Chapter Seven
“MuddyWater” —10Talents
A fter showing the officer my driver’s license, the keys, and the will, he handed everything back. “Maybe don’t go looking at your new house at eleven o’clock at night next time and your neighbors won’t call the cops on you. Also, I would suggest you go see this attorney to make sure everything is legit and filed properly.”
We shook hands and he and his partner left.
“Y-Y-Your house?” Ryian stuttered.
“Yeah,” I drawled out in disbelief.
“Jesus. And I thought my day was crazy. What the hell is going on in the universe today?” she mumbled with a hand on her head as if she was trying to keep it from flying away or exploding.
“Babe, I don’t know,” I replied in wonder.
At her soft gasp, I realized what I said, and I looked at her in apology. “I’m sorry, that slipped out. I—”
“It’s okay,” she gently replied as her gaze drifted off to an invisible point in the distance.
My heart stuttered. It’s okay? What does that mean?
Before I could ask, she cleared her throat and glanced at her watch. “I probably should be getting back. Mom has Anson.”
We both froze at the mention of our son.
She seemed momentarily uncomfortable, and my heart dropped into my ass. Please, don’t let her have changed her mind about me seeing him .
“Umm, if you don’t have anything going on tomorrow….” She trailed off.
“Shit. I’m sorry, I do. I start my new job tomorrow and I already have clients booked, but I can see if it’s possible to reschedule them.” I’d be tempted to cancel each and every one if it meant I could see my son, though.
“Clients?” She tipped her head in curiosity.
“I’m a tattoo artist now.” I shrugged and rubbed the back of my neck.
Her hazel eyes practically popped. “A… tattoo artist?”
“Yeah. Is that a problem?” I moved my hand around to scratch my jaw. Was she judging me? She was a nurse and while I may not have gone to school like she did, I did well for myself.
“Oh! Not at all. I mean, yeah that’s fine—after your clients. What time do you think you’ll be done?” Her hands found her pockets and her shoulders were trying to swallow her ears. If there was anything I remembered about her, it was how that was a sure sign that she was uncomfortable or unsure about something.
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and opened the scheduling calendar Killswitch had sent me.
“First client is at noon and it’s a simple design so I should be able to stay on schedule. Unless they’re a pussy. Second one is at two. I should be done with that one by five or so. Maybe I could take you two out to dinner?” I lifted my gaze from my phone screen to find her with flushed cheeks and tugging on her lower lip.
“Um, sure. That’s fine,” she replied.
“Perfect. I’ll swing by to pick you up. I’ll message you when I’m on my way. I’ll ride with you to make sure you get back to your mom’s safely. Are you staying there?” I asked her.
She nodded. “For now. Well, unless things go poorly with—” she cut herself off and shook her head. “No. I’m not going to even think that.”
We exited together and he locked the door behind us.
Then we rode together back to my mom’s. I parked my bike back in the storeroom at the back of the store and secured the door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll watch for your message,” I told him. “Thanks for riding back with me.”
“Absolutely.”
Dalton waited until I was on the third-floor balcony and walking down to my mom’s door.
“Everything’s okay?” he called up from the edge of the street.
I leaned over and I was thrown back to our high school days where he would playfully call up to me asking me to let down my hair, or call me Juliet. My lips tipped up slightly in the corners at the thought. From the expression on his face, he was remembering too.
“Yeah, I’m good. Good night.”
“See you tomorrow, Juliet,” he said before dropping his visor. Though it was spoken quietly, the wind carried it up to me. I’m not sure if he meant for me to hear it or not, but it put a full-blown smile on my face.
When I went inside, the Christmas lights that lit the home only made things better.
“Looks like that ride did you some good.”
I jumped and slapped my hand over my heart. “Mom! I didn’t know you were still awake!”
“Obviously. Who was that?” she asked with a sly smirk. From where she sat in her recliner, she could see the front porch, so there was no denying I’d been talking to someone.
After taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, I replied, “It was Dalton.”
“What?” she practically screeched, then covered her mouth and shot a glance over her shoulder toward the bedrooms.
I laughed. “That’s not going to wake him up. That boy sleeps like a rock.”
“Well, thank goodness for small favors! Now you better explain yourself, missy! What the heck is going on?” my mom demanded, eyes wide and mouth gaping.
Suddenly exhausted, I plopped on the couch and took my boots off. Then I proceeded to explain how Dalton had come in the store today. When I told her about the man at the diner with the beard, my mom choked.
“Child, you have got to be joking.”
“I wish I was.”
“This sounds like some sort of Hallmark Christmas story! Do I see a reconciliation in store?” she observed with evident glee. Prior to him going MIA, she’d always been a huge fan of Dalton.
“Mom, please don’t go getting your hopes up. He could be seeing someone. Heck, he could be married. Besides, I thought we didn’t like him,” I grumbled at my mom’s childlike excitement over this.
“Interesting that you didn’t immediately say there was no way. Also, you know I never disliked him. I was simply respecting your wishes. However, if he had still been around here where I could find him, I would’ve told him about Anson. You are my daughter, and my loyalty lies with you, but that boy had a right to know—if he’d been anywhere to be found.”
“Do you think I should’ve hired a private investigator? It seemed to me that at that time, he didn’t care to be found. I was scared, hurt, and angry back then, but maybe I should’ve made more effort.” I sighed and pulled my feet up to wrap my arms around my legs. As I waited for my mom’s input, I rested my chin on my knee.
“Baby girl, whether you should have or shouldn’t have is irrelevant at this time. There’s no sense in dwelling on the coulda, shoulda, woulda shit. You can only deal with the now shit. So, where the heck has he been?”
“Montana.”
“Say what ? No wonder we couldn’t find him. Good heavens, why the hell would he go up to the frozen tundra like that?”
I explained all of the bizarre twists of fate that created the situation we found ourselves in today. Speaking it aloud didn’t make it any easier to believe. It was insane. The only thing I left out when I filled my mom in on the day I’d had was Anson having visions and that damn letter those goons dropped off today. Those could wait.
“How are you feeling?” I asked her after we’d finished discussing everything.
“I’m actually feeling pretty good, all things considered. However, it’s late and I have a store to open in the morning so I’m going to bed.” She stood up and kissed me on my head. “I love you, Ryian. You’re my only baby, with my only grandchild, and I’m glad to have you home.”
“Love you too, Momma,” I murmured. “I’ll shut off all the lights.”
I stayed up a little bit longer, staring out the windows at the twinkling lights of the city.
What if Dalton did want to rekindle what we had?
What if he wants to try to be a real family?
Could we actually make it work?
Do I want to?