21. Dempsey
21
Dempsey
K aty’s raised voice catches my attention. I’ve been trying not to look like a creeper, watching their entire interaction, but I can’t ignore her protest.
“I said, stop.”
Babs looks shocked by Katy’s tone, and I stand there waiting to see what happens next.
“You-you don’t get to pick a grandparent name because you aren’t his grandparent. You aren’t a mother; how could you expect to be a grand mother?”
Pride swells in my chest as Katy sticks up for herself.
“Now Katy, I may have made some mistakes, but—”
“You abandoned me,” Katy hisses. A few heads turn, and I know she doesn’t want to cause a scene, but I also know she needs to do this for herself. “I was your responsibility, and you abandoned me. You gave me away. Sold me for money.”
Fuck. I didn’t think she knew about the arrangement Justin made with Babs. Did someone tell her? I know Justin and Spencer had her sign an NDA about the details of Katy’s adoption. The paperwork is public record, but the terms of her termination of parental rights aren’t.
“Katy, I didn’t—”
“No. It’s fine. I’m great.” Katy’s voice is calm and collected. It’s as if an acceptance has washed over her. “I really am.” Katy reaches out and takes her mother’s hand. “Thank you for being such a terrible mother so I can be the opposite of you. You don’t get to be a grandmother, but I’m not a heartless bitch. I’m also not your daughter. My son can call you Babs like the rest of the world does. I’m not ready for you to meet him, but I’ll say I’m impressed. I hope whatever improvements you’ve made in your life stick because I’d like my son to eventually meet the woman who gave birth to me.”
Babs’ mouth flaps like a fish as Katy lets go of her hand and stands. She glances at me with a barely perceptible nod and turns to leave, knowing I’ll follow, but Babs grabs her arm.
“I deserve all of that, and I understand. I’ll be here. Please give him my gift. I’d like him to have it from me.” She picks up the gift bag and angles it in Katy’s direction. Katy wars with the idea but relents and takes it.
“It was nice to see you, Babs. I’ll speak to you soon.”
Katy walks out, and I follow behind her, trying not to look too obvious. As soon as we turn the corner, out of the view of the coffee shop’s windows, Katy spins and collapses into my arms.
“Viktor.” Her voice cracks, and I want to take it all away for her.
“I’ve got you, Pepper.” I scoop my hands under her legs and carry her to our car. She’s quiet, but I feel the dampness of her tears through my T-shirt. When I squat to place her in the passenger seat, she tightens her arms around my neck before letting me go.
“Thank you for the strength.”
I stare into her chocolate eyes and then kiss her forehead for real.
“I’ll always give you strength, and when you don’t have enough, I’ll take the burden for you.” I reach over and buckle her seat belt, and she brushes her hand through my beard as I pull away.
Katy stares out the window the entire way home. I won’t push her to talk. I heard most of the conversation and can fill in the blanks. Her mother is a piece of work, and I’m so damn proud of her for putting her foot down. She deserves better, and I’ll give it to her.
“Do you want to take Owen to the park after his nap? I know his giggles always cheer you up.” A small smile creeps on her lips, and I imagine she’s thinking about those giggles.
“Yeah. That sounds nice.” She looks over her shoulder to the back seat where I put the gift bag from her mother. “What do you think is in there?”
Shrugging, I look in the rearview. “Only one way to find out.”
“I guess the question is, do I care? And unfortunately, the answer is I do. She’s my mother, and as good and as terrible as that felt, I can tell she’s trying, and I’ll give her credit for that. But it felt like she was trying to take something she hasn’t earned, and I probably overreacted.” Out of my peripheral, I see her chin dip to her chest.
“None of that, Pepper.” I tilt her chin up with my knuckles. “Own your words. Your feelings are valid. You were too much for her. Not that she couldn’t handle you, too much in a way that you shine brighter than she ever will. Don’t let her dull your shine.” I know I sound like a greeting card, but she needs to know she’s so much more than her mother could ever think of her.
I can see she’s still a little down on herself, so I try one more tactic.
“Pepper, I want you to say three good things about yourself.”
She huffs and crosses her arms. I can feel her gaze boring a hole in the side of my head, and I try not to react.
“You’re evil. Using my own words against me? Fine. Three things.” She taps her finger on her bottom lip as she thinks, and it’s adorable. I wish I could watch her face while she thinks, but I need to stay focused on the road and our surroundings.
“I’m a decent shot.”
She is. I’ve been with her a few times with each of the guys as they taught her about guns, and she learned quickly. After the Shane incident, she wanted to make sure she never hesitated again. We still aren’t entirely sure where she hit Shane, but there was plenty of blood, and his subsequent retreat let us know she did enough damage that it saved us both.
Midnight Moonshine sits on a large piece of property, and despite the law requiring her to be twenty-one to handle or own a firearm, none of them were going to stop her from learning. Tucker set up a makeshift range there with Spencer’s approval.
“One. And I can practically hear your eyes roll.”
“Ugh. Why is this so hard? I…have pretty hair?”
“That doesn’t count, and you know it. It’s hard because we are the most critical about ourselves, but if we don’t think positively about our self-worth, how can we expect others to? Give me another one, Pepper.”
I smirk to myself as I hear her mumbling about how Vikings shouldn’t be allowed to make so much sense.
“I’m helpful in the kitchen. I may not be the best cook on my own, but I follow directions well.”
“You are a good cook on your own, but I’ll give you that one. Two. One more. Dig deeper.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip as she thinks, and it’s the cutest thing.
“I’m an excellent student, at all things in general, but I did well in school and…I miss that I didn’t get to finish traditionally. I-I think maybe I’d like to look into college.”
Something about that idea sparks a flame inside her. She turns in her seat so her body faces me and becomes animated with her enthusiasm.
“Viktor. I think I want to go back to school. I always wanted to be a teacher growing up. School was my only safe space, and I would make up stories in my head about my teachers being my mom because anything was better than what I had at home. I wanted to be that for a child someday. Do you think Spencer would help me?”
“Yeah. I think she would. I know she would. Any of them will help you, and you know that.”
She turns back in her seat and stares out the window, deep in thought.
“That’s three, Pepper. And I think it worked.”
“What worked?”
“You feel better about yourself, don’t you?”
“Huh. I do, actually. Thank you.”
Katy’s smile is bright, and I can tell she feels lighter. I have no doubt that if she decides this is what she wants, everyone will stand behind her. She’ll be a fantastic teacher for the exact reasons she stated and more.
“It’s your turn.”
“My turn for what?” A glance in her direction shows her beautiful smile, and I temporarily forget that she even spoke.
“Give me three things.”
“No ma’am. This was about you. I’m not going to overshadow your moment. Ask me another day. Let’s get home and take our boy to the park.”
Fuck. Our boy? I didn’t mean to say it that way, but if I’m being honest with myself, I liked the way it sounded far more than I probably should have.
When we stop at a red light, I pull out my phone and send off a text.
Group 6D:
Dempsey: Katy just mentioned to me she thinks she wants to go back to school to become a teacher. Wanted to give you all a heads up. I don’t know how serious she is, but I think we should encourage her.
Spencer: She has my complete support.
Axel: Fuck yes!
Miller: That’s my girl.
Lincoln: That would be perfect for her. Keep us updated.
Tucker: Anything she wants. Tell her to pick a college and I’ll send a check for tuition.
Katy gives me a suspicious look as my phone buzzes. She glances at her phone, realizing she hasn’t gotten any texts, and pouts her plush bottom lip.
“Are you talking about me?”
“Me? I would never do that, Pepper.”
“You lay in a bed of lies, Viktor Dempsey. What’s going on over there?”
I put my phone in my pocket before she can swipe it.
“Just know that everyone in your life will support your dream if you choose to pursue it.”
She freezes, getting an idea of what I messaged everyone about.
“You didn’t?”
“I did, and I don’t regret it. You’ll be an incredible teacher one day. We all support you. Go for it, Pepper.”
She stares out the window again, hopefully, lost in the thought of decorating classrooms and reading books during carpet time. I don’t have to ask to know she wants to teach elementary school, just like I didn’t need to send the heads-up text. I know everyone in Katy’s life supports her dreams.