Turned Read Online Free Page A

and he fought to contain it.
    “Will you stop putting words into my mouth? Reorganize your child care arrangements.”
    “I’ve advertised for a nanny. Just haven’t found one yet.”
    “Then until you do, perhaps your child minder could start a little earlier. Or you pull your kids out of bed at seven thirty and put them in the school’s breakfast clubs. Or see if a neighbor could take them. Who picks them up?”
    “Either my parents or Jas’s.” He pushed his hands through his hair.
    “Then sort it. You’ve got a week. Nate can’t keep covering for you. It’s not fair on him.” She paused. “And if I’ve noticed, so have the rest of the squad and the rest of the chain of command. You’re not just letting yourself down here.”
    “I’ll sort it.”
    “Good. Now go catch Nate up at the morgue. Assuming he’s even left his desk yet.”
    Dane exited the office, very much feeling like his tail was between his legs and his ears were down. Bile rose in his throat, and his tie choked him. He had no idea how to fix any of this. He loved his kids, and he loved his job. Lord, I need some help here. A nanny would be ideal. Please provide someone of Your choosing.
    He looked at Nate. “You still here?”
    Nate stood as Dane came over. “Figured I’d wait and this way we only use one pool car. Give the boss one less thing to gripe about. Let’s go.”
    Dane grabbed his jacket. “Thanks.”
    “Are you all right?”
    “Fine.”
    “Pull the other one, it’s got bells on.”
    Dane shrugged. “Is my head still on my shoulders?”
    Nate grinned. “There’s a chunk missing, but you won’t need that today. How bad was it?”
    “Other than me letting down the entire squad, not to mention being the worst partner you could possibly have, and it’s all down to being a lousy father who can’t juggle work and kids effectively like every other single parent can? Things are just peachy.”
    “She said all that?”
    “I condensed it for you, but essentially, yeah, that’s what she said.” He held the main door open, letting a blast of heat into the air-conditioned building. “I could read between the lines and go as far as saying I turn up on time from now on or I’m looking for a new job. She did say I can’t blame Jasmine’s death for the kids acting this way. It’s been two years. Time to move on. And so, therefore, if it’s not Jasmine’s fault, its mine.”
    Nate held his gaze. “Why don’t you just count your blessings for a change?”
    Count his blessings? What blessings? Pent-up frustration boiled to the surface as his left hook caught Nate square on the jaw, sending him flying to the tarmac. “One,” Dane snarled.
    Nate lay there, slowly moving his jaw and rubbing it. “Feel better?”
    Dane shrugged. He held out a hand to haul his partner to his feet. “I am really sorry.”
    “It’s OK.” He nudged Dane toward the passenger side of the car. “And at least you didn’t do that upstairs.”
    “Then the Guv would have my guts for garters.”
    Nate looked at him over the top of the car. “Just forget it happened. Kids go through stages of hating their parents and testing the boundaries. That’s what yours are doing right now.”
    Dane climbed in and slammed the door. “I’ve tried everything. But Jodie won’t get up. She answers back. I get told ‘if mum were here things would be different. She’d never speak to me like that.’ How do you do it?”
    “Honestly, now it’s a lot easier as Adeline leaves after I do. But I’d just tell Vianne that if she’s late then I’m late and we’re both going to get into trouble.”
    Dane fisted his hands. “I miss Jas so much. I can’t do this without her.”
    Nate looked at him as he started the car. “What would Jas do with them?”
    Dane thought quickly. “She’d pull the covers off them and threaten to send them to school in pyjamas.”
    “Then do it. And if that doesn’t work, pray someone responds to your advert.”
    Dane