Man with a Past by Kay Stockham Read Free Book Online Page B

Grime and glue coated his fingers and despite his unwillingness to use the items, he walked over to the container and opened the lid.
    Memories bombarded him as the scent of baby powder filled the air. Lost in thought, he pulled out several wipes, his mind spiraling back in time to impossibly soft skin and sweet baby noises. The papery sound of diapers. Gurgles and trusting little eyes.
    God help him, he missed her. And he hated himself for letting Josie down. For not being the father he should’ve been when she needed him most.
    â€œHere you go.”
    Joe punched the pop-up lid closed with a snap and tossed the now shredded towelettes in the wastebasket sitting on the counter out of flood range. He inhaled the baby-scented air and found Ashley holding a loaded plate with two sandwiches, chips and a slice of pickle on the side. He stared at it, his appetite gone even though he’d been starving minutes earlier.
    â€œI hope turkey is all right. I’ll make you something else if you like, but I’ve got to warn you all I have at the moment is bologna.”
    â€œTurkey’s fine.” He reached for the plate.
    â€œIced tea?”
    He nodded again and she hurried to pull a glass from a nearby cabinet.
    â€œWilson, you want a tray?”
    â€œNo, missy, I’m a-coming.” Wilson appeared in the doorway, his knuckles white as he gripped his walker for the next step. Distracted, Ashley poured the tea and handed the nearly full glass to Joe, frowning as she watched the old man’s progress. “You’ve been up a lot today. Better take it easy or you’ll pay for it tomorrow.”
    Wilson ignored her and continued on into the room. “Max is playing with a chew thing and drooling all over hisself. Never seen a youngun water so much. He’s gettin’ fussy, too.”
    â€œI hope that tooth comes in soon,” she said as she quickly loaded a second plate with food. “And it’s his lunchtime. Maybe he’ll settle down with a bottle and take a nice long nap.”
    She hurried around Wilson and placed the plate on the kitchen table before pulling out the closest chair for the old man to sit down. That done, she hurried back to get another glass of tea.
    â€œHere’s your iced tea and, please, go easy on the sugar. I’ve already warmed a bottle, so I’ll feed Max and try to get him to sleep while you two eat.” Ashley grabbed a bottle from the counter next to the stove and disappeared into the living room as her son’s fussy whimpers turned into full-fledged cries.
    â€œAlways running somewhere, that one. Get that sink done?”
    Joe pulled out the chair next to Wilson and sat down. “It’s drying. Should be set by the time I finish this,” he said, picking up one of his sandwiches. “What’s next on the list of repairs?”
    Wilson shrugged. “Gotta ask Ashley that. She’s got a list a mile long.”
    Joe glanced at the empty doorway and cleared his throat, careful to keep his voice low. “Look, Idon’t mind helping out, but as far as this job goes…I don’t like keeping secrets. Especially one as big as my record.”
    Wilson pursed his lips and nodded sadly. “Guess the evidence was right then,” he drawled. “You killed that baby girl.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    â€œI DIDN’T ,” J OE Countered forcefully.
    Wilson pointed a gnarled finger at him as he nodded. “That’s what I wanted to hear. And I never said you couldn’t tell her, boy. But I’d wait and let her get to know you and have something else to go by before you go spillin’ your guts about why you were behind bars.”
    Joe stared down at his plate.
    â€œGot some friends left in town, you know. Buried more than I care to think about, but a friend called to check on me while you were under that sink. Heard all about you getting turned down when you went looking for a job this mornin’.