Merrick Cody loved the snow. The clean, white perfection of it blanketing the world around her made her forget the day she’d had.
It wasn’t easy for her to do that sometimes.
Today she’d proven in court that a drunk nineteen-year-old, spoiled party girl had been responsible for the hit-and-run that had killed an eighty-three-year-old neighbor. The elderly lady had once babysat for the girl and her siblings.
Cody had sat there in court and told every bit of the evidence she had collected. The girl had sat at the defendant’s table with a bored expression on her face. Almost soulless.
They’d had forty-three photographs of the yellow headlight fragments alone.
It had been a long and grueling day—and it was about to be an equally long night.
Lucy was waiting for her. Cody pulled in to the Brockmans’ drive. She loved the way their home looked with the snow. It was so welcoming—and it had that feel of a grandmother’s home about it. Inside and out.
It was the perfect place for Lucy to spend her time while Cody worked. It also helped that Meredith Brockman was one of the best child psychologists in the country, even if she had retired four years ago to write textbooks and participate in research.
When she’d learned Cody needed a safe place for Lucy, she had volunteered her time.
Now Lucy spent her time with the Brockmans and called them Grandma and Grandpa. And the Brockmans understood how to deal with children who had experienced extreme trauma.
Her adopted daughter definitely qualified as that.
Cody was still adjusting to being a single parent, and she probably would be for a while.
A redheaded woman was entering the Brockmans’ home just ahead. Cody smiled. Carrie was a good friend, even if she was married to Cody’s ex-husband, Sebastian. “Care!”
Carrie turned. “Hi. I thought you were driving behind me.”
“Slow going.” And Carrie had been extremely cautious on the potential ice.
“Yes. I’m off tomorrow. We’re going to stay home, I think.”
“Good idea. Lucy and I have the same plans.” Cody’s apartment wasn’t far from her ex-husband’s. She and Carrie would be driving in the same direction—Cody would follow the younger woman home, just to make sure Carrie got there ok. “Do you want to grab something to eat before heading home?”
The door opened, and Al’s mother stood there. “Nonsense, girls. I’ve made plenty—and I don’t have anyone to help me eat it but you and Kenneth. Please stay.”
Cody thought that sounded like a wonderful idea. She knew Carrie’s husband was off somewhere with Team Three.
“What do you say, Care? Free food?”
“I’d love to stay.”
Before Cody could say another word, a tiny dark-haired whirlwind hit her full force. “Mommy!”
Her arms wrapped around the love of her life, and Cody just held her tight.