“Toot, toot, Mrs. Duncan. Watch out or the train will run over you.”
“I’ll watch out, Jimmy,” she said, stepping over bright blocks and entering the cubicle that was her office. Ani- mals were painted in primary colors on the walls and her desk was placed on a bright red square of carpet. Sylvia Duncan stood looking at the children through the large window. “What a lovely place you have.”
“Thank you. Won’t you have a seat?”
Sylvia’s face was paler than Juliana remembered, with a dark blush staining her cheeks. Her knuckles were white as she gripped her cane, and Juliana’s fears deepened.
“I’m downtown because I’m looking for Cal. I went by his office and the courthouse. His receptionist has gone to lunch and until one of them gets back, his office is locked. I thought I would see if he’s with you.”
“No. He was going to Dallas for a case this morning. I’m sure he’s in Dallas now. Is his father all right?”
“Yes.” Sylvia bit her lip in uncertainty. “It’s his brother, Webb. The police called me. They think Webb robbed a convenience store today.”
Eleven
“Oh, no!” Shocked, Juliana realized why Sylvia Duncan was distraught. “Sit down, Mrs. Duncan.”
“You must call me Sylvia. And I’d love to stay with him but I should get back home to my husband, Harris. He was calling some people, but we need to get in touch with Cal. Webb needs his help.”
“I’m sure,” Juliana said, thinking about Cal’s busy schedule. “I’ll try to get word to him to call the moment he gets out of court. I expected him to call, anyway.”
“Thank you,” Sylvia said, heading toward the door. Ju- liana walked beside her. “You have a lovely preschool here,” Sylvia repeated. “Our friends who have a grand- child here say they are so happy with it. She’s little Chelsea Martin.”
“Yes. Chelsea’s here today, in fact,” Juliana said, spot- ting the blond four-year-old. Then, noticing again the woman’s flushed face, she asked, “Are you sure you don’t need to sit for a moment?”
“No. I’ll run along, but please have Cal phone as soon as he possibly can. We need his help.”
“Of course. I’ll try to get in touch with him right now.”
“Thank you,” Sylvia said, looking relieved as she paused at the door. “I knew you would be good for him. He sounds happier than he has in years.”
“He’s good for me, too,” Juliana said quietly, knowing he had brought so much vitality and joy to her life.
“He talks about your nephews as if they were his own boys. I’m glad. So very glad. Cal will be good with them.”
“They love him.”
Sylvia frowned. “I wish we could all do things over. I wish Harris had known how to be as patient as Cal.”
Juliana felt at a loss, suddenly wondering about Cal’s childhood. They had been so in love and wrapped in a co- coon of passion, as well as busy with the boys, that they had spent little time talking about the past.
“Thank you, Juliana.”
Juliana held the door open and watched Sylvia limp along the sidewalk, leaning heavily on the cane before stopping to unlock her car and climb inside. Without waiting to watch her drive away, Juliana went back to her office to call Dal- las. Why had Webb been accused of robbery? Mistaken identity? Or could Cal’s brother have actually committed such a crime?
She couldn’t imagine the latter. Cal himself seemed to have a high sense of right and wrong and fairness, espe- cially in his dealings with the boys. Certainly Cal’s brother would have the same values.
If it were mistaken identity that was causing the police to search for Cal’s brother, then Cal needed to get involved as quickly as possible. She picked up the phone to place the call.
It was two hours later when she received a call in return. Relief swamped her at the sound of Cal’s voice.
“Hi, babe. What’s wrong?”
“Your mother was here. Cal, the police think your brother might have been involved in the robbery of a con- venience store. Your mother is so distraught. Can you call her right away? She thinks your brother may need your help.”
“Well, damn. Yes, I’ll call Mom and get back to you. Okay?”
“Yes. Thanks for calling back.”
The connection was broken and she replaced the re- ceiver, knowing now his parents would be relieved and his brother would get the help he needed. And by this time, if Webb was innocent, he had probably been cleared.
Her concern vanished because she felt Cal would turn his full attention to it immediately. She left her office to return to the children.
At half-past six, as she was kicking off her shoes in the upstairs bedroom to change clothes, Juliana heard foot- steps in the hall and Cal entered the room. He closed the door behind him.
“Did you just get home?” he asked. He was wearing his navy suit and a deep red tie and he looked incredibly hand- some. He shed his jacket, tossing it over a chair and loos- ening his tie to unbutton his shirt.
Nodding, she became aware of her hair clipped behind her head and the red cotton sundress she had on. By the end of the day, after dealing with three- and four-year-olds, she felt slightly frazzled, yet Cal looked as fresh as he had that morning.
“I want to talk to you,” he said.
From the solemn tone of his voice, she guessed that he had discovered his brother had been involved in the rob- bery. She crossed the room to him to slide her arms around his waist.
“Cal, I’m sorry about your brother. I know you’ve had a shock.”
He stared at her wordlessly and then moved away from her, pulling off his tie to drop it on the bed. He turned around. “The police still haven’t found Webb.”
“Then you don’t know whether or not he was involved.”
Cal gave her a direct look. “Webb was involved.”
She stared at Cal as realization
