boys who until recently hadn’t known she was alive.
“Everybody used to like me. But that was before.”
“Before what?”
She narrowed her eyes and shook off his hand. “Before you went and broke up that party at Olivia’s aunt and uncle’s house. You called everybody’s parents and got them in trouble. You even arrested Olivia’s cousin.”
“There was underage drinking. I couldn’t leave those kids there. And I definitely couldn’t let them drive home. I had to call their parents.” Alyssa didn’t know the specifics, but she knew her mother had been killed by a drunken teenager. Surely she understood the danger of underage drinking and driving.
“As for Olivia’s cousin, he was supplying alcohol to minors.” He was twenty-one and, from what Trent could see, had no plan for his life besides partying. He and his buddies had given several teenage girls enough alcohol to lower their inhibitions. God alone knew what could have happened to them if Trent hadn’t received an anonymous call about that party. The kids might have been angry, but there were plenty of grateful parents.
“Well, now they’re all mad at me.”
“Why?”
She gave him her patented you’re-so-stupid look that turned his stomach. “Because you’re my dad. They think I’m the one who told you about the party. Like I’m some sort of narc. They said if anybody is my friend or even talks to me, then they’re out. Nobody will talk to them, either, and they won’t get invited to any of the cool parties.”
Anger surged through Trent and he clenched his jaw to keep from swearing. Olivia’s aunt and uncle were among the wealthy residents who’d recently moved into a new development of oversize homes on a private golf course. Many of the newcomers didn’t believe the laws applied to them or their brats. If Trent could have his way, the entire subdivision would be razed and the owners sent back where they came from.
“How long has this been going on?”
Tears began to roll down Alyssa’s face, and it broke Trent’s heart. Her chin wobbled and her voice shook. “It started last week. Brooke still talked to me, but none of the other kids did. They wouldn’t even sit at the same lunch table with me. But school’s out now and Brooke’s spending the summer in Colorado with her father.”
“It’ll get better. You’ll see. Now go ahead and get dressed.” He tried to pull her into a hug, but she jerked away.
“You’re making me go? Even after what I told you? You don’t care about me or how I feel.” Her words, filled with both accusation and betrayal, were a knife plunged in his heart.
“Of course I care. But you can’t hide. You did nothing wrong. And your friends will come around. Just give them a chance.”
“They had a chance. They’re not my friends anymore. They hate me. And I hate you.” The knife twisted.
Trent stood frozen as Alyssa raced up the stairs. A moment later he heard her bedroom door slam. He leaned against the banister and sucked in a breath. Although he knew Alyssa’s words were spoken out of pain, they still hurt. He’d never imagined a child of his would say she hated him.
The argument echoing in his head, Trent returned to the living room. He opened the floral curtains Anna had chosen so many years ago, letting in the morning sunlight. Unfortunately, the light did nothing to brighten the gloom in his soul.
He dropped onto the sofa and closed his eyes. His sweet girl was being ostracized. Those brats should be glad he and his officers broke up the party, saving them from themselves. They might be too young to understand the danger they’d put themselves in, but they were old enough to know better than to make his daughter a scapegoat.
He heard the clatter of little feet running down the stairs and into the living room.
“I’m ready to go,” Robyn announced, flying into the room. Her brilliant smile warmed his heart and made breathing easier. “How do I look?”
He smothered a grin. His baby loved fashionable clothes. She looked adorable in white denim shorts with pink flowered appliqué on the pockets and a matching T-shirt. Even her gym shoes were pink. Alyssa had combed her hair and added flowered pink barrettes to her ponytails. Pink earrings completed her ensemble. “You look like the cover of a magazine.”
Robyn grinned and gave him a big hug.
Five minutes later Alyssa returned, dressed in a short denim skirt and orange tank top. Although he wished she had chosen something different, he bit his tongue. Fighting over her clothes only increased the tension between them.
Robyn chattered happily on the short drive to the center, filling the silence between Alyssa and Trent. As he pulled into a parking spot, he received a call from the dispatcher. Trent spoke briefly into his radio before hustling the girls from the car.
A semitrailer had collided with an SUV on the highway leading into town, setting off a chain reaction involving at least seven vehicles. He didn’t know what the truck was carrying, but the driver had lost his load. Worse, there were reports of injuries, some life-threatening.
“I have an emergency, so I won’t be able to get you girls settled,” Trent said apologetically as he signed them in. The gray-haired woman seated behind the reception desk assured him she would get his daughters into their proper groups.
“I’ll pick you up at four,” Trent promised. He kissed Robyn’s cheek, then stepped back. He’d learned from painful experience not to show affection to Alyssa in public.
“Bye, Daddy,” Robyn exclaimed, then hurried off to join a group of girls her age.
Alyssa simply stood with her eyes downcast, her arms across her chest. She heaved a sigh and turned her back to him. He wished he could say something to make her feel better, but nothing came to mind. Besides, he needed to get to the scene of the accident.
The grandmotherly woman caught his eye and nodded. “Go ahead and leave, Chief. She’ll be fine. I’ll make sure she gets in with a group of kids.”
Having no choice, Trent took one last look at Alyssa, who was now staring out the window, and trotted out the door to his vehicle. He hoped he was right and that her friends would welcome her again.
* * *
Carmen put the finishing touches on her art project, then stepped back to get a final look at it. Not bad considering she hadn’t sculpted anything in years. She hadn’t known what type of material she would find, so she’d planned a variety of projects to interest kids of all ages. She’d been pleasantly surprised by the supplies at the center.
As expected, there was paint, brushes and paper. But there also was clay, string, foil, beads and other items needed to make jewelry.
She heard a knock on the open door. “You open for business?”
Carmen smiled at Joni and looked down at the little girls clustered around her. “You bet. Come on in.”
“I’ve got four budding artists for you. Mia and Maya are twins. This is Juliet. And finally Robyn. They’re really excited to do crafts with you.”
Carmen managed to hide her shock at seeing the chief’s daughter again so soon. Given his dislike of Carmen, she couldn’t imagine he would want her near his child. She wondered how long it would be before news of her volunteering at the center reached his ears. This being Sweet Briar, she bet it would be under forty-eight hours.
“I remember you. We saw you at the cemetery. I’m Robyn.”
“I remember you, too. You look so cute today.” The young girl giggled and preened while Carmen quickly complimented the other girls so they wouldn’t feel left out. And they did look adorable in their short sets and eager smiles. “Are you ready to have fun?”
“Yes,” they answered loudly.
“Well, then, let’s get started.” After