“No, you can’t do that. I’ll live with you. Leave Riley alone. You want me? You can have me, but you don’t get to do anything to Riley.” Wren leaned forward with each finger jab, causing Tia to take a step back. “And trust me when I say, if you do anything to Riley—anything at all—I’ll make you wish you’d never laid eyes on me.” Wren’s eyes looked like granite as she stared at Tia.
Tia stepped back, flustered. Finally, she shook her head and said, “Get in the car.”
Frank stood to the side, his hands shoved in his pockets.
Riley latched onto Wren’s arm. “You are not taking her. You want to ruin my career? Go for it. But you can’t have Wren. You don’t have any legal authority.”
I stepped next to Riley, reaching down and holding her other hand. She looked up and nodded at me.
Johnny stepped between Tia and Riley. “What court gave you guardianship of Wren?”
“No one,” Frank finally spoke up. He seemed quieter when he was around his fiancée. Maybe he’d been browbeaten by her as well. He was a different man than the coffee-cup-stealing-toilet-selling-man I’d met.
“My lawyer is going to make sure we have it. And this girl is going to happily give up her rights, or I’m going to ruin her little influencer hustle she has going on.” Her smile was disgustingly smug.
Johnny looked at Riley. Riley said quietly, “I will do what I need to do to protect my sister.”
Wren looked relieved. And I was prouder than proud could be.
Tia sputtered and took a step toward Riley. I stepped in between them. “Ma’am, whatever you do next, I would think carefully about it.” I glanced over her head at Johnny who jerked his chin at me in assent.
“Johnny, here, is an officer of the law, and as such, he is prepared to arrest you for attempted kidnapping. I hope you don’t mind a mug shot plastered all over the newspaper.” I couldn’t stop the smile at the look of horror on her face.
Wren looked positively gleeful from where she stood next to Frank.
Tia sputtered. Frank rubbed a hand over his face.
“Get in the car, Frank. We’ll fight this in court and destroy that fake career of Riley’s.”
Everyone visibly relaxed as they watched the pair walk toward the white car. Tia took short, stamping steps while Frank trudged behind. They climbed into the car and slammed the doors.
Riley let go of my hand and wrapped Wren in a hug. “You sweetheart, offering to go live with that witch to help me.”
“I don’t know how she knew about your work, but I don’t want to let her ruin you.”
I kept staring at the SUV that was still parked in the driveway. I’d hoped the threat of kidnapping would drive them off and that they would leave Riley and Wren alone. Didn’t that woman have enough kids? She didn’t need another one. And Frank seemed indifferent to it all. Riley was probably right—he was only after any money Tia could provide.
My phone rang, and I answered it. “Hello?”
“Your mother and I are on the way. Nola and Bane climbed in the backseat. They refused to be left at home. I called my lawyer, and he’s ready to take on their case if it ends up going to court. How are things there?”
“I’m not sure yet. They left under threat of attempted kidnapping, but now they’re sitting in their car, arguing.”
“Whatever you do, don’t let them leave there with the girl. They sound unstable.”
“I think we’ll be okay.” I glanced at where Riley stood chatting with Wren, and Johnny stood beside me, glaring at the car.
The passenger door opened, and Frank stepped out of the car. “Well, here we go again. I’ve got to go, Dad.”
I hung up, bracing myself to field any arguments with Frank. Then, something strange happened. Tia slammed the car in reverse and drove away, leaving Frank standing in the driveway, shuffling back and forth.
Wren and Riley stepped forward. “Frank, your fiancée left without you,” Riley pointed out the obvious.
He glanced over his shoulder and watched until the car turned out of the trailer park. “She’s not my fiancée anymore.”
“What?” Wren asked in a dry voice.
“Wren, I know I’m not good at showing it, but I care about you.” He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “And I couldn’t bear to make you live with that woman. I know I’ve dragged you into my life more than I should have, but I couldn’t bring that onto the two of you. I’m just sorry for the trouble it might cause Riley.”
So, toilet-sellers could have a change of heart. I was glad he wasn’t the kind of man who would use his daughter as a bargaining chip for money.
Riley nodded and smiled sadly. “It’s okay. If she decides to blast me, it’s probably what I deserve. I’ve been lying to my followers. I can figure out something else to do.”
“So, you’re not pursuing custody of Wren?” I asked him.
Frank shook his head. “She’s my kid. But even I know she’s better off with Riley than with me.”
Wren launched herself at Frank, wrapping her arms around his neck. She was the same height as him but much thinner. I could have sworn I saw a hint of moisture in Frank’s eyes, but it might have been the light of the setting sun.
Riley grabbed my hand and whispered to me, “I’ve never seen her hug him before.”
It wasn’t a pretty hug. Frank didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he ended up patting her back with both of them. It was oddly touching. I’d wondered why Riley had bothered to let the man keep visiting his daughter, but
