Page 21 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

Brenton felt like a damned fool walking through the school Wednesday evening. He’d made a point of setting up a parent/teacher conference with Miss Hanan a few days after he’d dropped Wynnie off the last time.

His attorney had pointed out that he had every right to know what was going on with his daughter’s education. And what kind of problems the school might have noticed. His attorney was building the case for him. He wasn’t giving Brenton platitudes—or promises.

There wasn’t any way for him to guarantee Brenton would get custody, but…he said that with a fair judge—not that punk-ass Judge King—they might have a real shot of changing things for the kids for the better.

Tom Walters, his attorney, had said something about a new judge in town now, who was known for fairness—and being exceptionally protective of young children.

Brenton was afraid to get his hopes up this time. He’d tried to get full custody of the kids twice before—but King had always ruled against him. Like…the guy always ruled in Jessica’s favor. No matter what.

Even the day she’d shown up for court smelling like alcohol and almost puked all over Courtroom B.

Brenton had been sure he’d win that day. But no. She’d walked out of there with one hundred dollars more in support a month. Jessica had kept the kids from him for two months after that. Gloating.

Brenton was so sick and tired of all her damned games. Shouldn’t she be putting the kids’ needs above her own petty bullshit?

He’d always despised parents who took their kids and ran with them, but…since he and Jessica had split, he understood it. So much.

Especially for the parents who did it just because they were protecting their kids.

Not that he would ever do that—like it or not, Jessica was their mother, and they needed her in their lives in some way—but damn, did he finally understand it.

He found room 12A easily—he’d been there many times before. He knocked and stepped inside.

The room smelled like berries and flowers and drying paint. Wynnie’s teacher was right there.

Her hair, just as curly as his own son’s, was in a loose ponytail that was falling a little. She had freckles on her cheeks—and a streak of yellow paint or something. She was exactly like he’d imagined a young kindergarten teacher would look. Her dress had big yellow flowers on it.

When she smiled, some of the tension in his shoulders relaxed.

She just looked…so young and sweet. Pure. Beautiful.

That’s what it was. She was surrounded by kid artwork and toys and the room felt…happy. Welcoming.

“Hello, Deputy Ryce, how are you?” Even her voice was beautiful. Far less grating than Jessica’s constant shrill bitching. He could just imagine her singing songs with twenty kindergarteners around her skirt. He wished he could see her doing that.

“I’m good, I guess. Mostly, I came to pay you for Wynnie’s lunch, and let you know that I will be filling her account once a month myself going forward.

I don’t trust her mother to remember to do it.

” No excuses for Jessica this time. He was so tired of covering for her so that people didn’t look at his kids with that same kind of pity he’d always had from people when he’d been a kid.

With parents who couldn’t keep their own selves sober.

He would never forget how that had felt.

He wanted better than that for his kids.

He pulled the money from his pocket. She was already shaking her head.

Brenton reached out, and took her small hand in his, ignoring how she started a bit.

He put the fifty into her palm. The woman was seriously soft.

Hell, it had been a long time since he’d been with a beautiful woman like her.

“I won’t have my kids not being taken care of.

Take it. Hell, use it for some other kid who needs the help. ”

“Of course. Thank you.” She pulled away slightly. She gave him a shy smile. She…was really sweet. No wonder Wynnie adored her. Brenton bet all the kids in the class did.

Brenton made a point to put some space between them. He was scaring her a little. It was hard to miss. Of course he was—he was big, strong, male, in uniform—between her and the door.

She was small and slight, and he basically had her trapped. He stepped back again. “Can you level with me?”

“O-of course. Would you like to have a seat? I have one other seat for grownups in here.” She shot him a rueful grin.

Brenton found himself relaxing even more. He could see why Wynnie enjoyed her so much more than the old battleax Miss Hanan had replaced.

It was a peaceful kind of place. Light. A place someone could be happy being—especially a little girl like Brenton’s baby, who had the softest, sweetest heart of anyone Brenton had ever known.

“Does she like it here? Get along well with the other kids?”

“Wynnie is a wonderful little girl. She listens well, pays attention most of the time, which is great for her age. She is a bit ahead on her skills—she reads above grade level especially. She gets along well with the other kids, although she does try to overly mother them, and is very helpful. She also has great leadership potential, if that’s fostered. ”

He felt she was genuine. This woman really enjoyed being with the kids.

She was probably the bravest woman he had ever met.

When Brenton stepped out of the classroom a few minutes later, he just shook his head at himself. Hell, he was half in love with Wynnie’s “Mith Hanan” already.