Chapter 7
Hollywood
I stood outside Carrie’s hospital room, Ruby in my arms. Carrie’s father gazed at me with narrowed, hard eyes. He clearly didn’t trust me. Her mother’s nose wrinkled up, as if there was a bad smell hanging around me. I had to resist the urge to sniff my underarms.
Kelly offered a strained smile. “I was just telling Mom and Dad that you’re keeping Ruby.”
Well, that was a change from last night. I was glad to have her support, though.
“The doctor came by to explain Carrie’s injuries and recovery timeline.” Carrie’s mother, Georgia, sighed. “It’s just awful. My poor baby.” She pulled a tissue from a cherry-red purse the size of an overnight bag and dabbed her eyes.
Kelly jumped in to explain that Carrie was looking at six months before she’d be up to caring for Ruby. At least three months would be in a rehab facility.
Her fracture had been complex, requiring plates and screws, and she’d had some numbness, indicating an issue with her sciatic nerve, which would lengthen the process.
“So, I’ll have Ruby quite a while then,” I said.
Kelly nodded. “Yes, that’s why—”
“Not so fast,” Carrie’s mom, Georgia, cut in. “We understand you’re Ruby’s father, but you’re also a criminal.”
“Not anymore.”
Liam scoffed and shook his head. “A tiger doesn’t change its stripes that easily, son.”
Two years in prison wasn’t easy. Well, okay. Minimum-security prison hadn’t been that hard. A bunch of white-collar, privileged guys sat around and planned for how rich they were going to get once they got out again. It was practically a corporate business retreat.
But I’d lost my reputation. My freedom. My family. None of that was easy.
“He was a greedy corporate slimeball,” Kelly said in a chipper tone.
I shot her a look. I thought she was on my side.
“But that doesn’t mean he’s not Ruby’s father or that he’ll take bad care of her,” Kelly continued. “Plenty of greedy corporate slimeballs make great dads.”
A gust of air escaped my lips. This was her idea of helping?
Liam nodded. “I suppose we don’t have to worry about Ruby wanting for anything. He’ll just steal it.” He chuckled and swatted my shoulder. “Just kidding. You get into any trouble at all and you’ll never see this little girl again.”
Georgia lifted Ruby out of my arms and planted a big slobbery kiss on her cheek. “Look at my precious girl. If I could take you home with me now, I would. I really would.”
She was talking to Ruby in a high-pitched baby voice that made me want to gag. Ruby looked over her shoulder at me, as if uncertain what to do with this lady. Carrie’s parents lived in Arizona now, so I doubted Ruby knew them any better than me.
Georgia glanced over at her husband. “Are you sure we can’t just take Ruby back to Arizona while Carrie recovers?”
“You heard the lawyer. We don’t have rights.” His eyes returned to me. “Although if Hendrix were to voluntarily give her up—”
“No,” I said quickly.
“You heard Carrie this morning,” Kelly added. “She doesn’t want her daughter across the country. Hendrix can bring Ruby for visits. It’ll keep her spirits up. The doctor said that’s really important.”
Georgia’s mouth flattened with displeasure. “Well, then. I guess we have no choice, do we?”
“I’ll keep an eye on Ruby,” Kelly swore.
“I suppose that’s the least you can do,” Georgia said.
There was a thrum of underlying tension. Had they wanted Kelly to take Ruby? I wasn’t sure why she’d come around. Maybe the sheer length of Carrie’s recovery had daunted her. She had a full house with four kids, and from what I’d seen, not a lot of money to spare.
Whatever the reason, I was glad. As hard as this was going to be, this was my best chance to be in Ruby’s life. Tex was right. I deserved that.
“How about we go in and see Carrie?” I suggested.
“Okay,” Liam said. “Not a word to upset her. That goes for everyone.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
He opened the door, leading the way inside. Georgia followed, Ruby still in her arms. Kelly gave me a sympathetic smile before we followed them inside.
Carrie was in bed, looking pale and drawn. Her legs were slightly elevated and encased in compression sleeves that inflated and deflated. She had two IVs hooked up, one arm in a sling over her chest, and some visible bruising over her collarbone.
Luckily, aside from looking exhausted and hazy from what I imagined was a shitload of pain meds, she had no visible injuries. I wasn’t sure how well Ruby would handle that.
Carrie’s eyes filled with tears and spilled over. “Ruby. Mommy is so sorry,” she croaked, her voice hoarse.
Ruby instantly held out her arms. “Mama!”
Georgia approached the bedside, holding Ruby even as she strained to reach for her mother. Carrie didn’t look well enough to have a toddler climbing on top of her. Who knew what damage Ruby might do?
Carrie lifted one shaky hand, and Ruby clutched two fingers.
“Hey, baby. Mommy’s here.”
“Hurt?” Ruby asked, eyes wide. “Ruby kiss better.”
Carried smiled weakly. “Yeah, baby.”
Georgia bent over to kiss Carrie’s forehead. Ruby planted her lips on her cheek and made a big smacking muah.
When Georgia drew her back, Ruby frowned. Clearly, she didn’t understand why her mom wasn’t magically healed.
“The hospital will fix your mommy,” Georgia said, cuddling Ruby. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll take good care of you.” Georgia met Carrie’s eyes. “Say the word and we’ll pack up Ruby today. Hendrix is an ex-con. He won’t win if we take this to court.”
So much for playing nice.
“Ruby’s my daughter,” I said tersely. “And we both know a court case could drag out as long as Carrie’s recovery. Can we just—”
“Stop,” Kelly ordered. “Carrie doesn’t need this squabbling.”
Carrie drew a pained breath. “Let me talk to him alone.”
Georgia hesitated.
“Please,” Carrie whispered.
Georgia sighed. “Fine. Don’t push yourself too hard, though. You need to rest.”
She bent and kissed Carrie on the forehead. Ruby patted her mother’s cheek. Then Georgia backed away. Ruby strained for the bed, saying “No! Want Mama!”
My throat tightened at the sight. She didn’t understand. Couldn’t.
Georgia carried her out of the room, still crying. Liam and Kelly followed her out, the door closing softly behind them.
“Carrie, I don’t know what to say,” I said. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
She blinked hard. “I could have killed Ruby.”
“No…”
“Yes. There was a deer…swerved too late.” Every word seemed to take monumental effort, but Carrie was determined. “What if she—”
Her voice broke, and I reached for her hand, clasping it as more tears spilled down her cheeks.
Had her hand always felt so small and dainty? I wasn’t sure. I hadn’t touched her since the day I was arrested.
“Don’t do this to yourself. You need to focus on healing. Ruby is okay.”
Her eyes slipped closed. “Tired.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “You should rest.”
“Keep Ruby safe,” she mumbled. “I couldn’t.”
“I will. I swear. I’ll take care of her. I promise you, Carrie. I won’t let you down again. Either of you.”
I’d wanted to make amends for so long. Wanted to give her a proper apology.
“Pain meds…” She trailed off, voice slurring a bit.
Well, it had probably been too much to think Carrie would be up for a heart-to-heart the morning after major surgery.
I let myself out the door and went to find Ruby. I ran into Kelly in the hallway, the car seat in her arms. I glanced past her toward the waiting room, but Tex was gone.
My gut tightened. Would I see him again, or had he already headed home?
The other guys stood, casting concerned looks my way. I’d have to give them an update.
“What did she say?” Kelly asked.
“Not a lot. Just that she could have hurt Ruby.”
“She feels guilty.” Her tone sharpened. “It wasn’t her fault, though.”
“I know. I told her not to blame herself.”
She nodded. “Good.”
“Do you, uh, know why she was okay with me taking Ruby? It’s just that she wouldn’t even let me see her before…”
Kelly frowned, forehead creasing. “I think she’s punishing herself. Thinking she’s not a good enough parent, so maybe you’ll do better.” She snorted. “Fat chance of that.”
“Ouch.” I wasn’t that bad, was I? I was inexperienced, sure, but only because I hadn’t gotten the chance to try before now.
Kelly’s smile was tight. “She also doesn’t want to burden me because I’ve got a full house and she knows I’m stretched thin.
She doesn’t want our parents to take Ruby far away either, though.
So she’s choosing you. But hell, I don’t know.
Maybe it’s the drugs. Once her mind clears, she might change her mind. ”
My throat went tight. “Ruby needs consistency. We can’t yo-yo back and forth. It’s not going to be easy to take full-time custody. I’ll need to make a lot of changes.”
“You want a pat on the back?” Kelly asked, unsympathetic. “Welcome to being a real parent.”
“No.” I scowled. “I’m saying that if I’m taking Ruby, I’m taking her for the full six months or however long Carrie needs. I’m giving her a proper home. I’m not handing her back in a week or two like a shirt that didn’t fit right. No exchanges. No returns. This is my daughter.”
Surprisingly, Kelly relaxed. “Glad to see you found your backbone.”
“For fuck’s sake—”
“I agree,” she said, cutting me short. “Ruby doesn’t need to bounce around. I’ll be checking in to make sure she’s doing okay. Don’t think I won’t fight you if I need to.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Good. Then go be a dad. Try not to fuck it up.”
Ruby fell asleep in the car on the way home. Tex had installed the new car seat as promised. He’d left my car keys with Knight, along with a promise to say goodbye before he left.
I wasn’t holding my breath, though. Tex was good at running away. I couldn’t even be mad this time. I wasn’t sure I’d have made it through my first night with Ruby without him. The thought of facing the rest of the day and night on my own—just me and a grieving toddler—made me question my sanity.
Tex’s words had gotten into me and taken root. Convinced me I could do this. Could be the father Ruby needed. But it was more intimidating without him standing beside me.