23. Sutton
Sutton
I recognized trouble the second Kurt walked into the diner, but Old Man Ron’s daughter Addy stepped in front of me, full tray of food in hand, blocking my view of the entrance. Considering Kurt’s son was sitting with Jimmy, I expected him to head their way.
“Thanks.” I smiled up at Addy as she set my burger in front of me.
“Enjoy, boys!” she chirped at us and headed off to the next table to check if they needed anything.
My gaze shot across the restaurant.
Kurt towered over Jimmy, shoulders bunched, fists hanging low. Anger vibrated off him, and I found myself on my feet as he grasped his son’s wrist in a vice grip.
“Addy, call Mary Walker—tell her to get down here ASAP,” I ordered, moving past her.
“Yes, Chief.” Addy scuttled toward the kitchen, sneakers squeaking on the laminate floor.
Jimmy, blank-eyed, as though reliving every moment of physical abuse from his father, cowered in his seat.
Heat erupted inside me, and I strode forward, pulse thrumming and muscles quivering. “Kurt!” I hollered, and the man stumbled around.
Red-rimmed eyes met mine, the scent of booze leaking out of his pores. “This doesn’t concern you, Chief,” he sneered, giving me his back again.
“You cause any sort of ruckus in my town while drunk, and you better believe I’ll be stepping in to make sure things don’t get out of hand,” I warned, my hand falling to the butt of my gun on instinct.
“Got what I came for—my kid,” Kurt snarled over his shoulder. “Order that fairy over there to keep his hands to himself and to stay away from my son, or so help me God…”
Ignoring Jimmy’s trembling form in my periphery didn’t come easy when all I wanted to do was wrap him up in my arms and assure him everything would be okay—if he would even allow me to hold him like I used to.
“Did you drive over here, Kurt?” I asked, needing to stay focused on the task at hand. My body tensed, ready for whatever shit the drunken fool might pull. “Because last time I checked, you no longer had a license.”
Kurt glanced out the diner’s front windows overlooking the gravel lot. “I’m not stupid, Chief.”
“Then what’s your truck doing out there?” Jamie asked from behind me, and my shoulders lowered slightly at the knowledge he had my back.
“Friend drove me—he’s at Pedro’s picking up a sub.”
Sure he was.
“Keys.” I gestured with my hand.
He eyed me. Glanced out the window again as though weighing his options.
“Don’t make this uglier than it already is.
” I spoke quietly, my tone conversational and unthreatening.
“You know you don’t have a leg to stand on, so just give ‘em over. Your mom will come pick DJ up, and Jamie can run you home since you’ve clearly had too much to drink.
I’ll bring your truck along in a little while, all right? ”
Kurt hesitated another minute before slapping his keys into my outstretched palm.
“Come here, DJ,” I held out my other hand, and the boy sidled away from his dad, who released him without argument. The boy tucked himself against me. “Jamie?”
“Let’s go, Kurt.” My son motioned Kurt toward the exit, and the drunk asshole thankfully shuffled from Jimmy’s booth without a fight.
I released a heavy exhale, my hand tight on DJ’s shoulder. “You okay?” I asked once the door shut, leaving the restaurant in stifling silence. I could feel every set of patron’s eyes, their ears straining.
“You’re my hero.”
My heart ached over DJ’s whispered words that sounded too damned familiar. I glanced at Jimmy.
He still huddled in the booth’s corner, arms wrapped around himself, eyes glazed over as though lost in the past.
A quick scan of the half-full restaurant revealed every gaze plastered on us as I’d expected. I waved my hand. “Go on back to your meals. Show’s over.”
Murmurings slowly broke out but not loud or intrusive.
I crouched in front of DJ. “You head to the kitchen with Miss Addy. She’s going to dip you up a scoop of ice cream while we’re waiting for Gram to come get you.”
“Yes, sir!” Tears wet DJ’s eyes, but he saluted me and took off through the swinging door.
Turning toward Jimmy, I found him mute and unmoved.
Yet another asshole dad had created tension in my town—Kurt had triggered Jimmy, and I wasn’t sure what to do.
The desire to be a better man and therapy had helped heal Mr. Henderson and Chaz’s relationship, but if a problem wasn’t openly acknowledged, change wouldn’t happen.
The town’s lone accountant was evidence that even the worst people could turn their thoughts around and better themselves.
Jimmy’s focus on nurturing DJ like a big brother, showing kindness to a boy who he wasn’t even related to, proved the same.
There was so much more to Jimmy than met the eye, and I yearned to know everything in his heart and mind, learn if I had maybe been wrong in assuming the outcome of getting involved with him.
I’d seen glimpses of his true self here and there, enough to whet my appetite for another taste of his sweet surrender.
Right now, the boy needed me more than ever, even if he didn’t recognize the truth.
But I didn’t want other townsfolk watching us like a bunch of rubbernecks, desperate to gobble up the next bit of gossip to spread around to their neighbors.
At least no one sat at the table backing against his, so we had a little space for privacy.
“Jimmy?” I kept my tone low, hoping to ease him gently from whatever nightmare he relived.
He blinked a few times, sucking in a rattling breath. A full-body shudder shifted him on the bench before he straightened. “Wh-Where’s DJ?” he asked, his voice haggard as though he’d been crying for hours.
I held his gaze, pouring all my concern and encouragement from my eyes. “Safe in the kitchen with Addy.”
“K-Kurt?” He still clutched his arms around his body.
“Gone. Jamie took him home. He can’t hurt you,” I assured him with the firmest tone I could muster. “Won’t ever if I have any say on the matter.”
Jimmy’s chest seemed to collapse, and he swallowed hard, his stare dropping to the table.
“Jimmy.”
He shook his head, slipped out of the booth, and stumbled for the exit.
“Jimmy!”
The door closed behind him, and heaviness settled in my chest, tugging my chin downward until I closed my eyes. I stayed put, reminded yet again that I wasn’t wanted. No longer needed even for soothing his nerves.
The kitchen door swung open, and I turned to find Addy sticking her head out, checking if the coast was clear.
Lips in a grim line, I strode toward her, digging a few bills from my pocket to cover both Jimmy’s and my bill. “Thanks for looking out for DJ.”
“Of course, Chief,” she whispered, accepting the money with shaking fingers. “Mary should be here?—”
“What trouble has Kurt caused now?” Mary grumbled, shoving into the restaurant. She clutched her cane in a white-knuckled grip, eyes blazing as she shuffled my way. “If I could still take him over my knee, Chief, I promise I’d set him straight. Should have done more of that when he was younger.”
“Wasn’t your fault, Mary,” I assured her quietly, leading her to an empty booth by a touch to her elbow. “He’s a grown-ass man who’s making his own choices—poor ones for sure.”
She sat, and I perched on the bench across from her.
Concern lined her face, her eyes wary. “Was he behind the wheel?”
“According to him, no. He said his friend drove him down here.”
Her lips pressed tight briefly. “Don’t believe a single thing that boy tells you. He’s full of lies and deceit.”
I didn’t bother arguing. “He spewed some homophobic bullshit, Mary—I won’t put up with that in this town.”
Her gaze narrowed as though momma bear had awoken—and not for her son. “What did he say?”
“Called Jimmy some not so nice names.”
“In front of DJ?”
I nodded.
“I’ll whip that boy’s ass!”
Leaning onto the table, I held her blazing stare. “Think he would be open to going to therapy? Mr. Henderson has become a changed man because of it—might do Kurt a world of good.”
Mary shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. I’ve already tried to talk to him about getting some help, but he’s stubborn as his old man was. There won’t be any change in his heart or mind until something terrible happens. I’d thought the DUI would be enough but clearly not.”
I hoped Mary’s prediction about her son’s behavior didn’t come true. The “something terrible” lay in the back of my mind, and I kept my fingers crossed that whatever it might be took place outside of Pippen Creek, far from my jurisdiction.