Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“To see my daughter,” she exclaims. “I have a right—”
Officer Schmidt, still on the porch, holds up a palm to Sandra. “You had your turn. Let Ms. Archer finish.”
Sandra’s mouth slams shut and I continue. “As I said, she showed up unannounced to visit, and because she’d come such a long way and Bowie Jane was excited she was here, I invited her inside. But then Sandra tried to take Bowie Jane from the house and I couldn’t let that happen, so I called 9-1-1.”
“And where’s the child?” the cop asks.
“I had her go to her room so she wouldn’t see any of this.” Then I blush having forgotten my manners. I step back and motion with my hand. “Please… come in.”
With a curt smile, the officer steps in and glances around. “Anyone else in the home?”
“No,” I reply. “Just us.”
“Any weapons?”
“None.” Unless you count Sandra’s right hook.
“What is the custody arrangement?” she asks, her gaze remaining on me to answer.
“I’m allowed to visit,” Sandra says and then lifts her chin. “And there are no set days and I can visit as much as I want.”
I hold up my finger. “If you can wait just a moment, I’ve got the written order from the judge.” The cop nods and I scurry off to the kitchen where I have a folder of important information that includes not only the order of custody but the necessary powers of attorney that let me provide general and medical care to Bowie Jane.
I return and hand the three-page document to the officer who takes her time to read it.
She gives it back to me, then looks at Sandra. “It does not say you can take her from the home.”
“It doesn’t say I can’t,” she snaps.
“The original custody order was put in place because she was threatening to take Bowie Jane out of the country. I deemed it prudent not to let her take her out of the house, even if it was just as she said, to visit with her.”
Officer Schmidt doesn’t say anything for a moment, but her gaze focuses in on my cheek. My hand lifts and I touch the sore spot. “What happened?” she asks.
“Sandra punched me when I tried to stop her from going after Bowie Jane.”
“I was defending myself,” Sandra rushes to say. “She grabbed me first.”
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do,” Officer Schmidt says calmly, reaching for the door to open it. “I’m going to take Ms. Tanner outside to get a full statement.” Her gaze comes to me. “You stay inside with the child and I’ll come back in to get your statement after.”
I nod my understanding, relieved to have Sandra out of the house. Now I have to call Foster and tell him what’s going on. I don’t think to keep this from him, even though he’s getting ready to play a game.
CHAPTER 28
Foster
It’s almost three a.m. when I quietly enter the house from the garage. I put my gear bag on the counter, shed my jacket that has my tie already crumpled up in the pocket, and toss it over a chair back. Normally coming home from an away game where we fly back right after, I’d stumble my way to bed because I’d be so exhausted.
Not this morning though.
I am pissed and even though it’s been nearly twelve hours since Mazzy called me with the police at my house because Sandra attempted to take Bowie Jane, my blood pressure has not receded in the slightest.
I know Mazzy hated to make that call but she did the right thing. I was already at the Toronto arena with my team, doing some bike warm-ups when my cell phone rang. I knew right away something was wrong because Mazzy wouldn’t call while I was in game mode unless it was crucial. She might text a nonurgent question or send me a good-luck GIF, but a phone call meant she had to talk to me right then.
I was on a stationary bike and I hopped off to move away from Bain and Penn who were on the other two—all of us slowly warming up our legs. I was braced for bad news but I was not prepared for Mazzy’s incredulous story of Sandra showing up unannounced, packing a bag and attempting to leave with Bowie Jane.
“I’m so sorry I let her in the house, Foster,” Mazzy said, and I could hear the quaver in her voice. “I shouldn’t have.”
“Of course you should have,” I reassured her without a moment’s doubt. “Sandra is her mother. She made a trip to see her. The house should’ve been a safe place for her to visit. Are you okay?”
Mazzy glossed over the physical altercation, merely claiming she had to physically stop Sandra from going up the stairs.
“I’m fine,” she replied and her voice sounded stronger. “But I need to go to Bowie Jane and that’s why I called you. You need to talk to her about this. She needs your reassurance.”