Chapter 18
It was Heath’s turn to drive Parker’s truck, which was good because the closer they got to Parker’s hometown, the more anxiety he felt coming from the passenger seat.
He was sort of afraid to say anything, so he reached over and rested a hand on Parker’s thigh.
The muscle there was rock hard, almost shaking with tension. Damn.
That was less than good.
Okay. He had to say something to break the tension. “It’s an errand. We’re there for one reason. You can do this, babe. I’ve got your back.”
“I know. I hate that I’m going to hurt her feelings, but it’s time to get my little girl.”
“Parker. Love. She threw you out and told you not to come back. She has no feelings you need to care about.”
“Right. Right.” Parker took a deep breath. “It’s hard, because she’s my mom, you know?”
“I’ve never had family that were like this, but it has to be hard. She’s always going to be your mom even…with all of this.”
“Yes, but… I didn’t deserve this. I was a good son.” Parker’s lips went tight. “I am a good son.”
“I will be more than happy to tell her so.” In fact, he planned on it. He just didn’t know whether it was going to be a discussion or a parting shot.
“We’re getting close. There’s the trailer.”
Jesus, the thing was massive, like a giant mobile hotel.
They were going to have so much fun.
“Holy shit, Parker. It’s a penthouse on wheels!” He turned in, following the driveway, which felt more like an unpaved road.
“Yeah. Sky gave it to me, so it was top of the line ten years ago, and I’ve loved it.”
“Wild. That’s a nice gift. I’m surprised he didn’t want it for him and Beckett.” How long was this driveway?
“He and Beckett weren’t quite back together. I don’t know that Beckett thought he was going to walk again, by that point.”
“Oh. Damn. Well, that makes more sense. Sad, but it makes sense.” He looked around. “Okay, seriously. This is a driveway?”
“Yeah. The house is about three acres in. She’s having a fire. I can see the smoke.”
“Are you okay?” He took Parker’s hand. “What are you going to say? Do you know?”
“I’ll start by hooking up the trailer. That will take the longest, then I’ll pick up my little girl.”
So… Parker didn’t plan on saying anything. That was…one way of handling it.
So if someone needed to say something, it could be him. That was fine. He would take that hit for his man.
“She’s going to play the dotty old lady card. She’s not old. She’s not senile. She’s just mean, okay?”
He nodded. “Total helpless act. I got it.”
“Yeah. Flutter-flutter-I’m so Southern and a little dumb-you love me right?”
God, that was funny.
“I take it that’s just for strangers.”
“Yeah. Ask her neighbors. They hate her.” Parker glanced at him. “Don’t tell Sky how bad it gets, okay? He’ll be mad.”
He glanced at Parker. “Mad? You mean at her, I hope.”
“Some, but mostly at me, because I never told him about how she was.”
“Okay. I won’t volunteer anything, but if he asks me a direct question, I’m a terrible liar.” How awful was this woman?
“Fair enough. You don’t have to lie. That’s part of your charm.”
He rolled his eyes. “Charmingly truthful?” Parker’s mom might not care for his truth. “What’s her name?”
“Lily. Lillian is her given name.” Parker seemed like the name tasted bad.
He nodded and chose not to repeat it. “Got it. Oh. I see the house there.”
Smoke poured from the chimney, there were no holiday decorations, and it seemed…gloomy.
Okay, now he was a little nervous too. Thankfully Parker said she was overly sweet so she probably wouldn’t come to the door with a shotgun. “So…dog first and then we go back to the camper?”
“Back the truck up to the camper. I can attach pretty damn quick.” Parker grinned at him. “Don’t worry. I have the paperwork in the glove compartment, and the sheriff knows me. If she calls him and he comes out, we should be solid.”
“You got it.” Sheriff. Jesus Christ. He was starting to understand why Parker was just going to let the camper and his dog go.
Still. He was a big guy, he was in good shape, and he would handle this. For Parker, he’d do just about anything.
They backed up to the trailer, and he’d just gotten the truck close when the door to the house opened.
The woman who stood there didn’t look like she’d be scary at all. A little roundish lady in jeans and a sweatshirt, her brown hair up in a messy bun—she looked like a mother.
Oh boy. Pure evil in a tiny mom-shaped package, he reminded himself. He took a breath. “Here we go.” He gave Parker’s hand a squeeze, then climbed out of the truck.
“Parker.”
“Hey, Momma. Came to get Sheila and my shit. Did you have a good Christmas?” Parker smiled, the expression false and utterly icy.
“You’re not welcome here.”
“No? Shame. I’ll be out of your hair in ten.” He whistled sharp and loud, and a tiny little brown ball of fur hurtled out of the house.
“No! She’s mine!”
She tried to scramble and catch the dog, but Sheila was already in Parker’s arms, wagging and yipping and licking.
Seemed to him that Parker had this under control, so he just stepped in front of Lilian when she tried to follow. “All good. He’s got this.”
“Who are you? You’re trespassing on my land. Get off.”
“He’s my lover. Momma, Heath. We’ll be out of your hair in a minute.” Parker popped the dog in his jacket and zipped it up like it was the most natural action on earth.
“That’s my dog!”
Parker didn’t answer.
He hadn’t seen one second of the sweet little helpless Southern lady, which was kind of amusing. “Is the camper all set, babe?”
“We’re close. You back this thing up like you were born to it.”
“You can’t have that. I’m calling the police. You’re coming in with your fuck buddy and stealing my trailer!”
Parker’s response was to whistle, the sound weirdly merry.
“We’re much more serious than fuck buddies. Also, I know the man who gave Parker that trailer, and I am happy to meet the sheriff and tell him as much.”
“Oh, do hush. He’s my son. I know him. I have a buyer for that trailer.”
“Yeah?” Parker smiled. “Huh. You about ready, babe?”
She stepped up on the porch, grabbing a shotgun. “You aren’t going to take that dog.”
“Get in the truck, honey.” Parker stood between him and his mom, advancing on her. “If you’re going to shoot me, you’d better kill me with your first shot.”
He froze. Walking away didn’t seem like the right thing to do here. He pulled out his phone. “You’re not going to shoot your own son, Lilian. You want to call the sheriff, be my guest. Or I can.”
Parker stared her down, and suddenly she crumpled to the ground and began to sob, wailing, the firearm dropping to her side. Parker kicked it away, picked it up, and threw it, the shotgun going end over end.
“You ready to go?”
“I am.” He took Parker’s hand as they turned their back on that awful woman. “You driving, or am I?”
“I can. We’ll stop and buy dog stuff when we pass a Walmart.” Parker’s face was stiff, lips pursed. “She needs food and a leash.”
“Mhm.” He handed Parker the keys and didn’t ask questions. They had days of driving to talk. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Parker! You get your ass—”
Parker made it to the truck, and they slid in, the vitriol stopping as the doors closed. Once Parker closed the door, he started the truck and unzipped his coat a little, a sweet fuzzy tan face appearing.
He smiled at her. “Hey, little girl. We drove a long way to get you.”
“Heath, this is Sheila. Sheila, this is Mr. Heath.” Parker took a shaky breath. “Well, that was fun…”
“Oh yeah? I’ve never had a shotgun pointed at me before. Gotta say, though, I kind of saw it coming.” He rested a hand on Parker’s leg and squeezed gently. “We did it.”
“We did. I want to head toward home, cool?”
Home.
He liked that.
“Cool. I’m in.” He petted Sheila’s fuzzy head. “I’m so in.”
“Me too.” A single tear clung to Parker’s eyelashes as they turned back out, turning away from the long driveway.
“Hey. I love you. I’m sorry she doesn’t see you the way I do.”
“I—I love you too. I’m so sorry. Thank you for this. It means the world.”
He could have gone his whole life without anyone pointing a gun at him, and that would have been okay.
But honestly, he’d do it again in a heartbeat for Parker.
“Babe, that was the hardest thing I have ever seen anyone do. It’s up there with Skyler learning to walk again.
Don’t apologize. I had no idea it was going to be this hard on you when I suggested we do this. ”
“Yeah, but it’s done, and we have Sheila. That’s important.” Parker was shivering now, and he turned up the heater.
“We do. She’s adorable.” He watched Parker for a little bit. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?”
“I just want to be away from here, and then yes. I think maybe I’ll need that.”
“Okay, babe. Anything you need. Just breathe for now. It’s over.” He kept contact with a hand on Parker’s leg, squeezing every so often to remind the cowboy that he was there.
“It’s over. That’s right. This hurts my heart, being a bad son.”
“You’re not a bad son!” He hadn’t meant to be so strident, but Parker had it all wrong. “Those thoughts are abuse and trauma, Parker, not truth.”
“Trauma? You think?” Parker’s cheeks went dark red. “I mean, I’m not a victim.”
“No. Not a victim. A survivor.” He didn’t know a lot about this, but he knew enough from his family law work to at least say something helpful.
“I guess so. I like that better.” Parker gave him a wink, a weak smile.
“You don’t owe her anything. She will always be your mom, and I get that it’s complicated, but you’re not a bad son, a bad person, or any of the things she’s tried to make you believe.”
“I just…” Parker stroked Sheila with one hand. “I’m glad to be coming home with you.”
He nodded. “I love that you know it’s your home.”
“Our home?” Parker asked.
“Yeah. Ours. You and me.” He grinned a little. “And that goddamn garage.”
“Just think how much bigger it’ll have to be now…”
He started giggling. “Well, fuck.”
“Right? The world’s biggest garage. A two-truck and one-trailer garage.”
“Don’t forget the snowmobile. Maybe we build the trailer its own cover.” He snorted. They’d be building for a year.
“Oh man, our sweet baby trailer with its very own carport…” Parker was giggling now.
“Never say I don’t know how to spoil you.” Heath was laughing and after all that tension, it felt so good.
“Well, at least I brought a dowry, right?”
They both howled with laughter, and he felt like, finally, they were on their way.