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If Taylor expected to find anything resembling privacy here, he’d obviously never spent much time in a daycare. Fortunately, Jade announced that lunch was ready a few minutes later. Kimmie and Taylor could talk in the playroom while Jade served up the kids in the kitchen. Kimmie pulled out the rocking chair, and Taylor sat on top of the coloring table. Kimmie didn’t have the heart to ask him to move, and she hoped none of the kids would come out and see the trooper in uniform breaking one of the daycare rules.
Taylor strummed his fingers on his thigh and looked perfectly at ease. Kimmie just wished he could lend her a fraction of his calm and self-possession.
“I wanted to talk to you about your mom.”
Kimmie felt her breath whooshing out her lungs. It was hard to tell if his words left her more surprised or relieved, but at least it didn’t have to do with Pip.
She had a hard time knowing where to look and found her eyes flitting between Taylor’s black shiny boots, the glistening gold badge on his chest, and the tiny hint of stubble accenting a strongly defined jawline.
“This is a little awkward.” Taylor’s words belied his demeanor, which remained perfectly casual. “We’ve had a few discussions at the station that have caused us to look a little bit deeper into your mother’s case.”
Kimmie stared from his boots to his badge and back down again. What was he saying? Was her family in trouble because her mother killed herself?
Taylor looked over his shoulder. The door to the kitchen was closed, and the empty playroom suddenly felt very large and very quiet.
He lowered his voice. “I hate to be the one to bring this up, but I thought given the circumstances it might be best to talk to you first instead of going to your dad.”
Kimmie wanted to correct his mistake, but the word stepfather died on her lips before she could speak it.
“I can’t go into details, and I know this is obviously a sensitive topic. I just wanted to give you a little warning so you aren’t surprised.”
She had no idea what he was saying. She had no idea how she was expected to respond. When had people stopped speaking in plain English?
She pried her eyes away from his badge and stared at her hands which fidgeted in her lap. “I’m afraid I don’t really understand.”
He smiled at her and apologized. “I guess I was being kind of vague. I don’t want to sound like an alarmist or anything, but there’s something I think you should know.”
Time, breath, even her pulse stood still while she waited. Taylor leveled his gaze and didn’t say a word until she managed to raise her eyes to meet his.
“There’s a chance they’re going to open up an investigation looking into your mother’s death.”
Kimmie understood the individual words but not their coherent meaning when strung together. What was he saying?
Taylor must have sensed her confusion. He let out a sigh, leaned forward, and explained, “We’re starting to think this might not have been a suicide after all.”