My brother grinned. “Well, Grady and I might have gotten a little carried away and made a six-foot-wide sign that said, ‘Charlie Hart’s Number One Fans.’ But they told us we couldn’t bring it inside, wouldn’t even let us stand in the back with it.”
“I’m guessing that didn’t stop you.”
“Nope. We got a little creative and snuck it inside under our jackets. It was a little worse for wear, but it got the message across.”
“Uncle Luke and Daddy almost got banned from the auditorium,” Charlie said, giggling. “Mrs. Anson said if they ever did that again, they wouldn’t be able to step foot inside the building. She wassomad.”
“Worth it,” Lukas said, sharing a wink with Charlie in the rearview mirror.
My smile slipped as I took in the easy way they bantered over core memories. Memories I wasn’t a part of, nor could ever get back. I shouldn’t have been jealous of the bond they shared. If anything, I should be thanking all the stars in the skythat my daughter was so loved in my absence, but since when did emotion ever make sense?
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Lukas reached over and gave my hand a squeeze. “Can’t wait for you to see our shenanigans this year. We go all out for our Charlie girl. You just gotta promise not to rat on us.”
Charlie’s head jerked up. Her blue eyes cautious. “You’ll be there?”
I hated the skepticism in her voice. The waver that said she wouldn’t quite believe me if I said yes. And even if I had no clue when it took place or what my life would look like at that time, I knew one thing with absolute certainty. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, baby. I’d love to come.”
Charlie’s cheeks pinked, a huge smile spreading across her face. “Really? That would be so cool. And maybe afterward, we could have a party! Like a really big party to celebrate school being over. We could invite everyone like Harper. Oh, and Mr. Bennett! That’s okay, isn’t it, Mom?”
“Anything you want, superstar. It’s yours.” Hope bloomed in my chest as my daughter launched into a whole new conversation about over-the-top party themes and elaborate invitations. Right now, no matter what she asked for, I would’ve given it.
But that hope died as we pulled up to John’s house, and a familiar pearlescent white Mercedes caught my eye. The driver stepped out and stared in our direction as we came to a stop. Though her face was concealed by giant sunglasses and a satin scarf draped over perfectly polished hair, I knew precisely who it was.
“What the hell, Lukas?” I muttered beneath my breath as he killed the engine.
Lukas, to his credit, looked just as irritated as I felt. “I told her not to come?—”
“Did you tell her we would be here?” I snapped, thankfulCharlie was too lost in her grandiose plans to notice the shift in atmosphere.
“I—”
“Momma, who is that?” Charlie asked, peering between Lukas and me at the person standing in front of the car. Then her little face scrunched up. “Why is she wearing that funny thing on her head?”
“Deal with that,” I muttered to my brother before stepping out of his truck. He followed suit, rounding the vehicle. Without so much as a glance at her, I stepped to the back and helped Charlie out of her booster seat. She gripped my hand tightly but didn’t question anything else as I offered a tentative smile.
Though I couldn’t make out exactly what my brother was saying, I heard words like “leave” and “not welcome” as we came face-to-face with a woman I hadn’t seen since she’d broken my heart for the last time. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I felt her piercing, judgmental gaze all the same. It was one I was all too familiar with.
“Hello, Mother.”
DUKE
“Gimme another,”Too Drunk Johnny said, holding out his empty beer mug.
It would seem my workday was starting off with a bang if the town drunkard was already three sheets to the wind. I snagged the mug from his grasp, moving to fill a fresh cup with water. “How ‘bout one of these instead?” Ice rattled against the chipped glass as I shook it in his face.
“Bah! You’re not getting soft on me now, are ya, boy? I ‘member when you were just this tall,” he said, holding space between his thumb and pointer finger, which made no goddamn sense.
Setting down the rag I was using to wipe the bar, I forced my eyes wide. “Dad? Is that you? Mom said you went out for milk?—”
Johnny rolled his eyes, jerking the water from my grasp. “Dick,” he mumbled between desperate gulps. “You know what I meant.”
“Just likeyouknow we’re not gonna overserve your ass. Get sober and get a ride, Johnny. Don’t make me call Beau,” Igroused, snatching his keys. With a loud clatter, I dropped them into the steel canister behind the bar we’d lovingly nicknamed “the drunk tank.”
Every night was the same. Johnny came in, drank as much of the cheapest beer I was willing to serve him, and then tried to push his luck for more. The man had been battling demons for as long as I could remember. As much as I hated enabling his bad habits, at least I could keep an eye on him here and get him home safe if he got too drunk.
“I swear I’ve only served him a couple of beers, Duke,” Sawyer said, looking warily around me at the grumbling man who was more than likely flipping me the bird behind my back. “He wasn’t this bad earlier. Need me to call Beau?”
I shook my head. “Not worth it right now. Make the call if he tries to snatch his keys back.” I thumbed over my shoulder to the canister. “I’ve seen him make a mad dash over the bar before.”