Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
There was a burning sensation in my gut as I considered that while walking down the hallway toward the living room.
I expected to find Runa standing in the kitchen, arms crossed, guards up.
But she was sitting on the couch with her legs cocked to one side, her head resting in her hands, dead asleep.
It had been a long day. And she was probably getting the rest of someone who finally didn’t have to be on edge and worried every moment of every day.
There was no way I was going to interrupt that.
I made my way into the kitchen, grabbing a receipt out of my back pocket, then grabbing one of Denali’s crayons and writing my name and number on the receipt before quietly making my way out of the apartment, making sure the door was locked before I headed back to my bike.
Not wanting to startle either of them awake, I walked the damn thing out toward the edge of the lot before turning it over and driving back toward the clubhouse.
I heard the music when I turned down the street and was surprised by the sigh that escaped me.
You’d think after finding out you had a kid for years, getting to know her, then figuring out how to take care of them to try to make up for lost time, I would be chomping at the bit to release some steam, to have some drinks, relax by the pool, maybe even take someone upstairs for some real stress relief.
All I felt as I pulled in the lot, though, was a mild sort of frustration.
It was still early. The party would be going on for hours. I just wanted a single drink, a shower, and an early night. I had plans to see Runa and Denali again soon… and get those answers I needed about the bruises and a man whom Denali saw hurting her mom.
I made my way toward the front door only to find myself in a cloud of weed smoke.
Then there was Maud in a red polka dot bikini and a brand new green-haired dye job.
“You got a medical card?” I asked.
“Nope,” the old woman said, popping the ‘p.’ “Just love me a nice toke. I was a teen in the sixties, you know. Lots of free love and drugs. Then I decided to settle down and be a good wife and mother. Forgot how much I loved grass.”
Grass.
I almost laughed.
“What’s got you looking all hangdog?”
“Not hangdog,” I said, sitting down beside her when she patted the empty chair. “Just a little… overwhelmed.”
“You’re too young and handsome to feel overwhelmed.”
“I just found out a one-night stand I had years ago resulted in a child that I have spent the last few days getting to know.”
“In that case,” she said, passing the joint toward me.
“No, thanks.”
“Well. It’s a lot to take in. Being a parent is good, important work.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Haven’t known you long, but you seem like a man who understands his responsibilities.”
“I like to think so.”
“Is it a little boy?”
“It’s a little girl.”
“Oh, I love a big, strong, scary guy turning into putty for a little girl. She’s going to decorate your beard. And ask you to have tea parties.”
“I’m game. I missed so much already.”
“I’m confused. If you are glad to have a little girl, why are you so tense?”
“I’m just worried about what her mom might have gone through recently. There are a lot of bruises.”
Maud’s face tightened at that. “I had a sister who had a husband that used to put his hands on her. Of course, back in my day, that wasn’t unheard of. Some men are so small that they need to beat everyone around them down to feel big.”
“Yeah. I hate the idea that my daughter seems to have seen that.”
“That’s hard. Kids are resilient, though. And you have the chance to show your daughter what a good man is.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, exhaling hard. “That’s true. Thanks for the talk, Maud.”
“Thanks for showing me how to live again,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’m going to go drag my husband into the shooting range for a quickie.”
Thanks for that visual.
“Have fun.”
“Be gentle with your daughter’s mom. It sounds like she’s been through a lot. Don’t try to bully the information out of her, either.”
That was some solid advice.
I had to let Runa open up to me in her time.
I just hoped it was soon.
Not knowing was going to drive me crazy.
CHAPTER NINE
Runa
“Mommy,” Denali called as I moved the clothes from the washing machine to the dryer, a smile on my face at the simplicity of it. It was so easy to just throw a load in first thing in the morning, then switch it over between other tasks. No sitting around and wasting hours at a laundromat.
“What’s up?” I asked, turning the dryer on and turning to find Denali watching me from her doorway.