“Oh,” Marilyn said, frowning. “That’s no fun, then.”
“I assure you, it’s not the least bit fun. Leave him alone.”
Still frowning thoughtfully, Marilyn unconsciously placed the cigarette in her mouth and reached for her lighter.
Holly added sternly, “And don’t smoke in my house.”
“Crawford, I wish you’d called first. I’ve already put Georgia down.”
Grace answered the door dressed in a robe and slippers. It wasn’t that late, but even so, she looked unusually haggard, ill at ease, and none too glad to see him. She didn’t invite him in.
“How is she?”
“Fine. But I let her stay up past bedtime to finish a new DVD. By the time it was over, she was nearly asleep. Joe had to carry her to bed.”
“Then I won’t wake her up. Actually, I came to see Joe.”
“Right now isn’t a good time.” His mother-in-law began twisting her fingers together. “We were on our way to bed. We haven’t quite recovered from yesterday.”
“Neither have I.”
“Then don’t you think it’s probably best if we…”
“What?”
“If we keep some distance.”
“Why?”
“Because Joe has been on a tear, and nothing good will come out of you two going at each other.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more. But I’m not sure Joe is of the same mind. Or else why did he call Neal Lester and raise questions about my ‘odd’ behavior?”
“Let him in, Grace.”
Joe’s harsh voice cut through the darkness behind her, and a second later he stepped into view. In contrast to Grace’s deshabille, he was as stiffly starched as ever. Crawford wondered if he slept that way.
Reluctantly, Grace moved aside, making room for Crawford in the entryway, then, after getting a pointed look from her husband, she excused herself and retreated in the direction of their bedroom at the back of the house.
He and Joe squared off. Crawford said, “You’re rattling sabers, Joe.”
“I warned you of a fight.”
“Between you and me. Why’d you take it to Neal?”
“Your refusal to talk about your exchange with Rodriguez—”
“I didn’t refuse. I postponed talking about it.”
“—left me asking some hard questions about how you handled that situation.”
“Why didn’t you come to me with those questions?”
“I considered them to be a matter for the police.”
“Like hell you did. It was a cheap shot to get to me. Unworthy of you, Joe.”
“I’ll use any means to keep Georgia.”
“That’s what worries me. You’ve lost your perspective, and Georgia will be the one to suffer for it.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Have you been talking trash about me in front of her?”
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
“Where Georgia is concerned, you do.”
“Not while I still have legal custody. Besides, I speak only the truth about you, and your daughter needs to hear it.”
“You think you’re going to win her affection by bad-mouthing me?”
“Tell you what, you can raise that issue the next time we’re in court.”
“Tell you what, Joe,” Crawford fired back, “not a fucking chance. I won’t do anything that necessitates Georgia being in on a hearing. I can’t believe you would drag a five-year-old into a pissing contest between you and me.”
“That’s what you think this is?” He snorted.
“Isn’t it? One of the main reasons you’re contesting my petition is simply to spite me.”
“Not so. I want what’s best for my granddaughter.”
“Save it for the judge. Save it for when you’re under oath. If you’re spoiling for a fight, I’ll give you one. But let’s conduct it in a court of law.”
Crawford took a step closer to him. Joe held his position, but since he was shorter, he had to tilt his head back in order to look into Crawford’s face. “But, if you keep saying in Georgia’s presence that I’m to blame for everything—”
“You are! Beth would be alive if not for you.”
“If you insist on making our fight personal, I’ll oblige you. For four long years I’ve taken your crap for Grace’s sake. For Georgia’s sake. But push me hard enough, and you’ll lose not only Georgia but something you value even more.”
“There is nothing I value more.”
“Oh, but there is.”
Crawford spoke softly but emphatically, and, for the first time since he’d known the man, Joe looked uncertain. But the chink in his armor closed up as fast as it had appeared. He thrust out his chin. “How dare you threaten me, you—”
“Daddy?”
Crawford jerked his gaze off his father-in-law. Georgia had come from her bedroom into the hallway and was regarding them warily. She had sensed the anger between them, causing her to hesitate rather than to run and greet him as she normally would have.
He sidestepped his father-in-law and pasted on a smile. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Sleepyhead.”