AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know. Ugh, we’ll see. Is everything okay? You’re usually not here during the day,” I ask, still standing because it’s currently the one position that doesn’t hurt.
“As a matter of fact, it’s not. Why don’t yousit down and talk to me.” Mom’s eyebrows lift to nearly her hairline. My stomach drops.She knows.God, how does she know? Lane wouldn’t. He might go after my attacker, but what he wouldn’t do is sit around, have coffee, and gossip about me to my mother. Yet I find myself doing exactly as she asks. There’s no way to hide the wince or the fact that I’m taking my sweet time pulling the chair out, only to take a deep breath when my ass finally hits the seat.
“Mom.” I look up. She’s got tears forming in her eyes.
“Who? Who hurt my baby, and don’t lie to me.”
“Sherman Junior, my former boss’s son.” I swallow my own emotions. I did not want to have to talk about the situation again so soon. “How do you know?”
“Baby girl, there was a reason your dad left and never came back. I shielded you from it until I was strong enough to get help. Thankfully, you were young enough, or maybe you weren’t. I prayed you didn’t see or hear anything. I hoped to break the cycle. Yet here you are, coming home out of the blue, which I’m not mad about in the least. I saw the signs. It’s why I didn’t put up a fuss when you said no to going to Lane’s birthday party.” I push my coffee mug away, the caffeine sitting like lead in my stomach.
“I never knew, ever. I was going to tell you, swear. I’ve been trying to process it, mulling overhow to even begin to explain this situation,” I tell her truthfully. Only I’d have waited until there was a status update on my case and my body was somewhat healed.
“Were you dating him?” I shake my head vehemently while trying not to throw up in my mouth.
“No, I had never laid eyes on him a day in my life until he attacked me. I still don’t know why he chose me. Maybe it was targeted, or maybe it was a case of him being born with a silver spoon in his mouth. You know, the type who’s never heard the wordnoa day in their life.” Mom stands up, the chair screeching across the tile floor.
“Please tell me you filed a police report. He didn’t go further, did he?” She’s white-knuckling the back of the chair. Suddenly, it all clicks, the reason Mom doesn’t let anyone from the male species get close to her. My father did the worst besides beating her. He hurt my mom in a way that most don’t overcome.
“Oh, Mom, you never told me.” I bring my hand to my mouth, covering it to hide my trembling lips.
“And I wouldn’t have. I’d have taken it to my grave. I also know when it happens, you need counseling, friends, family. So, you have to tell me, sweetheart. Did it go further?”
“No, I fought back hard enough, screamed loud enough that I was able to escape. Theinvestigation is open. I’ll be honest. I don’t think Sherman Junior will get anything except a slap on his hand. They have the money and prestige from their name alone.” I watch as Mom takes a deep breath and holds it in for a moment before exhaling.
“Thank Christ. As far as your attacker not getting what he deserves, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Lane Johnson looked like he was ready to slay all your dragons when he left this morning.” And that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Lane won’t do either of us any good if he’s the one sitting behind bars while Sherman and his son get off scot-free.
8
LANE
“You might haveyour work cut out for you, Lane.” I step out of my truck when Eleanor is walking down the back steps. My parents and I talked for the better part of an hour, a lot longer than I was hoping to stay to visit. Mom wasn’t having me rushing out the door, especially since I never made it back to her house last night. Meaning she didn’t have the moment she hoped for when it came to celebrating my birthday. I’m not complaining. The last thing I wanted was a party to begin with. Dad could see I was chomping at the bit to get back to Birdie, and he finally told me to get out of there.
“I look forward to the fight she’s going to give me.” Eleanor smiles at my statement. I’ve already got a plan in place. Should Birdie choose to put up a fight with excuse after excuse, I’ll pack herbags, throw them in the truck, and then somehow manage to get her in as well without hurting her.
“I’m glad. You know, when the two of you first got together, I was worried, worried you’d hold her back. I was wrong, Lane, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“I appreciate the apology. It wasn’t necessary, though. I’m guessing Birdie told you what happened in Colorado?” It’s a fifty-fifty shot in the dark. Eleanor isn’t dumb, and knowing my woman, she’ll fold like a pretzel when it comes to her momma.
“You deserve it all the same.” Eleanor takes a deep breath. “And yeah, she told me. I knew already. The quick change in plan, the fact Tully is coming, and Birdie showing up without her dog. It was all too telling. Though I’m going to let you in on a little secret. She was miserable in Colorado. She’d come home, realize you weren’t here, and didn’t want to stay. All this to say, take care of my baby.” Well, shit, color me surprised. This whole damn conversation has my head spinning. I’ll admit I was an idiot. No, I was a damn fool, tucking my tail and running when Birdie came home. That was all on me and knowing if I didn’t, if she gave me the time of day, I’d do my hardest to convince her to stay. Eleanor doesn’t need to hear that, and I bet she knows the truth anyway.
“You good with Birdie moving in with me?” I ask.
“Got no problem with that. You hoard my granddog, though, and we’re going to have problems. I already know Birdie will find her way home every now and then since her best friend, Tully, is staying in the remodeled greenhouse.” Makes sense. When Birdie lived here before going off to college, she didn’t have a whole lot of friends, especially of the female variety. She thought it was aherthing. It absolutely wasn’t her. It was the other girls and their insecurities. Birdie, with the pretty face, long hair, soft sway of her hips with each step, turns heads whenever she’s nearby. She’s oblivious to the attention she garners. She sees the good in everyone, wears her heart on her sleeve, and is willing to give the shirt off her back if it means someone needs it.
“I can’t make any promises. He may like me more than you.” I wink. Eleanor shakes her head.
“Go on in, but I promise you Rocky will be running back and forth between our properties, Rocky will end up here more than with you and Birdie. He knows who has the treats.”
“Are you two seriously fighting over Rocky?” Birdie opens the door. She’s still wearing my shirt from the night before, but her hair is now in a side braid, a few pieces hanging loosely, and she’s got color to her face that she didn’t have last night. There’s also a fire in her eyes. Oh yeah, my woman is back in action.
“Your mom is. I already know Rocky will be wherever you are,” I tell her as I take slow andmeasured steps, her eyes watching me in their entirety. It’s going to be damn hard to keep my hands to myself while she heals. Especially when she bites her bottom lip.
“I’m going to the sunflower field. I have my phone on me, so don’t worry. Good luck, Lane,” Eleanor says.
“Later, Eleanor,” I toss over my shoulder, my feet carrying me closer and closer to Birdie.
“Have a good day, Momma,” Birdie says. My hands reach out to her hips, careful not to grip her too hard. It’s then I notice she’s wearing shorts. A damn shame I won’t be able to get a look at her bare body. “Care to tell me what that was really about?” She pops a hip out, foot tapping, and she slowly crosses her arms over her chest. As if that’s going to stop my gaze. The way her tits are now displayed through the thin cotton, nipples pebbled, and looking more beautiful than ever, it’s clear I’ll be jacking my cock for the foreseeable future, and this morning did nothing to settle the damn flesh down.
