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Jesse laughed from the couch. “That’s not how librarians work. They have carts, and you know, hands?”
They bantered as I reached out to take Bobbi-June from his arms. One thing Brick would never be able to argue was that she wasn’t loved completely and unconditionally. The guys had stepped up more than I could’ve ever imagined, and for that, I was so damn thankful.
I kissed her fuzzy head. “In three weeks, no one will ever be able to take you, not even for a moment. You might not have a lot of blood relatives, but you won’t know anything but an absolute waterfall of love,” I murmured to her, and she grinned, flailing her hands around.
Jesse stood and kissed me. “How was the test drive?”
I grinned, rocking the baby a little in my arms. “It was… amazing.” I dropped my voice conspiratorially. “It might even be better than NASCAR.”
Hayes let out a fake gasp, clutching his imaginary pearls. “Better than NASCAR?” He smiled. “Nah, baby, you looked amazing out there. Plus, you were only marginally behind the lap times of Mickey. I swear, soon you won’t be a reserve driver; you’ll be third seat. Antony was eyeing your lap times, like he was wondering if he could have three horses in this race.”
Giddy at even the thought, I waved away the idea. “I’m not ready yet. But soon.”
I was a fighter, and I wasn’t giving up my dreams for anyone now. I could have my perfect life, and I would take down anyone who thought they could fuck with me.
FORTY
HAYES
The day of the hearing was overcast. Tally had Bobbi-June strapped to her chest as she walked up the stairs. Serena had said the hearing shouldn’t go for any more than an hour, and then it would be over.
Jesse and I walked a little behind Rocco and Tally. They were married, and it was important that they provided a united front. They were walking so close that their shoulders brushed, and Rocco had her hand tightly clasped in his. I hated that I wasn’t enough for this moment, but even I could admit that it had all worked out for the best. If it had been me married to Tally, or even Jesse, the outcome of today would be a lot more ambiguous. Money could buy a lot of things in this country, and unfortunately, babies and judges were among that list.
The huge bank balance Rocco brought to this fight meant that if Brick Willtot wanted to steal our baby from us, he’d have to have some damn good evidence that Tally was anything but a devoted mother. No such evidence existed.
But it didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous as hell. That nervousness only doubled when we saw Brick and his wife Laverne in the hall of the courtroom. I watched Tally’s feet stumble on the linoleum, and Rocco put an arm tight around her waist. He wouldn’t let her fall. None of us would.
I hadn’t seen Laverne Willtot since Buck’s funeral—a funeral that Tally hadn’t been allowed to attend—and she looked like she’d aged fifty years in the intervening months. A quiet and reserved woman, she’d always been overshadowed by her husband and sons.
The two older Willtot sons were also here, so apparently, it was a family affair. Bruce, the eldest, was the spitting image of his dad, and also an asshole. He helped manage Willtot Racing, and a couple of the other sub-branches of their business that made them so much damn money.
Buster Willtot had never been worth anything in his father’s eyes, and that was a badly kept secret in the industry. Much more like his mother than his father, he’d become a kindergarten teacher, which was probably worse than useless in his father’s eyes.
I had no doubt in my mind that Brick cursed God every day that it had been Buck who died, and not Buster.
The group spotted us, and the glares from Brick and Bruce were enough to peel paint. Laverne’s eyes fell to the baby carrier strapped to Tally’s front, and I watched the woman’s face crumple. She stepped toward us, and I tensed.
“Laverne,” Brick barked, and I saw her flinch, but she kept walking. “Laverne, come back here now.”
Laverne looked over her shoulder, and I saw her spine stiffen as she ignored her husband and walked toward us quickly. Brick moved to go after her, but Buster got in his way. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but you didn’t have to be a master in reading body language to know it was something angry.
As she came to a stop in front of Tally, the woman’s big blue eyes looked watery. They were Bobbi-June’s eyes, inherited from Buck. Tally took a deep breath. “Hello, Mrs. Willtot.”
“Tally. You look well.” Her voice was shaky and small. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for this. Brick hasn’t been the same after Buck’s death and…” Another stuttering breath. “I fear he’s ruined everything by bulldozing his way through life once again.”
Tally said nothing, her face a blank mask, but I could see tears shine in her eyes.
Nodding to herself, Laverne continued. “I wouldn’t blame you if you cut all contact with us after this, so I was hoping, just in case, that I could see Buck’s daughter, just once?” A tear slipped down the older woman’s cheek.
Tally stared at the woman who seemed so small, like she was curling in on herself, preparing to shrivel away from the light. It was a pitiful scene, and it would affect even the hardest, most vengeful person. Tally was neither of those things.
Pulling the baby wrap to the side, she showed Bobbi-June’s angelic sleeping face to her paternal grandmother. Laverne sucked in a deep, pained breath as she lifted a hand and traced the curve of her face. “So beautiful. Just like my boy. You named her Bobbi-June? You stuck with the B theme?”
I doubted it was intentional, but Tally wasn’t going to contradict this woman who seemed like she was barely clinging to her sanity. “It’s a good name.”
Laverne nodded again, taking a step back. “You’ll be a good mother. I know it. Buck really liked you. His eyes always lit up when he spoke of you, which is probably why Brick hated you.” She touched Tally’s shoulder. “I know it wasn’t your fault. It was that silly sport that he loved so much.”
This woman was breaking my heart. Jesse handed Tally a tissue that he’d pulled from god knows where, and that was when I realized they were both crying. For a boy who never got much of an opportunity to be a man. For Bobbi-June, who wouldn’t get to know her grandmother or uncle, just because her grandfather was a narcissist. For Tally, who never got to say goodbye to her first love.
