Chapter 30
Tucker
No plane ride has ever felt longer than the one taking me back to Wyoming after leaving Ruth and Birdie in Maryland.
I keep reminding myself this is just temporary, but there’s no guarantee it is.
It's possible that no matter how safe it is for Ruth to come back to Wyoming, she might choose to stay where she is.
Continue with the life she built for herself and Birdie.
And I'll have to find a way to live with it. A way to move forward.
But I don't think I'll ever find a way to move on.
That's why I can't—won’t—let myself even consider that as a possibility. Until Ruth tells me she's not coming back, I'm living like this is a temporary break. That we’ll be back together soon. Because even though nothing was supposed to be real, what’s between us became anything but fake.
After finally deplaning, I cut through the terminal, moving quickly on my way to the parking garage.
And while walking away from Birdie and Ruth was the hardest thing I've ever done, each step I take is getting easier.
Because each step I take has a purpose—taking care of my family so they can come back to me.
Climbing behind the wheel of my truck, I toss my carry-on bag into the passenger seat where Ruth should be sitting and start the engine. Checking the rearview mirror before backing out is fucking hell because Birdie's car seat is no longer there.
I grind my molars together as I pay my parking fee, then jump on the highway. The closest airport I could get a decent flight out of was in Billings, so I've got a couple hours of driving ahead of me. Way too much time to sit and think.
To distract myself, I start making phone calls.
The first one is to my mother, letting her know I landed safely.
She asks how Ruth's new apartment is and how she and Birdie are settling in.
Damn it. Maybe I should have just sent her a text.
I keep my answers brief and end the call as quickly as possible.
Maryland is the last thing I want to talk about right now.
Next on my list is Heidi. We decided it was best for her to be the initial point of contact between me and the three women also trying to put William behind them.
I dial her number, hoping she was able to make some headway with them, because right now I need some good news. Something to keep my optimism alive.
"Hey, baby Bradshaw. I was just about to call you."
That has me sitting straighter in my seat. "Please tell me it was for a good reason."
"It’s for a great reason. All three of the women I found are super excited about never having to worry about that pecker face again, so I think you're in business."
All the air rushes from my lungs, and I can almost taste the relief it carries. "Heidi, have I ever told you how much I love you?"
"Awe. That is super sweet, but you’re not my type. I like them grumpy and cynical."
Before hanging up, Heidi promises to send me the information for the three women, letting me know they’re aware I'll be getting in contact.
As soon as the line disconnects, I repeat my first call.
My mother answers, sounding a little confused about why I dialed her number again so soon. "Is this a butt dial?"
I chuckle, feeling a little lighter than I did when I got off the plane. "If it was a butt dial, I wouldn't hear you ask me if it was a butt dial."
"Of course you would. I always hear when I butt dial people."
"I didn't know you were in the habit of butt dialing." It does make sense. My mom is notorious for shoving her cell phone into whatever pocket or pouch is most readily available, frequently without putting the device to sleep. "You’ve never butt dialed me."
"You're never my most recent call. You’ve avoided me like the plague until recently." There's snark in her voice, but no genuine irritation.
"I avoided you like the plague because I didn't want you to fuck around with my love life the way you did with Titus and Toby’s."
"And how did that work out for you?"
I tip my head as I consider. "Pretty well, outside of the fact that she's now temporarily living in Maryland."
"So I want to make sure I’m clear on this.” She pauses. "You’re calling now because you do, in fact, want me to fuck around with your love life. Am I getting this right?"
Fucking hell. I should've known this was coming. Should have seen it a fucking mile away. "Yes, mother. Please meddle in my business so we can get Ruth and your grandchild back in Wyoming as soon as possible."
My mother scoffs. "Using Birdie against me was a dirty trick."
"I'm not above dirty tricks if it gets them here.
" I'm not above much if it results in Ruth and Birdie being back with me.
Blackmail. Extortion. Hell, I might even let Heidi go with her plan B if it comes down to it.
William Sheppard probably deserves to be at least a little dead for all the bullshit he's pulled on innocent women.
"You just tell me when and where, and I'm there." Proving she is my ride or die all the way, my mother sounds just as determined as I am. "If our girls want to come home, they deserve to feel safe coming home."
Home. I hope that's how Ruth feels about this place. I hope that's how she feels about me.
We’re about to find out.
I fill my mother in on what Heidi said, promising to let her know as soon as I've scheduled a time and place for us to meet the women who are going to help me as much as I help them.
That seems to be the way I live my life now, and I’m not mad about it.
It's really fucking weird to sit here looking at Birdie's siblings. They’re all just as cute as she is, but thankfully different enough the sight of them doesn't make my heart ache.
Too much.
My mother works her way from woman to woman, pouring glasses of lemonade, serving everyone gathered around the table of her luxurious breakfast room.
"I'm so grateful you ladies were willing to come here today.
" She pauses beside Taylor—the woman with the oldest child, a five-year-old girl—to give her daughter a warm smile.
"And I'm thrilled you brought the little ones with you. "
I wasn't actually expecting anyone to bring their children, but I guess it does make sense.
This might be the only time they get to see someone their kids share DNA with.
I think it's a good sign everyone was comfortable bringing their kids.
It says a lot about the weight my mother's name and reputation carries.
And she seems fucking delighted by it. So delighted, there’s a pretty good chance she's going to try to talk one of them into meeting Walker. I'd warn him, except he probably deserves my mother’s attention for telling me the best thing I could do was let Ruth leave. He wasn’t necessarily wrong about the leaving part.
I do agree with my mother that Ruth probably needed to feel like she could do it, but I'm pretty confident he meant I should let her go permanently.
He was real fucking wrong about that.
I sit quietly as the women around me chitchat, making small talk while they feel each other out.
The only thing I really bring to the table is the connections to help them out, so the last thing they probably want or need is input from me.
I don't know what it's like to be in their shoes, so I’ve got nothing to offer.
Especially when what they’re getting out of this is likely more than just rid of William. Seeing someone else was duped the same way they were might help them come to terms with what happened.
At least that's what Bert told me.
He also told me not to get my hopes up. That the chances any of these women would put themselves and their children on the line was slim to none.
I hope to God he was just tempering expectations. Ruth has been gone over two weeks now, and I feel like I'm slowly losing my mind.
Once my mother has made sure everyone has plenty of the asparagus and herb quiche she made, as well as more than their fair share of fresh fruit and roasted potatoes, she takes her seat, leaning forward in a way I'm likely the only one to recognize.
It's her ‘let’s get down to business’ pose, and has me straightening in anticipation.
“So.” She brings her hands together in a soft clap. “How are we going to make sure William Sheppard never bothers you or your children again?”
Taylor snorts. “You genuinely think you can make him leave us alone?” She leans back in her chair, crossing both arms over her chest. “Because I’m pretty sure he gets off on terrorizing us.”
“I’m sure he does, dear.” My mother gives her a sweet smile. “All the smallest men do.” She pours herself a glass of lemonade. “That’s why it’s important we make it very clear to him he’s no longer the one doing the terrorizing.”
Taylor looks skeptical. “You think we’re going to be able to turn the tables on him?”
“Of course we are.” My mother is clearly enjoying this process, and it lightens a little of the weight that’s been pushing down on me since Ruth left.
“What’s more terrifying than a group of women ready to steal your money and ruin your life?
” My mother shrugs. “Might as well make his fears a reality.”
It’s a gamble, threatening to take William to court. And if it was just one of them, I’d be worried he might decide it was worth the battle. If he’s as smooth with his wife as he was with these women, a single lapse in judgment can probably be overlooked.
But four? That’s a lot of shit for anyone to eat.
Add on the financial cost of paying child support for all those kids—as well as the negative publicity that will likely cost him his political career—and there are a lot of reasons for William Sheppard to quietly sign away his rights and fade into the night.
My mother lays out the proposition we came up with, explaining to the women that we will pay all attorney fees and any additional costs that come up. All they have to do is sign on the dotted line.
I hold my breath when she’s done. I don’t know any of these women well enough to read their expressions, so it’s possible all three of them are about to tell us to pound sand.
When Taylor turns my way, I brace for her rejection.
Instead, she asks, “Why?”
I look to my mother, but she doesn’t seem ready to jump in. “Why, what?”
“Why are you doing this?” She gestures around the table. “You don’t know any of us. What’s in this for you?”
Everything.
But that answer isn’t what she’s looking for.
“My—” I stop, because Ruth isn’t technically my anything. “I know another woman in your same position, and I want to make sure she and her daughter are safe.” I hate not being able to claim Ruth. Hate that this is the way it has to be.
Hate that I might end up like Toby, sitting around for ten years like a sadsack, talking to Bert about all my problems while the woman I love goes on with her life.
Taylor looks me over, eyes narrowing. “That’s pretty freaking nice of you to do for a woman you only know.”
The whole room of women stare at me expectantly.
Including my mother, who’s watching me with a serene smile on her face.
The expression of a woman used to getting what she wants who knows it’s about to happen again.
And, as resistant as I was to it in the beginning, I hope like hell she gets what she wants.
Because it’s also what I want. And I’m tired of keeping my mouth shut about it.
“I don’t only know her.” I glance at my mother because I know she’s eating this up. “I love her. And getting William out of her life is the only way I can have her.”
Taylor’s lip curls. “I wish I could say that’s sweet of you, but I stopped finding anything men do sweet when William threatened to take my daughter away.”
“Is that why you moved? To get away from him?” I probably shouldn’t pry, but I can’t seem to stop the question from coming out.
“Absolutely it’s why I moved.” Anger seems to radiate off her in waves. “And it didn’t do me any freaking good. That bastard found me after only a few weeks.”
I lock eyes with my mother as my stomach drops. I’ve been checking on Ruth daily and she hasn’t said anything about William contacting her. But would she?
Or would she think I was too far away to help her and try to handle it alone?
I don’t think I want to find out.
I know I’m supposed to give her time to prove to herself she can be on her own. I’m supposed to make sure it’s safe here and then let her decide.
But thinking that William might find her and I won’t be there to do anything about it has my skin crawling.
I can’t sit still. Can’t stay in Wyoming. Not now that I know chances are good William is trying to find her. And Ruth has been in Maryland almost as long as Taylor was in New York before he found her.
Long enough to leave a trail to follow.
I stand from my chair. “I’m sorry to do this, but I’ve gotta go.”
I turn from the table without so much as a goodbye, moving toward the door at an almost run.
“Tuck.” My mother’s sharp voice stops me, turning my head her way. She gives me a smile. “Call me when you land.”