A Better Solution (Crowley County Series Book 2) Read online

  Once Sue Ann was sitting across from Jo with her coffee cup in front of her, Jo looked into her eyes and said, “Talk to me.”

  Sue Ann smiled. That was what she loved about her relationship with Jo. They each always knew when the other one was troubled or needed to talk and were always ready to drop everything and listen.

  “Okay. I guess you know it’s about Andy.” She rubbed her neck and looked down at her cup as tears formed in her eyes. “I just can’t lose my little boy, Jo.”

  Jo reached across the table and placed her hand on top of Sue Ann’s free hand. “Sue Ann, have you prayed about this? Have you turned it all over to God? I’m still pretty new at this myself but I’ve already learned that He always listens to me and He always answers. When I do that, I feel better immediately.”

  Sue Ann looked up at Jo and thought about how much her little friend had changed in the past six months. All for the better too, if that could be possible. She’d gone from bar owner to pastor’s wife in such a short time.

  Sue Ann shook her head. “Every time I try, I start bawling and don’t get anywhere.”

  “Why don’t we pray right now then?”

  They held hands across the table and prayed for God to have His will in the whole situation.

  Sue Ann felt so much calmer all of a sudden and somehow she knew everything was going to be all right now.

  Just as they finished praying, the phone rang and Jo jumped up to get it. Sue Ann could only tell that it was Floyd on the other end. Jo didn’t say much but what she did say made Sue Ann listen closer.

  “Congratulations Floyd, that’s simply wonderful.” She listened for a moment then said, “Sure, Floyd, I’ll be there at one.” She listened again. “You know better than to even think that Floyd. Look at all the times you’ve been there for me. Let me be there for you now.”

  When she hung the phone back on the wall, she turned back toward the table with the strangest expression on her face that Sue Ann ever seen and there were tears in her eyes.

  “What is it Jo? Is Floyd okay?”

  She didn’t even stop to think about how that sounded but she knew immediately that Jo did as she grinned at Sue Ann before answering her.

  “That was Floyd and yes, he’s all right.” She smiled dreamily and said, “I guess I can tell you what it was about now. Just don’t tell anyone else before this afternoon, okay?”

  Sue Ann was still worried. “Sure, Jo, if you don’t want me to, then I won’t.” Whatever it is, she thought.

  Jo took her time like she was trying to think of how to say it or if she should say it at all. She refilled both their coffee cups before sitting back down across from Sue Ann.

  “Well, I guess there’s no other way than to just say it.” She smiled softly. “Floyd found out Monday that Darcy had a baby girl just before the divorce was final. He just got the DNA test results back a little while ago and it proved that she is Floyd’s daughter.”

  When Sue Ann just stared at her in disbelief, Jo added, “Darcy died in a car accident two weeks ago and the social worker is bringing Floyd’s daughter to him this afternoon. He wants me to be there to help him get her settled.”

  Finally, Sue Ann found her voice. “Wow! How old is she?”

  “Nine and her name is Penelope.”

  “Good grief!” Well, that sure sounded intelligent, but that’s all she could think of to say.

  Jo had a wistful look on her face now. “Just imagine. Floyd is a daddy and of a little girl too. I simply can’t get over it.”

  Sue Ann snorted and said, “I can’t see him as a daddy, that’s for sure. The kid will probably run screaming out the door after she takes one look at that big oaf.”

  Jo only smiled one of those smiles that Sue Ann knew meant she didn’t believe a word of what Sue Ann was saying.

  * * *

  Floyd couldn’t ever remember being this nervous in his whole life. He wasn’t even this nervous the first time he’d gone into combat in Iraq.

  He knew that if he kept pacing back and forth in the tiny living room of his apartment, he’d wear a hole in the carpet. He couldn’t help it though. How did you prepare to meet a nine-year-old daughter that you’d never even known existed much less met before?

  He was glad when a knock came on his door and Jo called out to him from the other side.

  When he let her in, she stopped in the middle of the room, took one look at him, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. He hadn’t realized how much he needed that. It was an awkward hug at best with her head not even coming up to his chin, but it was effective nevertheless.

  She stepped back, still holding him loosely and then dragged him over to the couch where they both sat down. He didn’t think he’d be able to stay. He hadn’t been able to sit still before she came in.

  But Jo was determined to keep him sitting and also to calm him down.

  “Floyd, what do think she’s going to do, shoot you or something?” She giggled. “She’s just a little girl, Floyd. She’s going to be more nervous than you. In fact she’s probably even going to be scared half to death.”

  When he calmed a little, she said, “You’re so big that you don’t need to be hovering over her when she comes in. Otherwise, she might not come in at all.”

  He knew she was right, but it was going to be awfully tough just sitting there when his daughter came into the room. His daughter!

  When the doorbell finally rang, Jo placed her cool hand on his hot cheek and said, “Let me get it so you can stay sitting a little longer.”

  She walked over to the door and placed her hand on the knob. But before she opened it, she gave him a raised eyebrow look that he knew meant ‘Are you ready?’

  He nodded and gritted his teeth.

  When Jo opened the door, all Floyd saw was the social worker, standing there with her left arm behind her back. Then, very slowly, a small freckled face peeked around the woman’s skirt.

  Floyd’s first coherent thought was the poor kid had to be his. She had his red hair and freckles.

  The social worker stepped through the doorway almost dragging the girl behind her. She marched right up to where Floyd was now standing still trying to hunch over as much as possible.

  “Mr. McCracken, this is your daughter Penelope.”

  Before he could even think of something to say or do, the little girl yanked her hand out of the social worker’s hand and spoke up in a loud nasal voice, “I keep telling you my name if Penny!”

  Floyd still couldn’t force any words out.

  As usual, Jo saved the day. She kneeled in front of Penny and said, “Hi Penny, I’m your cousin, Jo.”

  When Jo stuck out her hand, Penny looked at it as if it were a snake at first. Then the social worker nudged her with her elbow and Penny placed her hand in Jo’s, but she quickly pulled it back.

  “Joe’s a boy’s name.”

  Jo giggled and said, “I’ve heard that all my life. My real name is Mary Jo, spelled J-O. but I’d like it very much if you would just call me Jo.”

  When Penny didn’t respond, the social worker turned to Jo and said, “My name is Miranda Watkins.”

  Jo stood and said, “I’m Jo Turner, Floyd’s cousin.”

  They shook hands and then the other woman said, “Mr. McCracken. Have you begun to look for suitable accommodations for the two of you yet?”

  He had to stop and think for a second what she was referring to then it hit him. He had thought about it a lot since Monday and realized that the social worker was right about the apartment. It was just too small for a kid even if it did have two bedrooms. Besides, he should have invested in a house years ago.

  “Yes, I have an appointment to look at a couple of houses at five this afternoon.”

  “Good.” Her face turned sour like she’d been sucking lemons. “You need to remember that final custody will depend upon many different factors and a suitable home for Penelope is only one of them.”

  “Penny!” The litt
le girl shouted again and stamped her foot.

  It grew quiet in the room once more with no one looking at anyone else.

  Finally, Jo said, “Penny, would you like a cookie? I baked some chocolate chip cookies this morning just for you.”

  Penny looked at Jo for a moment then silently followed her into the kitchen nook.

  The social worker sat down on the couch again and opened her briefcase. When she pulled out some papers, she handed them to Floyd.

  These are the court papers that you need to sign to accept temporary custody. When he took those and signed them, she held up another set of papers. “This is the petition to the court for permanent custody.”

  When Floyd signed all copies, she took them back and gave him a copy of each one.

  She stood then and said, “I think my duties are completed for today. I’ll wish all of you a good day.”

  She started for the door but stopped. “I will be calling you next week to setup a court ordered visit. If you remember it will be the first of several.” With that, she opened the door and was gone.

  Penny came back into the living room with Jo following her. She looked Floyd up and down, as she munched on a cookie, apparently noting his uniform, and said, “Are you a cop?”

  Floyd almost grinned at that. Finally, a question he could answer. “Yes, Penny, I am the sheriff of this county. Would you like to ride in my patrol car sometime?”

  She stared back up at him for so long that he thought she wouldn’t answer. Then she frowned and said, “As long as nobody from KC sees me, then I guess it’ll be okay.”

  Floyd didn’t know what to make of that statement and decided he’d save it for later. Right now, she was at least talking to him.

  Jo must have realized he didn’t know what to do next for she pointed at Penny’s suitcase sitting by the door and said, “Penny, would you like for me to help you unpack so you can get settled into your bedroom?”

  Penny scrunched up her face as if in deep thought then said, “Which one’s mine?”

  With that, Jo started to pick up the large battered suitcase but Floyd beat her to it.

  “Oh no you don’t Little Bit. Gil would have my hide if I let you lift that now.”

  He took the suitcase from her and carried it to what used to be his spare bedroom. Once he sat it on the bed, he quickly retreated to the living room.

  As they passed him, Penny looked up at Jo and said, “You sick or something?”

  Jo giggled and said, “No, Sweetie, I’m going to have a baby.”

  “When?”

  Jo looked at Floyd then back to Penny. “About the first of September.”

  Penny looked down at her shoes, then back up at Jo, and said, “Can I hold it?”

  Jo smiled and pulled Penny into a loose hug, which the little girl didn’t return, but also didn’t pull away from. “Yes, Penny, you may hold my baby when he or she comes.”

  * * *

  Sue Ann called her mother that afternoon from work and suggested that they all three go out to eat that evening. So, when she came through the door after work, Wanda and Andy were both sitting in the living room waiting for her.

  She laughed and said, “Give me a few minutes to take a shower and put on some decent clothes.”

  The moment they walked into the local favorite café that everyone just called Thelma’s after the woman who owned it, Sue Ann almost walked right back out. Floyd McCracken was standing at the front with a little girl with red pigtails.

  Too late! He turned around and saw her. But she couldn’t really leave anyway. Maybe if she’d been alone, but not with her mom and Andy along.

  “Hello Sue Ann, Mrs. Curtis.” Floyd was giving her a strange almost pleading look so she decided she would try to be civil to him.

  “Hello, Floyd. Who do you have with you?” She knew that he probably wouldn’t be happy at all if he found out that she already knew all about his little girl.

  Before Floyd could say anything, the girl glared up at Sue Ann and said, “My name is Penny.” She tossed her head toward Floyd and said, “My mom died and they say I have to live with that big guy because they say he’s supposed to be my dad.”

  Sue Ann almost laughed out loud. She didn’t need a DNA test to tell her who this little girl belonged to. She was the spitting image of Floyd McCracken in actions as well as looks. And she thought that he certainly deserved all the trouble the kid would undoubtedly give him.

  After glancing back at the pleading look Floyd was giving her, she tried to put a smile on her face and said, “Would the two of you like to join us for supper?”

  Where did that come from? She didn’t want to sit through supper with that big jerk. But then she realized that she wanted to do it for the little girl who looked like she needed a friend right about now.

  Andy poked her in the back thus expressing his displeasure over that suggestion. She didn’t think he had anything to worry about anyway. Floyd would refuse to sit with them.

  “Sure, we’d be happy to wouldn’t we Penny?”

  The little girl just glared up at him without saying a word. Then she looked around Sue Ann at Andy, put her hands on her hips, and said, “Who’re you?”

  When Andy didn’t say anything, Sue Ann said, “This is my son, Andy.”

  Andy still didn’t say anything, but Penny glared at him and said, “I’m bigger than you are kid, so don’t give me no trouble, okay.”

  Floyd opened his mouth apparently to scold her, but Sue Ann caught his eye and shook her head slightly and he closed it.

  By then, Thelma was ready to lead them to their table.

  As they were sitting down at the table, Sue Ann maneuvered things so that she had her mother on one side of her and Andy on the other. Then she noticed that Floyd seemed to sit between Andy and Penny intentionally. She was thankful for that. She wasn’t sure she liked the way Penny was talking and acting, especially to Andy.

  Wanda, who was between Sue Ann and Penny turned to the little girl and said, “Where have you been living before now, Dear?”

  Penny looked up at her and Sue Ann was sure she’d be rude, as she frowned and said, “I’ve always lived in KC and I don’t want to live anywhere else, especially this hick town.”

  Floyd finally said something to his daughter. “Penny, I would like for you to be a little nicer to Mrs. Curtis, please.”

  Sue Ann had never heard that tone of voice coming from the big red headed sheriff before and thought that she just might be seeing a side of him she’d never seen before. She almost laughed when she thought that it might also be a side he hadn’t seen before either.

  Penny just glared back at Floyd but neither said anything else as everyone at the table picked up their menus.

  When the waitress came to take their orders, Floyd put his menu down and turned to Penny. “Do you know what you’d like to eat Penny?”

  Again, Sue Ann expected a smart remark and wasn’t disappointed.

  She glared up at the waitress. “Hamburger with extra fries and I don’t want no ketchup or mayo anywhere near it okay?”

  Floyd looked like he was going to say something to Penny but only frowned as he turned to the waitress to give her his order.

  Andy pulled on Sue Ann’s sleeve and she leaned over so he could whisper in her ear.

  “Why is she so mean?”

  She turned so she could whisper in his ear. “I’ll talk to you about it later, okay, Kido?”

  He nodded his head and returned to the coloring sheet he’d been drawing on with crayons.

  Sue Ann had just raised her head back up when Penny turned to Floyd, pointed at Sue Ann and Andy and shouted, “They’re talking about me.”

  Floyd tried to smile down at his daughter and said, “You’re among friends here, Penny. Ms. Vickers is an old friend of mine, okay?”

  The stubborn little girl crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks but thankfully remained silent.

  Sue Ann wondered what Floyd meant by ‘old friend?’
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  When everyone had been finished eating for a few minutes, Floyd announced to the rest, “I’ll pick up the check. It’s been a pleasure having the three of you join us this evening.”

  Sue Ann started to protest, but when she saw the look that Floyd was giving her, she shut her mouth quickly.

  Once they were in the car headed home, Andy spoke up loudly, “Now will you tell me why that Penny is so mean?”

  Sue Ann wasn’t quite sure how to answer that but she gave it a shot anyway, “Well, you see, Andy, Penny’s mother just died a couple of weeks ago and that would make anyone sad.”

  She paused to let that sink in. “Then she gets moved from the only home she’s ever known and thrown together with her father she didn’t even know she had.”

  She couldn’t see Andy’s face in the back seat but she knew he was processing all that and still listening to her.

  “I would say that all of that is enough to make any nine-year-old mad, don’t you?”

  She heard him lean back in the seat. “I guess.”

  “Okay, so all of us need to be extra nice to Penny so she’ll feel better about coming here to live.”

  * * *

  Floyd was beat. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this tired. And what had he done? Nothing physical, at least. He’d just been with his daughter for eight hours now.

  She’d been so good as they looked at two different houses that afternoon. But, she had pronounced judgment on both of them. One, neither of the extra bedrooms were big enough for her and the other one didn’t have a family room or fun room as she called it.

  He wondered if she was just being her normal picky self or if she was trying somehow to sabotage the house buying venture just to get away from him.

  Then they’d had supper with Sue Ann, her mom, and Andy. That had been tense for Floyd to say the least. Penny never got really bad but the threat was always there. She’d been rude and hostile though. He hadn’t been able to relax and enjoy the meal or the company.

  Company? Sue Ann! He could hardly believe that the two of them had sat through an entire meal together and not fought even one time. Granted, they had both been preoccupied with what Penny might say or do next, but still . . . They had gotten along for an hour and a half. That must be some sort of record.