“I understand. But you are all a walking target for that man. You need to go inside Jenny’s and call the police. Now!”
“I know. I’m already there,” he said as he opened the door to Jenny’s.
“Good. Wait for me there.”
“You’re not coming anywhere near us, Cait. You’re pregnant.”
“I’ve been a cop for most of my life. I know how things work, O. I can help you.”
“I’m not having it, Cait. I will not have it on my conscience and that’s final.”
He hung up the phone and entered Jenny’s.
He found his girls sitting in the back, slurping their milkshakes.
“Hey, is something wrong?” Tara asked him the moment he joined their table.
He nodded. “I just ran into someone I didn’t want to run into.”
Tara instantly froze.
“Ugh,” Frankie said, like she had that happen to her all the time.
“You did?” Tara asked.
“Yeah. But it’s going to be okay, though.”
“Why wouldn’t it be? Is it someone who you hate?” Frankie asked.
He forgot how smart his almost six-year-old was.
“Nah. I just didn’t want to hung out with him,” Owen said as he tried to give Frankie his most reassuring smile.
“Sweetie, can you please ask Jenny if she could bake some fries for us?” Tara asked Frankie.
“Yes!”
Frankie got out of the booth and the moment she was out of earshot, Owen slid his phone across the table and said, “Look at this picture. Is this your father?”
Tara’s face turned to ash as she brought a hand against her lips. She nodded in silence.
“You made that picture two days ago when you were on your way to the big house, right?”
“Oh, my God. He could have snatched Frankie right then. Or when she was with your father on that damn lawn mower.”
“He was casing you,” Caitlin said as she scooted into the booth.
Adam slipped also in, joining Owen’s side.
“What are you doing here?” Owen said through gritted teeth.
“What? I told you I was going to help you.”
Owen turned to his brother. “And you are okay with this? She’s carrying your child.”
“I know. I’m not letting her out of my sight. But I couldn’t stop her from coming over for a milkshake, right? You never say no to a pregnant woman. Never.”
Owen slammed his closed fist on top of the table. “This isn’t a joke, Adam.”