Acting Up Read online

  Despite the rather lame pep talk, Michelle pasted on a brave smile. “Thanks anyway.”

  “Why don’t you go to the bathroom and clean yourself up? We’ve still got a scene to block, and we’re already behind.”

  “Okay.”

  Addison watched the girl go, wishing there was something she could have said to make Michelle feel better. Then she realized something amazing. In only a few weeks, Addison had started to think of these kids as more than a means to an end. She cared what happened to them. She worried about them and genuinely liked them.

  Which was so unexpected.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nothing good came from phone calls at one in the morning. Especially phone calls that told her to come pick up Aaron at the police station. As Addison pulled into an empty spot in front of the precinct, she contemplated how much time she’d get in prison for strangling a minor. Surely a good defense lawyer could argue she’d been provoked. No jury in the world would convict her, especially if they were parents of a teenager themselves.

  Turning off the car, Addison took a couple deep breaths, trying to get hold of herself. Trying not to feel ashamed about Aaron sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night without her knowing.

  One week. Merrick’s son had been in her charge one week, and already she’d screwed up. She’d probably get her adult license revoked now.

  Unable to put off the inevitable any longer, Addison slipped out of the car and hurried up the short flight of steps to the station. In the dead of night, her shoes echoed on the pavement like gunshots. The heavy oak door took nearly all her strength to open. Then blinding fluorescent lights almost caused retinal damage. When she could see again, a quick scan of the room revealed a long, chest-high counter, and behind the counters were several scarred, wooden desks. An open door at the back led to a hallway. No one seemed to be manning the front.

  She opened her mouth to call out and heard her name. Ethan Thomas was slouched in a plastic orange chair. He unfolded himself from his seat and ambled over.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Aaron refused to give his name, so the deputy called me to see if I could identify him.”

  “Oh, no,” she said. “I’m so sorry you had to come. What did you do with your boys? I hope they aren’t alone.”

  “I called Elizabeth to stay with them. I’m sure they’re asleep and won’t know I ever left.”

  Great. Just. Great. “This is so embarrassing. I can’t believe you got dragged into my mess. They’ll probably make me send Aaron back or something. I should have put him on the next plane. What made me think I could handle being a parent?”

  Ethan put his hand on her shoulders. “Hey, hey, take a deep breath and calm down.”

  Several deep breaths through her nose worked to calm her down… a little. Unfortunately, the extra oxygen also made her hyper-aware of Ethan. Heat from his touch invaded her body even through her shirt. Chills went down her spine, which seemed so inappropriate considering she was in a jailhouse to pick up her errant stepson.

  “Thanks,” she said, taking a step back. “Sorry I lost it for a moment. I feel like a total failure.”

  “You’re not a failure. You didn’t do anything wrong. Aaron’s a kid, and sometimes kids do dumb things.”

  Addison managed not to lower her head to his chest and wail. Instead she let out a deep sigh. “Where is he?”

  “They’re holding him in one of the cells.”

  “They really put him in jail?” she asked, in surprise. “For getting caught with a few beers?”

  “I think it was mostly to put the fear of God into him. Tough love.”

  “I’ll give him tough love,” she said, anger roiling inside her.

  Ethan’s lips twitched. “Believe me, I already dealt him some myself. He was looking pretty pitiful the last time I saw him.”

  “Thank you again. How do I—”

  Just then the deputy in charge walked out from the back hallway. Addison started at him in shock. The man was enormous. Like bouncer-in-a-club enormous. His shoulders barely fit through the doorway. He had a square head with military-style cropped hair. He was reading something on a clipboard and didn’t see her at first.

  “Excuse me,” Addison said. “I’m here to spring my stepson.”

  The clipboard clattered to the floor. In a surprisingly graceful move for someone so gigantic, the deputy bent down and scooped it up. He walked to the counter, doing a pretty good impression of a fish out of water.

  “Hi,” Addison said, flashing her warmest smile. “What’s your name?”

  Bear-man blinked. “Gordon Howe. Most folks call me Gordy.”

  She let her eyes roam from stem to stern. “How big are you, Gordy?”

  The blond giant blushed. “Six-six.”

  “You ever done any stunt work?”

  His eyes widened. “You mean like in Hollywood? I’ve never acted before. Lived in Covington Falls all my life.”

  “Too bad,” she said. “I bet you’d be great at it. A big, strong man like you.”

  Okay, she was pouring it on a bit thick, but it didn’t hurt to play nice when her stepson was being held in the brink.

  Gordy’s blush turned nuclear. “That’s sweet of you to say, ma’am.”

  Addison dialed back the flirting. It wouldn’t do to get the guy too flustered. Plus, it was getting late, and she needed her beauty sleep. Not to mention she had a teenager to strangle.

  Resting her elbows in the counter, Addison leaned closer. “I understand you have a juvenile delinquent in custody who refuses to identify himself. I’m sorry to say I think he belongs to me.”

  Gordy took the bait and snapped back to full attention. “Yeah, he’s in the back.”

  “What happened anyway?”

  “I was out on patrol, and I caught him and three other boys in the parking lot over at t’ Gas Up. Had a couple six packs in the car.”

  “Where did Aaron get his hands on beer? I don’t have any in the house.”

  “An older brother of one of the boys bought it for them.”

  At least Aaron hadn’t supplied the booze. “Where are the other three boys now? I hope they got locked up, too.”

  “They got to sit in the cell, don’t worry. Their parents already picked them up, though. Aaron’s the last one, since it took us awhile to identify him. Had to call Ethan here to give us a name. Captain always knows what’s what.”

  The nickname had Addison looking over her shoulder. “Captain?”

  “Gordy was my center for four years in high school,” Ethan explained. “He saved my hide more times than I can remember.”

  How perfect. Addison grinned. “There, you see? I knew you were a hero, Gordy. I’m sorry you had to go to so much trouble. Aaron is usually such a good kid. I can’t imagine what got into him.”

  “Boys,” Gordy said, as if that explained everything.

  Maybe it did. “Do I have to post bail or something?”

  “No, ma’am. He wasn’t arrested,” Gordy said, shaking his head. “We put him in the cell to teach him a lesson. I’ll go get him.”

  “Thank you.”

  Gordy started to turn but hesitated. “Ma’am, I know you’re lookin’ after the boy by yourself, so if you need anything, or if the kid gives you any more guff, you let me know and I’ll straighten him up.”

  “I knew I liked you, Gordy. That is so sweet. I’ll let you know if I need a firm hand.”

  Gordy nodded and trundled off to fetch Aaron.

  A faint snicker reached her ears. “What?”

  “You ever done any stunt work, Gordy?” Ethan echoed, fluttering his eyelashes like one of those female cartoon characters.

  “I was being pleasant,” she said.

  “Pleasant?” Ethan snorted. “Your once-over went miles above pleasant. You probably know how many chest hairs he has.”

  “He does have pretty impressive pecs, doesn’t he?” she said, flashing a mischievous gr
in. “The whole package was pretty nice. I must say the quality of men in this town has vastly improved since I last lived here. Gorgeous men busting out all over. Ministers, police officers.” She winked. “Even the principals aren’t so bad.”

  His mouth quirked. “You don’t check me out the way you did Gordy.”

  “Maybe because you don’t look at me the way Gordy does.”

  A hot bolt of gold shot through his eyes, and he took a step forward. “How do you want me to look at you?”

  “Awe and wonder would do,” she said, fluttering her own lashes. “My ego is still very fragile, you know.”

  “Why don’t I believe that?”

  Ethan broke off when Deputy Gordy returned with the saddest teen Addison had seen in her life. Aaron seemed to have shrunk since she’d last seen him. His shoulders about reached his ears. Still, he managed to give off his usual defensive attitude, so obviously he hadn’t been completely cowed by his brief incarceration.

  For a moment, a touch of sympathy flooded through her. Then Addison remembered what he’d done and squared her shoulders. Aaron managed to hold her gaze for about five seconds before zeroing in on the ugly tile floor.

  Gordy flipped up the counter on one end of the desk, and Aaron shuffled up to her.

  “Can we go now?” Aaron asked.

  Addison’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously? I dragged myself out of bed in the middle of the night because you’d been caught drinking in a gas station parking lot. Mr. Thomas got woken up and had to leave his sons to come down here because you wouldn’t give a name. And all you can say is can we go now? Maybe I should’ve let you stay in jail.”

  Aaron shrugged. “Whatever.”

  A head explosion seemed imminent. Addison made a few inarticulate sounds and then jabbed her arm toward the door. “Go wait in the car.”

  The teenager slipped around her and disappeared. Deputy Gordy gave her a sympathetic smile.

  “Boys,” he said.

  “Thank you again for everything.”

  Ethan opened the door, and they stepped out into the night. A cool breeze whipped down the sidewalk, and Addison shivered. In the soft light of the street lamp, she could see Aaron sitting in the car.

  Turning toward Ethan, Addison tried to think of what she could possibly say. “I really am sorry you had to come down.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I do. It’s my mess, and you shouldn’t have to fix it.”

  “Consider it thanks for everything you’re doing for me. For the school, I mean. Directing the musical.”

  Addison stared at him. “I think maybe I was wrong about the hero in this drama.”

  He flicked her nose. “Yeah, only you’re the hero.”

  “Some hero,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Losing my charge after only seven days.”

  “At least you care, which is something Aaron seems to be missing right now. Remember that before you kill him in his sleep.”

  With one last grin, Ethan walked off into the night.

  Addison didn’t trust herself to speak right away, so they made the ride back to the house in complete silence. She glanced at Aaron, but he was slouched so far down in the seat he’d practically become part of the upholstery.

  Remember, his father is an idiot, and his mother is the biggest flake this side of the Atlantic.

  Once she pulled into the driveway, Aaron reached for the door handle.

  “Not yet, young man,” Addison said. “I have a few things to say to you.”

  “Can’t it wait till tomorrow? I’m tired.”

  Resisting the urge to bang her head against the steering wheel, Addison reminded herself to stay calm. “So am I, but that’s because I received a phone call from a police officer.”

  “What’s the big deal?” Aaron said in a bored tone. “It was only a few beers.”

  “I don’t care if it was bottled water. The fact is you snuck out of the house in the middle of the night.”

  “You wanted me to make new friends.”

  “I’d advise you not to try and be cute right now. I’m this close to putting you on a plane back to your father. If you can get away from me this easily, I’m obviously not the right person to look after you.”

  A flash of some unnamed emotion streaked across his eyes, but the glimpse disappeared almost immediately.

  “A week is all you can take, huh?” Aaron’s lips compressed, and his nostrils flared. “Maybe Dad was right to dump you.”

  Before Addison could reply, the kid jumped out of the car and stalked toward the house.

  Sputtering with indignant fury, Addison flung herself out of the car after him. “Aaron Carmichael, get back here,” she shouted.

  Aaron paused on the first step. “We’re in the front yard, you know.”

  “I don’t care if we’re at Madison Square Garden,” she fired back. “You don’t get to make rude comments and then walk away. How dare you insult me. You’re the one who hooked up with a bunch of junior hoodlums and got yourself hauled off to jail. I’m the one who has to face Principal Thomas and his sister-in-law after tonight. Everyone will know about this by the morning, and trust me, the local boys won’t get blamed for the whole fiasco.”

  “I’m sorry I embarrassed you,” Aaron replied.

  “I don’t like your tone.”

  “Then we’re even, ‘cause I don’t like you,” he screamed. “I hate you! You and this stupid town, and that stupid school, and those stupid screeching kids!”

  Addison stepped closer. “If you hate me so much, why did you fly thousands of miles to find me?”

  “Because no one else wanted me.”

  With an anguished cry, the teenager crumpled. Addison grabbed him as he collapsed, and they ended up sitting on the bottom step. Huge, wailing sobs rose up from Aaron’s chest, shaking his entire body. All Addison could do was hold on and help him ride out the storm. She cradled his head, rocking back and forth, and let him cry.

  Slowly the sobbing began to ease. As awareness returned, Aaron stiffened. He pulled away, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his T-shirt.

  “I’m sorry you had to get up in the middle of the night,” he said.

  Addison’s anger evaporated in an instant. “It’s all right,” she said, keeping an arm around his shoulder. “I probably do need some excitement in my life. Otherwise, I will turn into one of those lame adults you’re always complaining about.”

  “You’re not too lame.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “Listen, Aaron, your parents probably wouldn’t win any awards for parental devotion, but I know they love you.”

  “Yeah, when it’s convenient for them.”

  Trust the kid to nail it in one. “I didn’t say they were perfect. Yes, they’re selfish, and yes, you’ve gotten the raw end of the deal, but they aren’t monsters. I think your father actually feels bad about what happened. In his way, I believe he was trying to make you happy.”

  “Maybe. I’m sorry about what I said. I don’t hate you.”

  “I can live with you hating me as long as you’re safe. Sneaking out in the middle of the night was dumb. Getting drunk with some guys you barely know is just plain stupid. Not to mention dangerous, if any of you planned on driving home. I also meant it about who will end up getting the blame.”

  “It wasn’t even my beer,” he protested.

  “Doesn’t matter. You’re the spoiled, rich kid from the big city. The one with the famous father. The one who took advantage of the naïve country boys who didn’t know better. They certainly wouldn’t have acted that way before you came.”

  Aaron’s expression became the picture of outrage. “That’s not fair.”

  “Never said it was. I’m only telling you what most in Covington Falls will say. You have to be more careful. These people haven’t known you since you were in diapers like they have those other boys.”

  “Gross,” he mumbled.

  Addison grinned. “Maybe, but it’s true. Remember that the next time
you feel like doing something stupid.”

  “I’m sorry I embarrassed you in front of Mr. Thomas, too.”

  The mention of Ethan’s name immediately caused Addison’s shoulders to tense. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “He’s pretty cool, even if he is a principal. You could do worse.”

  Her head whipped around. “What?”

  Now it was Aaron’s turn to grin. “The guy came down to the station in the middle of the night for you.”

  “Because you wouldn’t give the police your name. What kind of plan was that anyway? Did you expect them to put your face on a milk carton and ask for identification?”

  Aaron ignored her question. “You know what he said to me in the cell?”