25. Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five
Well, now, it seems our Golden Boy has a secret he’s been keeping under wraps!
Shep Landon, the Renegades’ star player, was spotted in line at Sugar Squared, looking like a mighty proud papa with a little someone special by his side.
It seems this new addition to the Landon family tree has a passion for roller derby and a certain furry Three Corners resident.
‘Tis the season for Santa and secrets, but I have a feeling this reveal is gonna be hotter than a sugar cookie straight from Raelynn’s oven! ~Penni’s Puckleberry Tea
Shep
“Who are we going to see?”
A warmth spread through my chest at Hannah’s question. Three weeks ago, she’d barely speak to me. Now she leaned forward in the passenger seat, curiosity about my home town lighting her eyes. “For one, we’ll see Shy and Prince Tiago—”
“Oh my god.”
“You said it, Hannah-bean. Far be it from me to question your authority when it comes to princely matters.” The nickname rolled off my tongue, natural as breathing now. I tapped a knuckle on the elaborate drawing of a frog prince decorating her skateboard.
“So weird.”
“Cool. So awesome and cool, you mean.” Every day she opened up more, letting me see glimpses of the sass hiding beneath her shy exterior.
“Anyway,” she said, stretching ‘any’ out to a solid three syllables. “Aunt Shy said there’s a Christmas festival or something.”
“Yep.” I tightened my fingers around the steering wheel, riding out the wave of emotion hearing my daughter call my sister “aunt” sent through me.
I had a family now. One that was about warmth and connection and not simple courtesy and obligation.
“Every year the local car clubs shut down Pendleton Square. It used to just be about people showing off their cars. Now it’s got a bit of everything. ”
Blue and silver holiday banners dangled from the street lamps dotting the road as we approached Mapleton.
Home. A word that meant something different now that Hannah filled my passenger seat.
She pressed closer to the window, her breath fanning a frosty cloud on the cold glass.
I slowed down as we passed Mapleton’s pride and glory.
Potted Christmas trees dotted the long rectangle of grass of Pendleton Square.
An old train car parked in the empty lot at the far end, while businesses lined the other three sides.
“There’s a stage.”
“Yep.”
“Will there be music?”
Hoss ran the event these days, turning what started as a car show into a proper festival. Last year he’d added carnival games and food trucks. “Don’t remember if there was a band last year, but definitely remember hearing music.”
“Scout said the Killbillies will be here Saturday.”
“Good thing we’re spending the night then, huh?”
Before the break, Melani from PR cornered me about stepping up my social media game.
Last season, racing Zacha for followers had been pure entertainment – gym shots, haircuts, post-workout meals.
But with Hannah in my life, everything carried more weight.
This festival should give me plenty of opportunities for prime pics.
When my parents announced their Christmas cruise plans, relief had flooded through me.
Their absence meant introducing Hannah to my hometown without exposing her to their practiced indifference.
She deserved better than that—deserved to know the kind of father I meant to be.
The kind who showed up, who put her first.
My parents had checked out of any parental participation in either my or Shiloh’s life years ago. Which was fine. Shy and I were grown. Somehow the idea of exposing Hannah to their apathetic detachment didn’t sit right.
I didn’t want to put the idea of disinterest in her brain.
I’d missed out on enough time with her. I didn’t want to taint what we were building now.
I’d introduce her to her new grandparents eventually.
Hannah and I were closer every day to creating something solid together.
I wanted to believe I had her trust, her faith.
And I didn’t intend to let anything diminish what we were building.
Hannah twisted in her seat, her board forgotten in her lap. “What’s going on over there?”
I stopped at the corner stop sign and leaned to look out the passenger side window. A line of people trailed out the door of Sugar Squared. “Oh, well now,” I said. “We need to find a place to park.”
“Why?”
I pulled into an empty spot at the end of the square.
Hannah hopped out before I killed the engine, already caught up in the festival energy.
We met up at the bed of the truck. “That line—” I pointed to the row of people at least ten deep “—leads into Sugar Squared. Only the best bakery on the planet. You are in for a treat, Hannah-bean.”
Familiar faces lit up as we claimed our spot at the back of the line. The weight of their curiosity pressed against my shoulders. Small towns lived on gossip, and my surprise daughter would feed the rumor mill for months. But Hannah held her ground beside me, and pride swelled in my chest.
“Why, the one and only Shepherd Landon. Gracing us with his presence on this fine day.”
A genuine grin spread across my face at the sound of Aiden McCluskey’s voice. “Back for the festivities?”
He nodded. “Heading over to pick up Scout. Apparently I’ve been recruited to help set up some derby thing behind the caboose.”
“Scout? You mean Scooter from the Killbillies?”
Aiden dipped his chin to take in my daughter. “You a fan?”
“She’s like, insane on skates. No one else in the league can catch her, and those jumps she does? Totally epic.” Hannah’s enthusiasm overflowed, washing away her usual reserve.
Aiden’s eyes crinkled with a knowing look that made me wonder about him and Scout. “She is talented. Are you here for the weekend? She and a handful of other skaters will be showing off tomorrow night.”
Hannah’s hopeful gaze hit me like a shot to the heart.
These little moments—her looking to me for answers, for permission—still caught me off guard.
“Yeah, we’re here.” I smoothed down her flyaway hair, savoring how she leaned into the touch.
“Aiden, let me introduce Hannah, my daughter. Hannah, this is Dr. McCluskey. He’s a vet back in Richland, but we both grew up here. ”
“You take care of dogs?”
Aiden cocked his head to the side. “Have you met Clyde?”
She grinned. “Yeah.”
“My biggest patient.”
We shifted forward as the line moved. The sweet scent of cinnamon and vanilla wafted through the cold morning air.
Inside, an older woman with silver and blue hair turned away from the counter, balancing a cane in one hand and a pastry bag in the other.
I steadied the heavy glass door, motioning Hannah to stand clear.
“Morning, Ms. Conroy.”
Minerva Conroy greeted folks as she slowly made her way to the exit, stopping when she caught sight of me. I gave her my best “Aw Shucks” smile.
“As I live and breathe,” she said with a tap of her Renegade blue cane. “If it isn’t our local hero.”
“Morning, ma’am.”
Her gaze slipped from me down to take in Hannah. “And who have we here?”
Before I could speak, Hannah straightened her shoulders. “I’m Hannah. His surprise daughter.”
Ms. Conroy let out a quick laugh. “Is that right?”
“I’ve been living in Virginia Beach, but I’m living with my dad in Richland now. We’re here to take pictures.”
A surge of pride hit me at how easily she claimed me as her father. “I said we would need to take pictures, Han. We’re here for the Christmas festival.”
“Well, Hannah, welcome to Mapleton and Three Corners. Keep your dad in line, won’t you? He’s known for stirring up trouble.”
Hannah turned wide hazel eyes up at me. The same shape as Shy’s, watching me with that same mix of sass and curiosity. “Ms. Conroy’s just teasing, Hannah-bean. I’m good as gold.”
Ms. Minerva snorted. “Ah, Christmastime. The time of year when Raelynn breaks out her holiday menu, the prodigal sons and daughters clog up the roads like a flock of geese heading south, and Hoss causes a ruckus in my little square.”
She swayed back on her heels and Aiden scrambled to line up behind her, but she waved him away with a scowl.
“I am not in danger of falling, young man. Though I am surprised to see you make an appearance. Here to help your dad with his practice?” She poked her cane into his side.
“Or picking up treats to bribe my sweet Scout into spending time with you?”
A flush filled Aiden’s cheeks and I couldn’t hold back a snicker.
“She’s the one who roped me into helping out this weekend, Ms. Conroy. Your ‘sweet Scout’ has a mean streak.”
“A mile wide. Takes after the smart side of the family.” She popped her cane against the floor with a loud flourish. “Something tells me we’ll be seeing the coach soon, too. And that damn dog.”
Hannah gasped and I tucked her into my side. She huddled in tight, as though my hauling her close was the most natural thing in the world. As though her letting me tug her close was second nature.
Ms. Conroy pursed her lips and gave Hannah a hard stare.
“Don’t you go worrying about that dog, Hannah.
Or what I say.” Her cane tapped against the floor, punctuating each word.
“I’m old. I don’t have to mind my words anymore.
” She jabbed her cane toward the bakery counter.
“Raelynn keeps a secret stash of baked dog bones back there. Carrots and peanut butter or something equally disgusting. Tell her I said to give you some. Clyde’ll be your new best friend. ”
The doorway had become our stage, letting all the heat escape while holding up the line. A car horn honked from the street and Ms. Conroy said her goodbyes before tottering toward a vintage Buick.
“Wow.” Hannah inched forward in line, neck craning to track the old woman’s progress. “She’s intense.”
“You’ll see Ms. Conroy around. She’s a big fan of the roller derby team. Plus, her family owns the Renegades.”