Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I checked out and rushed back to the house. I barely had time to put everything away before it was time to get back in the car and go pick up the boys. When I got over to Dan and CeeCee’s, I didn’t bother pulling into the driveway. I wanted a quick getaway, so I parked in front of the house.
A minute later, the boys came strolling out with their bags draped over their shoulders, and neither of them looked to be in the best mood. But they climbed in without much fuss. As soon as they closed the doors, I smiled, asking, “Hey! How’d it go?”
“Fine,” they both mumbled.
That’s all I got. I figured they were just tired, so I pulled out and started home. Hoping to get one of them talking, I asked, “Did you do anything fun?”
“Not really,” Lucas answered flatly.
“Okay. Then, what’d y’all do?”
Lucas shrugged. “We watched a movie.”
“Which one?”
“I don’t know. Some stupid Western Dad wanted to watch.”
“Okaayy…” I dragged the word out slightly. “What else did you do?”
“Nothing,” Thomas answered.
Another short answer that hung heavy in the air.
That was it. Something was clearly wrong, so I turned the radio down and said, “Okay. Spill it. What’s wrong with you two?”
“Nothing,” Thomas lied.
“Don’t give me that. I know you guys well enough to know when something’s wrong.”
Neither of them spoke at first. They just sat there, tense and scowling. Eventually, Thomas looked up at the rearview mirror and asked, “Is it true? Is Walker really a criminal?”
“What?” I gasped. “Where did that come from?”
But even as I asked the question, I already knew the answer.
It was their father.
He’s been filling their head with nonsense, and now, I was left to deal with the aftermath. “No, honey. He’s not a criminal.”
“You sure? ‘Cause Dad said you don’t know anything about him.”
“Well, I didn’t know your father when we started dating either.” I tried to hide my frustration as I said, “That’s why I dated him… So, I could get to know him better.”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“Everyone’s a stranger at some point, Thomas. They stay strangers unless you decide to give them a chance.”
“But Dad said Walker was…”
“I don’t care what your father said,” I interrupted. “I’m telling you, he’s not a bad man, and your father had no right to say otherwise.”
Lucas’ eyes were filled with doubt as he asked, “But why would he lie about something like this?”
“I don’t know. You would have to ask him that.”
“’Cause he’s a douche,” Thomas grumbled. “He just doesn’t want Mom to have anybody.”
“Thomas.”
“Well, it’s true.” There was no missing the pain in his voice when he said, “He doesn’t care about anybody but himself.”
“Your father loves you both very much.”
“Whatever,” Thomas grumbled. “He lied. Seems like that’s all he does anymore.”
“I tried telling Dad that he was wrong,” Lucas interjected. “But he wouldn’t listen.”
“’Cause he can’t admit when he’s wrong,” Thomas grumbled. “And he’s wrong a lot.”
This conversation was quickly going south, so I tried to steer it in a different direction. “Well, he was definitely wrong about Walker. I saw him again last night, and we had a really nice night.”
“I thought you were at the hospital with Nana.”
“This was after.”
“So, you guys are a thing, now?”
“I don’t know if I would say that, but I do like him.”
“And you’re sure he’s okay?” Thomas pressed.
I glanced back at Thomas and tried to reassure him by saying, “I wouldn’t have him around you guys if I thought he wasn’t.”
Thomas nodded, but I could still see the doubt in his eyes.
“He asked about having dinner with us one day this week.” Both of them looked at me with surprise. “He offered to grill and mentioned having you guys give him a hand. You think you guys would be up for that? It would give you a chance to get to know him a little better.”
“Yeah, I’d be okay with it,” Thomas muttered.
“Me, too,” Lucas chimed in. “But can we not tell Dad about it? I don’t want to hear his mouthing again.”
“I don’t want you lying to your father, but you don’t have to volunteer any information, unless you feel it’s warranted.”
“Okay.”
“I’m sorry your dad upset you.”
“It’s okay, Mom. It’s not your fault.”
“I still hate it. On another note, I was thinking we could go check on your grandmother this afternoon. Maybe take them some dinner.”
“Yeah. I’d be cool with that.”
Lucas was already scrolling on his phone when he muttered, “Yeah, me too.”
My stomach tightened at the thought of seeing Walker again this week. It wasn’t just dinner. This was about Lucas and Thomas and whether they liked him or not. They were going to watch his every move, see if he measured up, and in their own quiet way, decide if he fit in our lives. And the truth was, their opinion mattered more than mine.