Blame it on Cupid by Jennifer Greene

parenthood of a girl as complex as Charlene. It’d be like a poodle trying to mother a baby Rottweiler. Or a fuzzy, fluffy rabbit trying to nurture a porcupine.
    Jack could sympathize. She was in a mess.
    It just wasn’t his mess.
    Yet as he trudged across the yard, he still felt unsettled and…restless. He was used to women coming on to him, thinking he was attractive. It’s not as if he were in his dotage, for God’s sake. He had all his hair. Kept up his build. Women seemed to sense he had exceptional potential between the sheets—which was the total truth. He took major pride in the skills and experience he brought to a lover.
    So it’d been a while since a woman had punched him in the ego teeth.
    What itched him most was that Merry apparently thought she was complimenting him. Good friend? Nice dad? What the hell was that? When she’d kissed him the night before, she’d sure yanked all his testosterone chains…but hell, maybe he hadn’t aroused any of hers and the chemical combustion between them had been all on his side.
    So… fine, he thought. And slammed the door on the way in.
    Â 
    M ERRY LOOKED AT THE GLUM FACE across the breakfast table on Saturday morning. “You sleep okay?”
    â€œFine,” Charlie said, head down.
    â€œYou kept saying it went okay in school…but did something happen with that Dougall boy?”
    Charlene shrugged. “He said he was sorry. I’m not sure if he was really sorry or not. I think they made him say something because of, like, implying I was gay. The school always has a cow if somebody does the homophobe thing. But, whatever.”
    Whatever. The universal answer. But the kid’s face still looked clunky-low. “Are you still upset with me about the argument we had about the guns?”
    â€œNo.”
    Merry figured any answer that short was really a yes, but getting more information was like pushing a rock uphill. “I got a call last night,” she mentioned. “June Innes. Do you remember meeting her?”
    Finally, a direct glance. Wary. “Yeah. She was the one who met with me after Dad died. I mean, so did a social worker, but Mrs. Innes was different. It was kind of weird, you know? She said she had the power to say what happened to me. Like that she’d be the one who’d represent me in court.”
    Merry nodded. “I’m not sure I totally understand the whole guardian ad litem role, either, Charl. But you’ve got it right. She’s supposed to be on your side, represent your needs. And she called to say she was coming over Monday, after school. Just to see you.” She would have added more details, but Charlie’s face lit up with alarm.
    â€œI’m fine. Nobody has to ‘represent’ me. Nobody has to see me. Nothing’s wrong. I don’t want to talk to her. You’re not going to throw me out just because of the trouble in school, are you? I’ve never been in trouble before. Even once. It was just a bad day!”
    Merry felt her heart squeeze tight. “I was never going to throw you out, you silly, whether you’re having bad days or good days. But we can’t stop Mrs. Innes from visiting, Charl. And she really is on your side. I have to admit, though, when she called, I realized we’d been trashing the house. We should probably do straightening up before she gets here.”
    â€œI can clean house. I know how. You don’t have to.” And then another burst. “I don’t want to go anywhere else but home. I don’t see why she gets to say what happens to me. She doesn’t even know me. You’re not mad at me, are you, Merry? Because I can be quieter. And I can clean good. You’re not going to let her take me away, are you?”
    â€œNo one, but no one, is going to take you away, Charlie.” Merry kept thinking, Poor baby. The crazy brush cut and swagger and guns were just the opposite of