Handprints

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“Only because you ordered me around like I was ten. I’ll bet you did the same thing to Kitty’s teacher.”

Squirming inwardly, Jack set the light on the workbench. “Not intentionally.”

“I know that,” Dan said, “but I doubt that teacher does.”

Jack looked back over his shoulder at Dan. “What do you suggest I do about it?”

“Well, there’s this thing Mom used to talk about—” Dan’s eyes glinted with humor. “I think it’s called an apology.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jack grumbled. Apologies had never come easily for him, but Ms. Walsh had been a big enough person to give him one when she’d crossed the line. He leaned back against Dan’s workbench, folded his arms over his chest and crossed one foot over the other, watching Dan check the power steering fluid and then wipe his greasy hands on a shop rag.

“Does Mark feel the same way about me?” Jack asked, referring to the youngest Granger brother.

“Ask him,” Dan said.

“That means yes.” Jack uttered a grim laugh and shook his head. “It’s hard to argue with a unanimous verdict.”

“Look, maybe I came down on you too hard,” Dan said. “I mean, you’re not a total jerk.”

“Knowing I’m only a semi-jerk makes me feel much better.”

Grinning, Dan punched his arm. “C’mon, you know what I mean. It’s just that you’re going to need the teacher’s help. For Kitty’s sake, you can’t afford to alienate her.”

“I hear you,” Jack said. “I’ll go see Ms. Walsh on Monday and make nice, and we’ll get Kitty back on track.”

Dan led the way into his kitchen and poured himself a mug of coffee. “It sounds like Kitty needs more than that. Why don’t you take a leave of absence?”

“Are you nuts?” Jack demanded. “How can you even think about saying that?”

“Maybe because your kid needs you?”

“Yeah, I got that part from Ms. Walsh, believe me.”

“So, learn to delegate. No time like the present.”

Jack helped himself to the coffee. “It’s not that easy. I have ongoing cases.”

“You took time off when Gina died, and the world survived.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jack said, wondering why everybody else in the world knew what he should be doing better than he did.

Chapter Four

Mr. Granger phoned Abby at noon on Monday and asked if she would mind changing their meeting place to a coffee shop not far from the school. A frequent customer of the establishment, she readily agreed. When the dismissal bell rang, she stuffed a file into her satchel and made a quick stop in the teachers’ lounge to freshen her makeup and comb her hair. Then she was out the door and on her way.