmichaels is here. Are you ready?”
“I guess I’ll have to be, won’t I?” Deidre straightened her shoulders and tried to summon up some courage. Whether Judith was right or wrong in her opinion of Jason, at the moment Deidre was glad he was with her.
* * *
JASON DIDN’T KNOW where that need to reassure Deidre had come from, but he’d better get back to a more professional stance with her in a hurry. It was not part of his assignment to get that involved with her. All he wanted was evidence, one way or the other, to either prove or disprove the judge’s opinion of her.
Carmichaels entered, greeting Deidre with an avuncular hug. “Bet you’re glad to have that boy of yours home. How’s he doing?”
“Fairly well, so far.” She glanced at Jason as if asking him something, and he nodded.
“Before you talk to Kevin, I think Mrs. Morris wants to set up some guidelines.”
Carmichaels’s gaze went from Jason to Deidre, speculative. “Now, Deidre, you know me well enough to know I’m not going to bully the boy.”
“Of course, but I’m still concerned.” She seemed unconscious of the fact that her hands were clasped tightly. “He doesn’t remember anything about most of that day. He won’t be able to help you.”
“We won’t know that until I talk to him, will we?” Carmichaels glanced around. “Where’s the best place for us to talk?”
“Sorry.” Deidre’s fair skin flushed. “Come and sit down.” She looked at the sofa and seemed to change her mind, leading the way into the dining room instead. “We’ll sit here at the table, all right?”
Carmichaels
