Desperately Seeking Dad by Marta Perry Page B

you’re right.”
    That smile was doing such odd things to her that she wasn’t sure she could say anything intelligible. Luckily, he didn’t seem to expect anything.
    â€œI’ve been sitting here going over it. Trying to be angry.” He frowned into the flames. “Instead, I kept seeing Davey’s face, thinking about his family. Wondering if you’re right about me.” He shrugged. “It would account for a lot.”
    â€œYour family…” She stopped, remembering the unpleasant things Enid had said about his family. About him.
    His face seemed to freeze. “I could never count on my family for anything.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” It seemed to be all she could say.
    He reached forward, picking up a poker to shove a log into place. The flames leaped, casting flickering shadows on the strong planes of his face.
    â€œWhen I look at Davey, I guess I see the kid I was. Running the streets with no one who cared enough to make me behave myself.”
    Maybe it was safer to keep the focus on Davey, instead of on Mitch. “Does Davey have anyone?” she asked.
    â€œJust his father.” His expression eased slightly. He’d probably much rather talk about Davey than himself. He leaned elbows on his knees, letting thepoker dangle. “Ed Flagler doesn’t mistreat the boy, as far as we can tell. He just doesn’t pay attention to him. Davey’s headed for trouble if something doesn’t change.”
    Obviously she’d been wrong. He did care what happened to the boy.
    â€œYou’re planning to talk to the father. Do you think you can get through to him? Make him see the damage he’s doing to his son?”
    â€œIt’s worth a try.” His mouth tightened into a grim, painful line. “At least he’s still there. That counts for something.”
    Pain gripped her heart suddenly, but it wasn’t for Davey. It was for Mitch. He betrayed so clearly the lonely boy he’d been. Maybe he still hadn’t admitted to himself how much his father’s leaving had hurt him.
    This house—she glanced at the room with new eyes. Mitch hadn’t just bought a place because he was tired of renting. He’d created a home here—the home he’d never had before.
    She cleared her throat, trying to suppress the tears that choked her. “If talking to the father doesn’t do any good, what will you do about Davey?”
    â€œGuess I can’t just throw him in a cell.” He sent a sideways glance at her. “Some smart lawyer would probably get after me if I did that.”
    â€œProbably,” she agreed.
    â€œSo I’m going to put him to work.”
    â€œWork? Isn’t he kind of young for that?”
    He shrugged. “Never too early to learn the value of work, especially for a kid like Davey. I figure I’ll offer to pay him for doing some odd jobs around the station, maybe even around here. That might make him see he doesn’t have to steal if he wants something.”
    He understood the child better than she’d thought. He was going to a lot of trouble for Davey.
    â€œBetter watch out. He might start looking up to you.”
    His mouth quirked. “That’ll be the day. Far as he’s concerned, I’m the enemy.”
    â€œIt’s pretty obvious the boy needs a role model. Maybe he’s found one.”
    Some emotion she couldn’t identify shadowed his eyes. “I’m not setting myself up to be a substitute father. With the example my father set for me, I don’t know how.”
    There wasn’t anything she could say to that, was there? But it was pretty clear that her goal of getting things back to a businesslike basis between them was doomed to failure.
    The pain in her heart for the lonely boy who lurked inside him told her she’d already started to care too much.
    What was the matter with him? He was saying things he’d never said to a