She handed the phone to her daughter and sighed deeply as she moved toward the rest of the laundry she needed to put away. It was a relief on so many levels to have that off her chest. To be able to share this with her parents. But on the other hand, she heard the anger in her mother’s voice, had heard the barely disguised rage in her father’s. She was done with all the violence and the threats, she simply didn’t want her parents to be affected by the cancer the Sorensons were.

It was bad enough Rennie had to have a phone call from them once a month. It was more than generous, considering all the things they’d done, and in the end she continued to hope they loved Rennie enough to try. But she knew in her heart of hearts that it wouldn’t last. They’d come after her again, so the longer she was established in Seattle, the more she grew roots in the community, the more Rennie thrived and the longer Elise adhered to the rules of the agreement, the better off she’d be when they finally decided to act again.

“Pops told me to tell you I deserve a Fudgeicle,” Rennie announced as she came back down to hang up the phone.

“Fudgesicle and why am I not surprised? Your grandfather’s love of Fudgesicles is known far and wide.” Elise rolled her eyes but rewarded herself and Rennie with one each.

10

“Oh, there you are!” Erin jumped up from the picnic table and headed toward Elise and Rennie. Rennie, spotting Nina on the swings, gave Erin a hit-and-run hug and headed off toward her friend.

“Hi there!” Elise was surprised but pleased when Erin hugged her and dragged her toward the table.

“Sit and eat. Brody will be right back. He and his team have gone off to do whatever they do before the game. I suspect shots of liquor are involved. Probably  p**n o magazines and stories of conquest. Or whatever they do when we’re not around.”

“More like sitting around, eating wings and drinking beer. Porn may be involved though.” Maggie sat and put a bottled water within Elise’s reach.

Erin laughed. “Oh, they’re all so badass. Big bad cops and tat artists and stuff and they’re all whining about their knees.”

Elise grinned and dug into the bag of cookies after realizing she hadn’t eaten much all day. Rennie played on the swings just to the left, so it was easy to chat, munch and watch the kids.

All the chatter faded into background noise when Brody came into view with several other men. His gaze immediately sought her, locked in as he strode toward her.

“Hey, you made it.” His voice, that low, darkly sweet rumble, brought everything to attention.

“I did. How were the wings and  p**n ?”

He looked straight to Erin and the women dissolved into laughter.

“All quite spicy, thanks.”

Her phone started ringing. The cell she had just for dealing with the Sorensons. She sighed, digging it out, and sent a look to Rennie before getting up. “Excuse me, please.”

She stepped a few feet away and answered.

“Hello?” She barely resisted the urge to answer with Why the f**k are you calling again, you bitch?

“It’s Bettina Sorenson. You sound harried and scattered as usual. No discipline or drive. So middle-class. Since you’re making me call you, yet again, please tell me why hasn’t my granddaughter returned any of our calls.”

And then she regretted her restraint. As if she didn’t know who the bitch was. “You know very well why. You have a scheduled phone visit once a month. I’ll have her by the phone on the fifteenth at the right time.”

“You’re difficult. Always have been. I told Ken that, but he had to have you. As if there weren’t a thousand girls more suited to him. You’ve always tried to keep her away. You don’t deserve her.”

“We’re done now. Do not call my family again about this. If you have a problem, you know my attorney’s number. Deal with him.”

“Your precious parents! Look at what they raised.”

“I’ll be sure to pass that on to them, and we’ll try not to roll our eyes so hard we sprain something.” She reined in her anger. There was no point in letting this woman get to her. She also had no idea if they recorded her, so she remained careful with what she said.

“Dude, what’s that all about?” Erin asked Brody, who shrugged but watched Elise’s body language change, tighten up. “I don’t like it, Brody. Look at her. Something is wrong.”

“Let’s get playing!” Ben called from their makeshift field.

“Wait a minute.” Brody motioned at Elise, and concern crossed Ben’s features as they took her in. She paced, her free hand flapping around. “You can start without me. I’ll be there in a bit.” He moved toward Elise.

“I’m going to say it again just so we can be very clear. You have no right to call my parents. You have no right to call me on any day but the fifteenth at six p.m. Pacific time.”

She paused, her jaw clenched.

“No, you don’t understand. You make her upset every time you call. She has a schedule. A life. You can’t interrupt it and I won’t let you. I’ve spoken to my attorney about this. Stop now.”

Her brow furrowed as she listened to whatever whoever it was on the other end said.

“I’m done. I’m hanging up now. Do not call again until the fifteenth.” She flipped the phone shut and shoved it in her pocket.

The shoulder he put his hand on trembled and her eyes shone with unshed tears. He tipped her chin up. “Are you all right?”