Page 42 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

“Likewise.”

“Now, Emily,” Ted said, “you know that’s not true. I always have time for my favorite mama. Unfortunately, that’s not today. I’m due at a planning board meeting.” He stood and nodded at Ryan. “Dr. Palmer.”

“Mayor.” Ryan caught the question in the mayor’s eyes as his gaze darted between him and Matti.

Ted noticed Sam standing next to Matti and frowned. “Thought you’d have found the boy a foster family by now.”

Why would he say something like that in front of Sam? Matti appeared irritated with Ted, and Sam was taking in every word. At the worried look in Sam’s eyes, and not wanting him to hear anymore, Ryan picked him up. “Let’s go pick out which dessert we want.”

“Is Matti gonna give me away?” Sam asked, no longer caring about the cakes and pies in front of him.

Ryan hated the quaver in the boy’s voice and didn’t know how to answer his question. He didn’t want to lie to Sam, but it wasn’t his place to tell him he’d eventually be going to a foster family. Ryan glanced over at the table to see Matti and Ted in an animated conversation.

“Look at that chocolate cake,” he said, hoping Sam would forget the question. “I think that’s what I want, but that cream pie sure looks good, too. I have an idea. You pick out one and I’ll pick one, and we’ll share so we get to have two different desserts. Sound like a good plan, my man?”

“Yes! I want the chocolate cake. What do you want?” His gaze roamed over the choices in the case. “That one?” He pointed to a tall glass filled with layers of different-flavored puddings and whipped cream.

Ryan chuckled. “Sure, that one looks pretty awesome.”

“And I can have some?”

“Only if I can have some of your cake.” The mayor was heading their way to leave, and Ryan shifted his body so that he was blocking Sam from seeing him. Ted walked out without acknowledging them.

“How much of my cake do you want?”

Greedy little thing. “A few bites, but first, we need to have some lunch.” Still carrying Sam, he returned to the booth. Emily moved over, and Matti sat next to her. He lowered Sam to the seat, then settled next to him.

“Me and Doc’s gonna share dessert,” Sam announced. “We picked them out.”

“Did you, now?” Emily said.

“Yes, and we’re gonna share, so I get to eat two different ones.”

Emily grinned. “What a clever idea. Maybe we should get four different kinds and share them all.”

“Four?” Sam said, eyes wide.

Thankfully, he seemed to have forgotten his worry that Matti was going to give him away. Sam was the center of attention all through lunch, and he ate up the adults’ focus on him. Ryan couldn’t begin to imagine what Sam’s first six years had been like. The boy deserved being made to feel special.

After they finished their lunch, Emily told Sam he could pick all four desserts, and Ryan thought Sam might hyperventilate from excitement.

“Sam and I will choose our desserts,” Emily said. “Let me out, Matti.”

After Emily and Sam were at the dessert case, Ryan said, “What’s the mayor’s deal with Sam?”

Matti sighed. “Ted knows about Mikey and how depressed I was after I found out he’d been killed. I guess he’s afraid the same thing will happen if I get too attached to Sam.”

“He’s afraid Sam will be killed?” He supposed Wyatt or Cal had told Ted why the state had custody of Sam.

“I don’t know,” Matti said. “I guess he’s just worried that I’m getting too attached to Sam.”

“Are you?” Not that he blamed her if she was. Sam was easy to get attached to.

“How could I not be? It doesn’t matter, though. As soon as I know it’s safe, I’ll place him with a foster family.”

Ryan thought he should be good with that, but he wasn’t. He was going to miss the little man once he was out of Matti’s care. And what about him and Matti? Would she still want to see him once Sam was no longer in her care? He thought maybe they had something between them. He knew he felt something for her, but he didn’t know where she stood.

Sam ran ahead of Emily as they returned to the booth. “We got dessert. The lady said she’d bring them to us. I hope she comes soon.” He crawled up onto the seat.