Page 18 of Theirs to Treasure

“I knew you’d put that together.” Sam reached over and squeezed her leg “Yep, Chance and I were in foster care together with the Hutchins, off and on, from the time I was eight to the age of eighteen.”

“Why did you live with the Hutchins off and on?”

“My birth parents occasionally convinced the state that they had cleaned up their act and I should go home with them.” Josie heard the ice in his tone and understood it far too well. She decided not to pursue that issue further, at least not now.

“I imagine there were a lot of other kids besides just you and Chance, if I remember how Butch and Betty operate.” Josie smiled. There were probably never more than five children in the house at one time, but the Hutchins certainly believed in taking in foster children and making a home for them. They even took in the kids who were “hard cases” or when the kids might only be with them for a few weeks. “I can’t remember their names, but Betty and Butch talked about a few other kids besides you and Chance who seemed to have stayed for a while.”

“There was Olivia, Flynn, and Brianna, who were there most of the time that Chance and I were with the Hutchins. I know all three of them keep in touch with Butch and Betty.”

“Did you stay in touch with them?” Josie asked.

“I did for the first couple of years, but then I lost track. Chance does a better job of that kind of thing. If you were to ask him, he would know exactly where each of them is right now. Chance is more the glue. I read a birth order book once, and he has all the tendencies of a middle child. He’s a mediator, always wants to keep the peace, always wants to bring people together. Basically, he’s the world’s biggest operators…I think that’s what made him so good in business.”

Josie couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, my God, I remember that about him even when he was three or four years old. He could con me into doing just about anything. He really got away with murder with Betty. She was always cooking him his favorite meals because of some sob story he told her. Did he still get away with that when you two were living with her?”

“Oh yeah, he had her wrapped around his finger. But I think she knew what he was doing, because for every special meal she cooked for him, she cooked one for every other kid, as well.”

“I really loved my time with them,” she said wistfully.

“After dinner tonight, we’re going to swap stories. Don’t expect to get out of it this time.”

“I know, Sam,” she answered quietly.

* * *

It was six-forty-five when Sam got Josie back to her apartment. Knowing her schedule, he figured she needed to be in bed no later than eight. She couldn’t keep her killer schedule up at the bakery, she needed more help, but woe to the man who pushed his nose into her life that far. But walking her to her door and making sure she got in all right was definitely within his purview. So was getting some answers.

Dinner had been fascinating. Betty only brought up three different poly marriages in the course of two hours, and she managed to bring up what great friends he and Chance were about forty times. Josie was totally oblivious to the subtext, but by the time dessert rolled around, neither Sam nor Butch could look at one another for fear of bursting out laughing. Butch finally suggested that Sam come see the new modifications he’d made to the motorhome, and Sam jumped at the opportunity to escape the weirdest matchmaking attempt he’d ever been subjected to.

“Where in the hell did Mama Betty get the idea I would want to share Josie with Chance?” Sam asked Butch.

Sam shook his head when Butch offered him a beer from the cooler in the carport.

“She just thinks this two-husband setup is the best thing since sliced bread, Sam. I can’t figure it out, but she thinks for some people it just works. She’s convinced that you and Chance are two of those men who will find it fulfills their needs. She’s been saying it since we’ve moved here. What’s more, I think she has Chance convinced, too.”

“Hmmm.”

“Hmmm, what?” Butch asked.

“It’s kind of a chicken-and-egg thing. Does Betty have Chance convinced, or does Chance have Betty convinced?”

Butch chuckled, then took a sip of his beer. “Well, that’s a damn good question, Son.”

As they left, Josie teared up when she hugged the older couple. Clearly, the Hutchins meant the world to her.

Sam walked Josie up the outside steps to her apartment, careful to stay close behind her. She’d had wine with dinner, and he didn’t know if she’d taken pain medication that day. She glanced back at him. “I know what you’re doing Sam, and you don’t need to. I’m perfectly able to navigate my own staircase.”

“You had two glasses of wine.”

“So, you were counting,” she accused. “I had two sips of the second glass that Butch poured.” Sam took the keys from her hand and unlocked the door.

“Did you take medication today?”

“I took some this morning, not this afternoon,” Josie huffed. “If I had, I wouldn’t have had any wine with dinner.”

Josie pushed open her door, walked inside, then turned to face him. She held out her hand for her keys. Sam walked past her, ignoring her outstretched hand, realizing he had offended her. Dammit, he’d fucked up.

“I don’t require a keeper, Sam. I’d like you to leave.” Josie’s eyes flashed fire at him.