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He leaned over and kissed Rachel’s cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered feeling all sorts of emotions that he didn’t want to talk about. He had known this woman since he was a small child. He had loved her too.
“Come on,” she told him. “It’s time to face the past and tell Jackson how sorry you are for his loss.”
He snorted at her, but he followed Rachel looking over his shoulder he saw Danni and her dad followed them. He was relieved because this showed everyone that they had Simon and Rachel’s acceptance and support.
Rachel greeted him first. Danni stood beside Walker. She slipped her hand in his and he looked down on her. She smiled up at him and no one else existed in the room. Rachel cleared her throat and they realized that it was their turn.
Danni stepped forward and he stood behind her. She hugged Jackson. “I’m sorry,” she told him. That was all she said. The situation was awkward, he realized. He shook Jackson’s hand.
“Walker, I’m sorry about your Mom. I won’t be in town on Friday when her funeral is, so I wanted to convey my apologies and tell you that I hope Jesse is caught soon before more people get hurt.”
He knew who Jackson was referring to. His eyes met Danni’s and he knew what she was thinking. Let it go so he did. He nodded. “Me too,” he said.
Simon moved in when they stepped over beside Rachel. Walker could feel people watching them waiting for what? Jealousy? So much tragedy had happened to both him and Jackson. It appeared that Jackson just wanted to get this night over with and head back to Louisiana while he just wanted to move on with life with Danni. A baby soon. That’s what she wanted. He couldn’t even imagine it. He was content with what he had. He didn’t want to test the fates of the gods that might decide he had it too good.
Simon shook Jackson’s hand and told him to have a safe trip home. “Hungry?” He asked softly. They hadn’t had time to eat after work.
“Starving,” Danni replied.
“Let’s hit up the diner in town,” Simon replied.
He guided Rachel to his car and they both wondered if her parents came together but they didn’t ask any questions. Danni was just happy to see a united and civil front. If anything, good came from his mother’s death, Rachel needing comfort came from Simon.
They parked in front of the diner and walked across the street. The block was filled with home grown businesses like the diner, the bank was on the corner. A gas station across the street. Awnings covered the front of many businesses. A barber was next door to the bank. A clothing store, that carried only the basics and nothing fancy was in between the diner and the barber. A five and dime store with everything that a kid or a mom could want. A stylist across the street and others that had managed to make it in this small town.
They were seated by the hostess who left their menus on the table in front of them. Danni scooted into the inside of the booth and Walker sat beside her. He was quiet during their dinner. He knew he wasn’t being sociable. Rachel reached across the table once or twice and patted his arms. He just wanted to go home. Danni’s cabin had become home to him.
He had already met with a realtor to put his mother’s place on the market. He couldn’t imagine living there. He liked Danni’s home better although his mother’s cottage was bigger. Her will was specific. Her home was her only valuable thing and it went to Walker upon her death. He was going to put the money in a trust for his future children. He didn’t need it. It was what his grandparents had done for him and Jesse. If only his brother hadn’t been so reckless.
Walker rubbed his hand across his jaw. He had barely eaten his open-faced roast beef sandwich. Danni leaned on his shoulder. “Are you, all right?” She asked.
He nodded at Danni. Walker couldn’t burden her with the dark thoughts going around inside his head. The dread that Friday would come too soon. Hal told them to close the garage on Friday and pay the other mechanics for their time off, so Artemisia could be mourned and honored as she should be.
Walker was never so grateful for having the support of Hal and the Hatfield family than right now. This was the hardest thing he had ever gone through, even prison. He knew there was an end then. He counted the days. There was no end for this. His mother was never coming back. He felt like he was drowning in sorrow. He would never see her smiling face. She had been fighting Jesse over the gun because of him.
“I’ll be right back,” he said to Danni, then kissed her forehead. He slipped out of the booth and went to the men’s room. He knew she was worried about him. He hated it that she worried about him.
Walker leaned on the sink, his hands gripping the edge until his knuckles turned white.
The door opened, and he expected another man needing to use the restroom, but it was Danni. He chuckled. “You aren’t supposed to be in here.”
She snorted. “I’d like to see somebody throw me out of here,” she told him. Danni went to him. She slid her hand across his back. “Want to go home?” She asked.
“You’re not done eating.”
“I’m done. If I get hungry later, I can fix something at home.”
Walker grabbed her and held her tight. “How are you doing so well with this?”
“I’m not baby,” she replied. “I feel like I have to hold it together for you.”
She laid her cheek against Walker’s chest. He knew she could hear the pounding of his heart. “Let’s go home,” he told her. He wanted her, naked and warm beneath him. He wanted inside her. He wanted to forget everything but how she felt in his arms.
He released her, and she took his hand tugging on him to follow her. Little did she know, that he would willingly follow him anywhere.
Her dad told them to go. He would get their check. Danni leaned over and kissed his cheek then Walker shook his hand. Rachel was on the inside of the booth and it didn’t appear that Simon was going to move. She gave them a smile then they walked away from the booth heading towards the door.
“Wouldn’t surprise me if Dad isn’t staying at Mom’s house,” Danni told Walker.
