You mean go back to my mother’s house? Sure. Like that isn’t the ultimateI told you soI’ll be getting from her.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “We’ll be fine.”
“Give me a day or two.” Micky pulls a card from the pocket of his shirt. “You need anything, call me.”
I take the card between numb fingers.
“Thanks,” I croak.
He leaves my house, climbs into his Ford Ranger, and I’m left with a wad of wet towels in the middle of my kitchen floor.
Eight thousand dollars.
Wait…
My back straightens, my stomach plummeting again. I know where I can get eight thousand dollars.
Pride wars with my heart, my stubbornness battling what Ineedover what I want.
Iwantto keep Park Stillwater as far away from me as possible.
He is detrimental. A disaster far worse than rusted pipes. His damage cost me way more than dollar signs. It cost me my heart.
Trace’s laughter echoes through the yard, my bruised heart swelling at his innocent smile.
But my son. Heneedsme.
And weneedthe money.
I may end up regretting this decision, but I pull my phone from my back pocket and fire off a text to Dr. Whitaker.
Laiken: I’ll do it.
Then I pray to the good Lord that this isn’t the worst mistake of my life.
Chapter seven
Parker
The gravel crunches beneath my boots as I cross the parking lot to the Mayson Jar. When I swing open the door, I’m met with the smell of home cooking and a hint of leather. I assume the smell comes from the freshly covered booths that line the back wall. That’s the only thing that’s changed since the last time I was here. Even Fern is still the hostess. Still wearing too much perfume and smoking too many cigarettes.
“Well, look what we have here. A champion bull rider just walked into my restaurant.” Aunt Penelope grins before she drops a drink to a patron at the bar.
“Hey, Pen.” I glance around, tossing a wave at a few regulars, and make my way to the bar.
I tell myself I’m not scanning the room forher,but I am. Was I hoping I’d bump into her today at some point? Yes. It’s a small town, and even though yesterday she wanted to gouge my eyes out, I had thehitthat was Laiken Sheppard. And I’ve been having withdrawals foryears.
“Your mama didn’t tell me you’d be here. How’s the shoulder?” she asks as she pulls a glass from the shelf.
If they only knew the real reason my mother doesn’t call often. Why she stays in Wimberly Cove instead of coming home. Even though Dad left us both in the dust years ago, she’s always been prideful. Especially with him. Especially when everyone knew what kind of man he was. But my mama was loyal to the bone. She made a vow and kept it. Wish I could say the same for him, but everyone in town knew my mother’s bed wasn’t the only one he kept warm.
“I’ll be here at least a couple of months.” I tap my right shoulder. “Everything else has healed. Just need to rehab the shoulder.”
She clicks her tongue. “Was a close call.” She pulls the lever to fill a glass of sweet tea. “Getting closer to the time to hang up those chaps.”
“Maybe.” I shrug, nodding at Shorty, the bartender at the end of the counter.
“What are you eating today?” She places the tea in front of me.
