Chapter 5
I needed to burn my clothes. Debra’s perfume somehow seeped into my uniform and was now doing a fantastic job at giving me a migraine. I cringed as I recalled her hugging me as I was getting ready to leave. The way she kept pulling her shirt down to show more cleavage, I shuddered and prayed someone would take one for the team and marry her just to get the woman to stop.
Thankfully, I still had time to run home, take a shower and wash this day off. Once inside, I stripped out of my uniform, throwing it in the mudroom and praying the perfume wouldn’t seep into the wood floors.
Once in the shower, I cranked the heat to push off the autumn chill that permeated the day. However, as I start scrubbing, the mental checklist of things that need done took over.
I needed to have a real heart to heart with Dad about continuing to live in that house at their age. There was so much work that had been pushed to the side once Mom’s Alzheimer’s flared. I tried to help where I could, but it just kept getting worse.
I needed to make the deputy schedule for next month.
The ranch house needed a new roof and if I was being honest, I needed to hire someone to tend to the horses while I was working. Speaking of horses, if I was going to pursue turning this ranch into an equine therapy location, I needed to find physical therapists and counselors.
Most of all and worst of all, I needed to check on Graham or at least attempt to call his cell phone. I had continued to pay for his phone bill, but the most I ever got from him was his voicemail. It had been nearly a year since I had spoken to my stepbrother. That was on him, though. Right? He had made his choices. Groaning, I scrubbed my face. Dad would argue communication goes both ways, but I don’t know how many more chances I could give him. The day I dropped him off at the sterile, haunting rehab facility lived torturously rent free in my head. It replayed often, reminding me of what an asshole brother I am.
“Why does it have to be way out here?”
Graham whined as he shook and rubbed his forearms.
“Because.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, staring at the large white building in front of us. “You have been kicked out of every rehab within a hundred-mile radius, and this is the one that the judge ordered for you to attend. This one has the security system that he specified in your probation.”
Graham’s bloodshot eyes brimmed with tears. “Can’t I just stay with you? I promise I’ll do better this time. I swear.”
He grabbed my forearm and stared at me with pleading eyes. “Please, Garrett.”
My chest clenched and tears stung the back of my eyes. I wished it could be that easy. I wished he hadn’t stolen my truck and totaled it in a ditch by the lake. “I can’t, Graham. This is the best place for you. They…They know how to help you here.”
Tears spilled down Graham’s cheeks. “Yeah.”
He nodded but stayed in the passenger seat shaking from the detox that had already started to consume his body.
“Let’s go.”
I swallowed and opened my door. “The hardest obstacle is always the first step. You can do this.”
I had called monthly, until I got a notice that he snuck out of the facility. There was a warrant for his arrest now. I had the file on my computer at the station. If he came back home, I’d have to arrest him.
I finished my shower in a daze, getting dressed while lost in thought about Graham. It wasn’t until I was climbing onto my motorcycle that movement by the far fence caught my attention.
Dylan was calling out to a little girl, who was presently running full steam ahead towards Brenda, the bitchiest unbroke mare in the field. Fuck. I threw my helmet to the ground and ran.
“Get back!”
I yelled in vain. They couldn’t hear me. Dylan was yelling at the girl as he climbed the fence she had so easily crawled under.
I jumped the gate, landing on my feet in the pasture and sprinted towards them. The girl was now stretching out a small hand, reaching for Brenda’s nose.
Oh my God, this girl was about to lose her hand. “Get away from her!”
Brenda stared down at the blonde and huffed before shocking me beyond belief. She lowered her head and placed her nose against the girl’s fingers.
Squeals of delight filled the air and Brenda’s tail flicked in the wind.
Dylan finally made it over the fence and cringed as he met my glare. He threw his hands up in surrender. “She’s fast man. I didn’t know she would get so excited about horses!”
I grunted and turned my attention to the girl currently befriending the devil, that’s when recognition kicked in. Those warm brown eyes that mirrored the most beautiful woman I’d ever met, unabashedly met my frantic stare. This was Lucy’s girl. Fuck.
“What’s her name?”
Her pigtails bounced as she danced on her tiptoes continuing to pet Brenda’s nose.
“Listen, half-pint, you can’t just run into someone’s pasture. You could get seriously hurt.”
I approached them slowly, ensuring that I was in Brenda’s field of vision the entire time. “That is Brenda, and up until today, she hated everyone, taking great joy in biting anything that tried to touch her.”
Half-pint tilted her head and considered Brenda. “She just needed a best friend, and now I’m here!”
She bounced on her toes as she said it.
I glared at Dylan. “Remind me to fire you tomorrow.”
Dylan ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Come on Kaley. I’m sure your mom is wondering where we are.”
Kaley tipped forward, kissed Brenda on her cheek and skipped back to Dylan.
I stared in bewilderment and shook my head, pointing a finger at Brenda. “You are on my list. Your feigned brattiness has been noted.”
Dylan helped Kaley through the fence, and I made my way back to my bike, debating if it would be worth it to sell Brenda the next time she bit me.
Lucy was my neighbor now. How had I forgotten that? Hell, she was living with Gran. I knew that, but it didn’t register. She and David would take the trail that connected to the back ranch when we were kids. We’d meet up late at night at least once a week, setting up campfires, sneaking booze and hoping for a better future.
Well, there was a considerable amount of forest between us, but just on the other side of those trees was Lucy’s Gran’s house. That was fine. Everything was fine. No temptation there at all.
I climbed onto the Harley and revved it to life. Throwing my helmet on, I took off down the gravel drive.
The route to my parents is not nearly long enough for me to quit thinking about Lucy living behind my ranch. And as if the powers that be decided to play a role in my life, there was Lucy laughing with my dad who was yet again rocking in his chair on the front porch.
“Dad.”
I tipped my head toward him in greeting, removing my helmet as I made my way up the wooden stairs. My eyes caught on the beautiful woman sitting beside my dad. “Daisy, what are you doing here?”
A devastating blush crept up her neck as she took me in, eyes trailing from my boots, slowly up until our eyes collided. “Garrett.”
It was all but a whisper.
“Miss Lucy was out for a run when she found your mom going on a stroll of her own. I had accidentally fallen asleep in my chair. She brought her home.”
Dad took a hit from his pipe.
All the air in my lungs seemed to vanish as the danger of the situation sunk in. “Shit. Thank you, Daze.”
Lucy swallowed and nodded, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I’m just happy I was out and that I remembered where your parents live.”
“You hooligans hung out here enough. I would hope you’d remember.”
Dad chuckled as he glanced between me and Lucy. “I lost count of how many times I’d find you all scarfing pizza after football games.”
Lucy’s blush deepened as she dropped her gaze to her feet. “David and Garrett were inseparable.”
Dad grunted, his expression sobering. “That they were. Had been since they were toddlers.”
Lucy cleared her throat, twisting her fingers as she always had when nervous. “Well, I should head back. I’m sure Dylan is being put through the ringer with Kaley.”
“Actually.”
I shook my head as I laughed. “Dylan and Kaley were at the ranch just a few minutes ago. Your daughter is quite the horse whisperer.”
Lucy’s eyes bulged as she gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh no! Please apologize to your grandpa for me! I’ll be sure to get onto them. Dylan knows better, dang it. I should go. I’m so sorry.”
“Garrett actually-”
Dad started, but I cut him off earning a glare.
“Ya, I’ll let him know, but I’m sure he won’t be too upset. He always enjoyed having you over.”
I smiled waving off her panic.
“Still.”
She began her descent down the stairs. “Dylan should have paid more attention. Kaley loses her senses when she sees animals. I’ll see you all around.”
With a rushed wave, Lucy began jogging down the sidewalk, her ass bouncing deliciously with each step.
“You know they say that karma’s a bitch.”
Dad took a puff of his pipe and shook his head. “It’s bad form to lie, son.”
I cleared my throat and turned my attention to him. “Smoking that thing is bad for your health, but you don’t see me getting on to you for it.”
“I’m old!”
He took another puff, scoffing. “I’m allowed to do things you shouldn’t. My time is nearly done on this earth.”
“Don’t.”
I pointed at him with a glare. “We are not talking about death today. You easily have twenty more years stuck with me.”
“God, I hope not.”
He grunted and rocked in his chair, staring out at the quiet street. “I’m tired, Garrett. Your mother is tired. I hope we go together, or at least that I am not far behind her. I have no desire to make it to my late nineties or God forbid into my hundreds. I’ve lived a good life, raising you and your brother being one of my highlights.”
His expression fell. “Though it could be argued I failed your brother somewhere along the way. It’s been so long since I’ve heard from him. His damn phone is disconnected, but I try every week.”
My chest ached. I hated this. I hated it for my dad, for myself, and for Graham. He was a baby when my mom married his dad. I was three. Grant had always been my dad. I couldn’t remember the asshole who left my mother and me, but I never felt the loss. Grant stepped into the role of my father seamlessly. He was my dad. The other man was just a sperm donor.
“Graham is the only one responsible for Graham. We have provided a million opportunities for him. At this point, he must be the one who wants to change.”
I was quiet with that statement, but there was simply nothing else to say.
He sighed and wiped his cheek with the back of his weathered hand. “Have you heard from him lately?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s been a long time since I heard from him.”
Dad nodded, his bottom lip quivering, and rocked harder in his chair. “I never should have shared custody with his mom. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought it was the right thing,”
he whispered.
I pushed off the porch railing and crouched in front of him, placing a hand on his. “You were always there for us, Dad. You fought for him in every way possible, the therapy, the countless rehabs, the alternative school, moving out here to Whispering Springs. You did everything you could while trying to honor the custody agreement.”
Dad grunted and set his pipe on the glass table beside him. “Well. Let’s head inside and eat that lasagna before the sun sets, yeah?”
“Sounds good, Pops.”
I followed him inside and decided I’d try to call the rehab facility again tomorrow morning, maybe they had heard from him, seen him, something.