“Scotty, do me a favor and get the doors for me, will you, son?” Skip asked.

“You got it.”

Without another word for his daughter, Skip turned his motorized chair and headed for the front door. Watching him go, with Scotty trotting after him to get the door on the other end, Sam decided she was truly batting a thousand today.

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Nick could tell just by looking at his wife that something was wrong. Hell, what wasn’t wrong today? But judging by the set of her shoulders and the hands propped on curvy hips she was boiling about something.

“What’s the matter, babe?” he asked. Even though they’d butted heads earlier, she was still his babe, still the most important person in his life. Well, tied these days for first with Scotty, but he knew she’d understand that. Scotty was first with both of them. Nick placed his hands on her shoulders where tightness was another sign of trouble.

“I just said something to my dad that I shouldn’t have. Now he’s furious with me, and for good reason.”

“He doesn’t have it in him to stay furious at you for long.”

“I don’t know... He’s pretty steamed. Scotty went to walk him home and handle the doors for him.”

Nick moved carefully to put his arms around her from behind. His ribs hurt much worse than they had earlier, but knowing he’d have to drive Scotty to hockey practice, he hadn’t taken any more pain medication.

Sam rested her hands on top of his. “I need to tell you something that’s going to make you really mad.”

Nick’s entire body went tense as he waited to hear what she’d say.

“I’m going to Brooke’s school with Hill. He was able to get a warrant, and we’re going down there to get her laptop and try to figure out what happened last night.”

He had a million things he could say to that, but in the interest of preserving the fragile détente, he kept them all to himself.

Sam turned to face him. “Say something.”

“What’s there to say? If I tell you not to go, you’ll go anyway. If I tell you this isn’t your case, and you’re risking everything for a kid who has proven she may not be worth it, you’ll go anyway.”

“I’m doing it for her whether she’s worth it or not, but more I’m doing it for Tracy, who is indeed very worth it.”

“If I tell you Hill is an opportunist who’ll do anything for some time alone with you, you’ll deny that too. So what is it exactly you want me to say?”

Sam stepped back from him, folding her arms and shaking her head. “You just don’t get it.”