War at Home: A Smokey Dalton Novel Read Online Free PDF

heard the words come out of my mouth before I planned to say them. “I can go to New Haven and see if I can track him down.”
    Grace shook her head. “I can’t afford to pay for that, Bill. I wish I could, but I’m barely making it as it is. All my extra money is going into Elijah’s school fund now. I just hope he doesn’t follow his brother’s example—”
    “We can trade, Grace,” I said. “I know Franklin’s talked to you about teaching next year. I’ll keep a ledger, like I do for regular clients. I’ll bill you for expenses and my time, and you do the same.”
    She teared up, then sank into her chair. “Would you do that?”
    I nodded. I might never take advantage of the barter. If Jimmy and I decided the East Coast was better for us, I would lose money on this deal. But I was willing to take that risk. I had a son to protect , too, just like Grace did.
    “That means all of this would come out of your pocket,” she said. “You can’t afford that.”
    “I’ve been working steadily for the past several months,” I said. “I have some money saved up. I should be fine.”
    “You’re being too kind.” Her gaze met mine. It was steady, as if she could see through me.
    “No, I’m not,” I said. “I’m feeling restless. I figure some time away from the city might be good for me.”
    Her gaze didn’t waver. “You don’t like it here.”
    I shrugged. “This isn’t my home.”
    “Neither is the East. I hear the South in your voice.”
    I gave her a small smile. “Just part of it. I grew up in Atlanta, but I went to school in Boston. I’m more familiar with the East than I am with the Midwest.”
    “And you like it better.”
    I took a bite from the snickerdoodle. It was fresh and soft and tasted like childhood. Then I chased it with some coffee, fighting the urge to tell her just how much I wanted to leave.
    “I haven’t given this place much of a chance. Jimmy and I were broke when we came here. We haven’t had much, and our opportunities are limited. I don’t like living like that.”
    I regretted that last sentence the moment I spoke it. Grace’s opportunities had been limited , too.
    “You told me once that Jimmy spent a lot of time with his mother,” Grace said. “You’re not used to having a child.”
    “No, I’m not,” I said.
    “It restricts you.” Her voice was soft. “But it’s worth it. Most of the time.”
    I knew she was thinking about Daniel when she said that last.
    “I don’t regret a thing I’ve done for Jimmy,” I said, “and I love raising him. But—”
    “What’re you going to do with him while you’re gone?” she asked. “Is he going to spend the summer with your family?”
    She meant the Grimshaws.
    I hadn’t given it much thought. But I knew that I couldn’t leave Jimmy in Chicago. “He’ll come with me. See more of the world.”
    “And who’ll take care of him while you’re looking for Daniel?”
    I hadn’t even thought of that.
    “I’d offer to come,” she said, “but I can’t. Elijah might need to see the world, just like Jimmy, but I need the work. If I left now—”
    “I’m not asking you to, Grace.”
    “But see, you’re not thinking of Jim. There’ll be places an eleven-year-old shouldn’t see. You know that.” She sighed. “I could watch him, if you want him to stay here.”
    It was a generous offer. Grace would be a strict guardian, but a good one. Only I couldn’t take her up on it. Last summer I had left Jimmy in Laura Hathaway ’s care and had put them both in danger.
    I couldn’t do that again. Not to Laura — who would always be my first choice to care for him, not to the Grimshaws, and certainly not to Grace and Elijah.
    “Thank you,” I said, “but I know a lot of people back east. We’ll find a way to cope.”
    Grace gave me the same look she had given me in the basement of the church — as if I were an unrealistic, misguided man who didn’t understand his child. At least this time, she was too