The Comeback Girl Read Online Free Page A

thought he was going to let this stupid town and its stupid people—including his a-hole father—into his life, she was crazy.
    He’d run away first. Maybe he’d stay with Moira and her family for a while in Chicago. He’d work the docks and save enough money to go back to Ireland where he was born. Zach had no memory of the place, but it had to be better than Gold Creek, California. Hadn’t his mother left the first chance she got? Why should he stay?
    If she made him meet his father, he’d do it. The guy was supposed to be rich. I’ll meet him, steal something valuable, then hock it for a ticket east.
    He stroked Sarge’s long, silky ear and took a swallow of his soda. Two tickets. He wasn’t going to leave Sarge behind. He’d missed the dog the whole time he was in Chicago.
    The tightness in his chest eased a bit. A plan, Zach thought. It always helped to have a plan.

CHAPTER TWO
    D ONNIE CHECKED his watch before making the call. Since Sandy’s life revolved around staying beautiful for her new husband, Boyd Baker, her mornings were devoted to a personal trainer. She seldom picked up the phone before two in the afternoon.
    There were six rings before she answered. “The Baker residence.”
    Her tone was haughty and stiff. Donnie called it her English-butler voice. Sandy used it to discourage telemarketers—one of the jobs she’d held when she and Donnie were first married.
    “It’s me. Returning your call. What’s up?”
    Her hesitation made his nerves skitter with apprehension. Normally, she’d launch into some complaint about his lack of parenting skills or float a lengthy rationale about why she was going to arrive late to see their son. This felt different.
    “I hate to sound overly dramatic, but are you sitting down?”
    “Don’t worry about me, Sandy. Just spit it out. I was leaving to run a few errands before I pick up Lucas. I know you said not to pack a lot of clothes, but he needs some new shoes and I—”
    She made a huffing sound then snapped, “Things have changed, Donnie.”
    Not unusual. Happened all the time with her. Since her marriage to the wealthy set designer from L.A., her contribution to Lucas’s shared custody had dropped dramatically. More often than not, a plane ticket showed up in her place. Donnie sometimes joked that Lucas had logged more frequent-flier miles than many executives could claim.
    Unfortunately, air safety wasn’t a joking matter. Another reason why Donnie had applied to become a Federal Air Marshal.
    He knew that being an air marshal was a demanding job. Donnie wouldn’t have even considered applying if Lucas hadn’t been scheduled to move to Los Angeles to live with Sandy. This new custody agreement was a result of Sandy’s determination to prove that Lucas was a prodigy on the guitar. The fancy school she’d picked out didn’t start its new term until October first. And although Lucas had lobbied for a longer summer, Donnie thought it best to start him in school in Gold Creek to help facilitate the transition to a new curriculum. Lucas was a smart kid, but his grades didn’t show it.
    A chill passed through him. “What’s going on, Sandy? Don’t tell me you’re backing out of our deal.”
    “Boyd just got the green light on the new Chris Columbus movie. I don’t have all the details, butthe location work is in South Africa. Boyd expects to be there for eight months. And I’m going.”
    The last was added as a definite. “South Africa?”
    “Yes. I’m not sure where exactly—they’re scouting locations this week, but the movie is a period piece and I have a feeling we’re going to be someplace rather remote.”
    “For eight months? How long does it take to build a movie set?” He didn’t hide his disgust. As far as he was concerned, Sandy had abdicated her parental duties the minute Boyd came into the picture.
    “Boyd is very much in demand, and it’s a tribute to the director’s trust in him that he wants Boyd on-site the whole